Upon determining who our teacher spotlight would be for the week, we came across a name in our ever-growing file of great teachers that we have heard many, many times. A teacher who uses real-world situations and compares them to Mathematics as one of his techniques to get his students motivated. Ramesh Joshi, Mr. Joshi is one of the Mathematics teachers here at Primavera Online High School.
If you are like many of us, we felt that Math was a tough subject among our many classes in school, yet surprisingly Mr. Joshi felt that math would find a primary lead in his life. Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus are just some of his loves in Mathematics. These subjects among many helped to gain his experience as an engineer and instructor.
Originating from Bombay, Mr. Joshi has been in the Phoenix valley for over 40 years. His love for the subject has carried him on-ward and upward to receive 2 Masters Degrees in Engineering and Mathematics; that’s 2 degrees folks. We asked Ramesh if he would sit down with us and talk about his experiences and love for mathematics and he gladly agreed.
Primavera: Hello Mr. Joshi!
Mr. Joshi (with a hot tea in hand): Hello, I apologize as I am getting over being a little sick.
Primavera: No problem, let’s start with a few questions that are weighing on everyone’s mind. Are you a dog or cat person? And what is your favorite animal?
Mr. Joshi (laughing): Well, I think I would like to have a small dog if I had to choose one or the other. And for my animals I really enjoy Elephants and American Bald Eagles.
Primavera: So what is your favorite thing about Primavera Online?
Mr. Joshi: From my experience in engineering and technology, I really enjoy helping students reach their mathematic goals through a virtual environment that we have made possible. I enjoy the amount of participation that my students commit to. For example, students talk to me on the phone to participate in whatever situation they are in, be it at home, working in restaurants, or out grocery shopping in between classes. I love being able to provide that…
Primavera: So what are some of the techniques you used to motivate students?
Mr. Joshi: I compare math to real world examples, a satellite dish like the ones we use for our televisions for instance. Quadratic equations can be explained using their parabolic surface and the point the main focus of the dish receives its signal. Examples like these allow my students to relate to the problems in their own time, versus what they might feel is ancient or non-relatable.
Primavera: Would you tell us about a time that stands out in your mind when you’ve reached out to a student?
Mr. Joshi: It happened at graduation, when a student approached me to take a picture with them and their family. I am truly honored when families thank me for helping their son or daughter graduate with the knowledge they have received from me and our other teachers.
Primavera: A few more, your favorite sports team?
Mr. Joshi: ASU Football
Primavera: How about your favorite music?
Mr. Joshi: I like everything from the Beatles to Adele. Country music has taken me a while to get used to but I still enjoy it very much.
Primavera: Here’s a tough one, cubed ice or crushed?
Mr. Joshi (laughing, and sipping his tea): Well, from a math perspective, cubed ice, due to its geometric shape.
Primavera: Thank you so much for being here at Primavera Mr. Joshi, we look forward to seeing you have those pictures taken with all of your students at graduation this year and for many to come.
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