John
Certified Tutor
I am retired, married for 52 years, and have four daughters and eight grandchildren. I have experience in solving engineering problems using mathematics and in presenting the problems and solutions to my peers. My academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
My principal engineering jobs were with Douglas Aircraft and Westinghouse Electric Corp. I progressed steadily in my career acquiring promotions and more responsibility in presenting my ideas and solutions. Patents and published articles are also part of my experience. I represented Westinghouse Electric Corp. as a member of the ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping committee on elevated temperature design.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Bachelors, Aeronautical Engineering
Graduate Degree: California State University-Long Beach - Masters, Mechanical Engineering
sports, photography, reading historical novels
What is your teaching philosophy?
To encourage learning by sharing my love for mathematics and what it has meant to me in my engineering career. Mathematics is the language of the sciences.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Review with them who I am, and ask them about their hopes for developing their future goals.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By encouraging them to focus on their subject material by removing any distractions around them while they study. To encourage them to get their rest.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By being motivated myself in tutoring them with enthusiasm.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Repeat the instruction several times, as required.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Emphasize the meaning of math phrases, and encourage them to review them with me.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Ask them to identify their goals in being tutored, and develop a plan for the two of us to accomplish those goals.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
By broadening their understanding of the potential uses of the subject and how each step in learning math can lead to meaningful accomplishments.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Interactively solving problems, practicing by solving the problems together, and then developing the student's desire to achieve.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By giving them the feedback that they are learning and that they can do it on their own.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By asking them what their own concept is of the subject matter that gives them trouble. And then discovering together what the missing knowledge is in getting to that point.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By listening and hearing them attentively.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
A shared digital whiteboard, common reading material, and a dry erase board for me to be able to instruct more clearly.