John
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: College of the Holy Cross - Bachelors, Mathematics (Computer Science minor)
Fitness, Running, Technology, Cooking
C++
College Computer Science
High School Computer Science
Technology and Coding
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that everyone learns differently, so it is important to be able to approach each problem with different methods of explanation. A method that works well for one student might not have as much traction with another student, so it is important to have a flexible approach.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
A typical first session would involve learning where the student is in their subject and what topics they plan on focusing on. It would also be useful to identify areas of strength or areas that the student needs more work on to further aid in planning sessions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The main goal is not to lead the student through their problems to the answers, but to lead the student through each step of the different methods. Teach them how to work through every problem on their own, rather than leading them every problem.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
If a student is starting to get less motivated, it can be good to take a step back from the task at hand. It could be helpful to look at some more straightforward problems from the subject, change subjects, or even just take a quick break from looking at problems and talk about other subjects they need to go over.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I think it is important to be able to have a flexible approach to every concept. Methods of teaching one student could not work for another, so it’s crucial to be able to describe methods and concepts differently.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
If a student is struggling in a subject and having a hard time getting motivated or excited to learn, it’s good to focus on their strengths in the subject and do some problems in that area to increase their confidence before moving over to focus on areas they are struggling in.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
It is important to focus on working through a problem rather than just obtaining the answer. If a student can understand all of the steps and how to do them, they will be able to work through all the problems on their own.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
First, you should start with very straightforward problems to get the student used to the concepts. As you build on the basics, using problems that stress the individual steps to really get the student acquainted to the method so that by the time you get to the more difficult problems, the student is confident in their ability to work through the problem.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
A student seeking help in a subject often knows what areas they need help in. Looking at a student’s past work as well as working through some concepts with them can help evaluate what they need to work more on.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
As I have mentioned, it is important to have a flexible approach to each concept. If a student is struggling with one explanation of a method, try approaching it in a different way.