Unsolicited positive feedback from students over email in Spring 2021.
Students gave consent for their emails to be included in application packages.
Hi Abi,
Just wanted to send a quick thank you for helping me survive my last semester as an undergraduate. You are one of the many unsung heroes who made online courses survivable.
I honestly can’t thank you enough for being one of those amazing TA’s who goes above and beyond to help us average students. Thank you for making BISC 423 enjoyable!
To close, I just have one last question for you. Would you still be my TA if I was a nematode?
Again, thank you so much for helping me pass this course. I wish you the best of luck on your future teaching career.
I know you will be a great professor in the future!Hi Abi,
In tutorial yesterday, after hearing that you wanted to teach, I just thought to myself that I would love to have a professor like you – and many would be fortunate to come across your teaching in their education journey!
While I was reviewing my midterm feedback, I remember smiling at several comments, left by you I think, that were like, “exactly!” and “I like this argument!” Your words made me feel confident and excited that I knew something about a topic in this class.
Also, I always appreciate your efforts in conveying to us that it’s okay to be wrong. I think it’s something that’s always in my head but still difficult to execute in many instances – so, sorry for being silent most of the time in tutorial, it’s just that I know so little in everything!
Of all, I just wanted to say, thank you! And I was going to just leave it as my own thought, but then – on second thought – I wanted to let you know because you’ve done the same: letting someone know when they’re doing well in something… in which you might already know and in that case, here’s another thumbs up your way!
Anyway, that is all. Thanks always and hope you have a great rest of your week!
Selected testimonials solicited through SurveyMonkey Spring 2021 and Spring 2022
Q: “I would like to teach for a living. Prospective employers want to read “testimonials” about how great of a teacher I am. If you enjoyed my tutorial, write something here that I can put on my application packages to impress important people in high places. Remember that all input is anonymous.”
“Abi’s teaching style exemplifies the progress our current post-secondary education system needs to make. Their interdisciplinary approach to lessons allowed me as student to develop comprehension of the material beyond the scope of the lecture and foster interest in the real world research behind it. Most importantly for students like me, Abi reaches many of the learning styles not supported by traditional university level teaching.”
“Abi is by far the best TA I have had. They are very caring and they always have the students’ best interest in mind. Abi’s activities and questions are always interactive ones that are great practice for the brain. Abi really cares about students’ performance in the course and their well-being as well! I took BISC302W with them as my TA. It is a tough course but Abi made sure we got all the support and help we needed. I believe they will be a great lecturer in the future. I had one lecture with them at the end of BISC 302W’s term, and it was one of my favourite lectures. Being Abi’s student was not only about learning new course material for 302, but also about learning valuable writing, studying, and critical thinking skills that go beyond Bisc 302w.”
“Abi was an incredible teacher! She provided a positive and exciting learning environment despite the difficulties we all faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was always full of energy and enthusiastic to help us learn. I wish I could have her as a teacher again because she made my learning experience that much better.”
“Abi painstakingly made sure I fully understood her explanations of concepts and was always approachable and accessible for help. Her office hours were always so helpful and well-structured and addressed many of the concepts each week that majority of the class struggled with. She does a great job of fostering a comfortable and non-judgemental environment for students to seek help.”
“You taught concepts very well and your personality made attending tutorials very fun! I’ve enjoyed having you teach me for two semesters now and would love to be in your class again.”
“Abi creates a welcoming environment where students feel more at ease to engage and speak their minds.”
“I’m really bad at making official statements like this but… Abi’s a great teacher, don’t let her talents go to waste.”
“Abigail is knowledgeable and entertaining. Feel free to spice that up and say it was from me :)”
Abigail Feresten, Ph.D. 