STEMStar
MOVE BEYOND MEMORIZATION
Tutoring & Academic Coaching Services
Online + In Person
About
Learn more about STEMStar’s pedagogical philosophy and holistic approach to learning math and science.
Services
Explore subjects offered and learn how STEMStar’s integrated academic coaching services can help you excel in all your classes.
Contact
Get in touch to discuss how we can work together to set you up for success in current and future courses.
Our Story
STEMStar is owned and operated by Alison Joy Krome, an Honours Biochemistry graduate from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. I have extensive experience teaching online as well as in person.My teaching journey began in the fall of 2020 when I was hired by Concordia to lead peer-led tutorials in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. This role was designed to provide extra academic support as we all adapted to online learning. Since then, my passion for teaching has only grown, and I’ve refined my ability to breakdown and explain complex material, a skill I now share with my students.STEMStar is founded on promoting learning in a way that builds a strong and lasting foundational knowledge that will carry you through your post-secondary degree and beyond in your career in research or industry.This philosophy arose from many years of my own brute-force studying in a school system where memorization is often encouraged over true comprehension. While this method can work in the short term, you end up having to relearn the same concepts that were only committed to memory to pass a test, rather than being integrated into your understanding.STEMStar’s mission in tutoring and academic coaching is to support students in the subject at hand (tutoring), while simultaneously providing guidance on how to approach studying (integrated academic coaching), with the goal of building confidence and independence as you navigate your academic career.
Virtual and In Person Learning
STEMStar has supported students from colleges and universities across North America, with tutoring sessions available online to students anywhere.In-person sessions are also available for students in the Montreal Area.
Courses Offered
| Subject | Level |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | High School, College, University |
| Organic Chemistry | College, University (I, II, III) |
| Biochemistry | College, University |
| Analytical Chemistry | College, University |
| Thermodynamics | High School, College, University |
| Kinetics | College, University |
| Spectroscopy | College, University |
| Genetics & Molecular Biology | High School, College, University |
| Pre-Calculus/Functions | High School, College, University |
| Calculus I | High School, College, University |
Integrated Coaching
STEMStar’s Academic Coaching is woven into the tutoring session, helping students not only master their course material, but gain study and self-teaching skills along the way. These skills are transferable to other subjects and promotes problem-solving and independence.Coaching looks a little different for everyone depending on the subject and individual needs, and can include things like help strategizing and prioritizing studying, and how to make the most of available resources .Some of the coaching techniques employed at STEMStar include:Leading and directing questions over direct answers are used to guide students to drawing conclusions with their existing knowledge.Encouragement and guidance in using external resources, helping students get better at identifying reliable sources and extract important concepts.Building a network of understanding by learning how to break down complex concepts, while connecting them back to our foundational knowledge.