Frederik J. Simons - Teaching
I like teaching! I strive for clarity and precision in teaching the fundamentals of a subject rather than attempting encyclopaedic completeness of coverage. I will choose How? over What? I prefer developing the material on the blackboard, allowing for questions, tangents, and interaction with the students, over the static and linear nature of showing slides. Of course, I use digital projection when necessary — one student evaluation had it that "Frederik's powerpoints were like geoscience wisdom distilled into pill-size portions". Still, in this day of online everything, students embrace a return to the blackboard as a great invention—as in "Frederik is an amazing teacher. I like his instructional method and the lectures. His special way of presenting using blackboard simulated my engagement and independent thinking." ! But above all, I try to give students what I think they need most: challenging problems, enthusiasm for the subject, individual attention. From the Student Course Guide: "Brilliant guy, high expectations. Will work with you if you ask for help. Very available". Or yet: "Nobody I've had here has put this much effort into getting everybody on board."
Chronological List of Classes Offered
| 2008-2013 | Global Geophysics | Feedback Princeton University, GEO320/GEO371/PHY371 |
| 2011-2013 | Earth's Environments, Ancient Civilizations | Feedback Princeton University, FRS187 | 2012 Grade distribution Princeton University, FRS171 | 2011 Grade distribution (with Adam Maloof) |
| 2012-2013 | Fundamentals of the Geosciences II Princeton University, GEO506 (with Jeroen Tromp) |
| 2007-2012 | Data, Models & Uncertainty in the Natural Sciences Princeton University, GEO422 | Feedback |
| 2012 | Origin and Evolution of the Continental Lithosphere Princeton University, GEO 556 | Feedback (with Blair Schoene) |
| 2007-2009 | Earth's Changing Surface & Climate | Feedback Princeton University, FRS145 | 2009 Grade distribution (with Adam Maloof) Princeton University, FRS145 | 2008 Grade distribution Princeton University, FRS149 | 2007 Grade distribution (with Adam Maloof and Bob Phinney) |
| 2008 | Fundamentals of the Geosciences II Princeton University, GEO506 (with Linc Hollister) |
| 2005-2006 | Global Seismology University College London, C479/GEOL3031 |
| 2005-2006 | Earth & Planetary System Science Seminar University College London, GEOL4003/GEOLGG03 (with Lidunka Vočadlo) |
| 2003&2006 | Active Geological Processes (Field Instructor) Princeton University, FRS149 |
| 2006 | The Deep Earth (with David Dobson) University College London, GEOLGG06 |
| 2005 | Global Tectonics (with Gerald Roberts) Birkbeck College London |
| 2004 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes & Other Hazards (Lab Instructor) Princeton University, GEO210 |
| 2002 | Introductory Seismology (Guest Lecturer) Princeton University, GEO424 |
| 2001 | Advanced Placement Physics (Private Tutor) Cambridge Rindge and Latin School |
| 2001 | Mathematics (Instructor) Boston Math Circle, Boston, MA |
| 1996-2001 | Essentials of Geophysics (Teaching Assistant) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 12.201-12.501 |
