Mighty Chen
learner teacher researcher
Mighty Chen
learner teacher researcher
Hi! I'm Mighty Chen. I'm currently (Fall 2021) a High School Mathematics/CS Teacher at Mariposa County High School. I am working through my Master's in Education through the Kremen School of Education at Fresno State. I was previously an undergrad at UC Merced, studying Computer Science and Engineering while pursuing my Teaching Credential through the CalTeach program through UCM and UC Berkeley. I code from time to time--mostly when I need teaching material, or when I'm adding functionality to my Gather.Town map.
I like to identify as learning scientist :) I love learning about learning and am still narrowing my research interests, which currently include constructionism, computational thinking, critical computational studies, research-practitioner partnerships, embodied cognition. These interests inform the way I teach, the activities I give, the conversations I start. The topics I research make me a better classroom teacher, while the classroom I teach makes me a better researcher. I'm excited for this upcoming "normal-ish" school year!
If you are one of my students stalking my online presence...... yo what's up.
Mathematics/CS Teacher
Mariposa County High School
Jul 2020 - Present
Mathematics teacher for Integrated Math II creating CPM curriculum on Desmos and NetLogo. Computer Science Teacher using a self-made NetLogo curriculum. Teaching with an emphasis on constructing artifacts, driving student curiousity, and analyzing representations (tools) based on affordances and consequences.
Student Teacher
Golden Valley High School
Jan 2020 - Jun 2020
Cooperating with Lorena Arroyo to refine teaching practices, classroom management, lesson design for an Integrated Math 2 class. Coursework significantly modified during COVID-19 crisis with a refocus on student physical and mental wellbeing. Hosted online asynchronous lessons using Desmos and NetLogo.
Curriculum Designer
CalTeach UC Merced
Jan 2020 - Mar 2020
Designing, researching, and implementing lesson plans and activites for the UC Merced's Learning Lab! Made-- Cardboard "lego" pieces for geometric proofs, some NetLogo models (sector area, arc length), string to understand trigonometric ratios, Turtle art, and Zombie Infections.
Tangible Turtles
Sep 2019 - May 2020
Recreating Papert's "Turtle" to provide an active tangible for teaching computer science, computational thinking, and mathematics. Worked with Daniel Milliate on CAD and mechanical engineering. Project is also overseen by Ahmed Arif through UC Merced's HCI Group.
Probability and Coding Simulations
Embodied Design Research Labratory
Mar 2019 - Apr 2019
Final project for EDUC 130 (Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science). Interaction analysis of students coding through a Python simulation of the RC Cola Problem. Defined different styles of coding and discussed the limitations and affordances of each in terms of mathematical discussion and understanding.
Jan 2018 - May 2019
To promote drone safety, the MESA lab is building a classifier of good versus bad pilots through their remote control signals logs. Once known, the quadcopter would take any appropriate action (emergency land, switch to auto-pilot, etc.). I am no longer part of the ongoing process of this project, but am helping two new students learn introductory robotics so that they can continue work on the project.
Stay Home and Code with NetLogo!
July 2020, 2021
Planned curriculum, created material, taught two one-week sections of a NetLogo class which covered art, games, and simulations to help middle and high school understand the effects of staying home and socially distancing during a virus pandemic.
Software Engineering Intern
Jun 2019 - Aug 2019
Migrated existing software into a new system. I interfaced, tested, and refined new database models to existing and new web pages over the site and played an active role in design planning and decision making. Much thanks to John Kelly who actively mentored me and the other interns (Saar Sayfan, Emily Cang, Robert Slutsky).
Data Science Intern
Lawrence Livermore National Lab
May 2019
Data Science Challenge hosted by LLNL. Worked under Brenden Petersen for Deep Symbolic Regression, which generates an equation, given an input set of data. Added data visualization and regularization to a reinforcement learning model to simplify generated expressions.
M.A. Education
CSU Fresno (2021 - Present)
Education Psychology, Integrating Technology into Curriculum, Advanced Curriculum, Literacy Language Literature, Research in Education
B.S. Computer Science and Engineering
UC Merced (2016 - 2020)
GPA: 3.7
Human Comptuer Interaction, Software Engineering, Data Science, Databases, Object Oriented Programming, Applied Modern Statistics, Robotics, Algorithm Design and Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, Data Structures, Computer Organization, Linear Analysis, Circuit Theory
single subject mathematics credential
UC Merced & UC Berkeley (2017 - 2020)
Learning and Knowing in Mathematics and Science; History of Science, Technology, and Society; Teaching Mathematics in Middle School/High School; Project-Based Instruction; Classroom Interactions (Equity in Classrooms); Integrating Research Methods in K-12 Classrooms; Developmental Psychology; Cognitive Development