“I love it. This is a very welcoming, open place.”
Tony Kasa is a sophomore at NIU, with a double major in Mathematical Sciences and Journalism. Kasa discovered the Mathematics Assistance Center (MAC) during his freshman year and says, it has been a great asset in his learning process, ever since.
“The people here are very helpful and when I come here, I understand topics better than I do in class,” said Kasa. “It’s always been a pleasant experience, and I’ve been able to fully understand my work and get things done in a way that lets me leave confidently.”
Housed on the ground floor of the Founders Memorial Library, the MAC offers tutoring, study strategies and test-taking tips to students in a relaxed setting. No appointment is required, and the positive and relaxed environment has proven successful in growing students’ confidence in their abilities to learn new concepts.
“It’s a coffee shop type of environment where the students can come in, work alone at their own pace, and then ask the tutor to help with questions,” said Kevin Shryock, coordinator and lead tutor of the MAC. “It’s very personable and I think it does a lot to break down the emotional barriers that come along with some of the harder math classes.”
Shryock took this position after serving as an instructor at NIU for several years. Formerly an engineer for Amazon and Eaton with experience seeing how math is used in the business world, Shryock now shares this knowledge through teaching and tutoring, helping undergraduates through math classes.
“The tutoring is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to have a more personable interaction with the student,” said Shryock. “You have the opportunity to get to know the student first, then find a way of presenting material in a manner that resonates with the student.”
Check out the full story in NIU Today.
