
Kevin
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Rutgers University-New Brunswick - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Riding my motorcycle, playing golf, and watching Netflix.
College Physics
High School Physics
Mechanical Engineering
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe in teaching the 'why' and in developing intuitive understanding, rather than hammering home processes and formulas. I guide my students as they walk the path themselves.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I dive right into current topics in first sessions, but use this as a means of gauging where a student may have gaps in understanding. By pinpointing these gaps, it provides a plan for future sessions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I always encourage my students to work out problems themselves, with me there as a guide. I naturally explain new concepts, but becoming independent with new concepts is achieved through practice and building one's own framework around a concept
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I like to remind students of how far they have come in the past, and where they are relative to their current goals.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
In my experience, this is likely because the concept is framed in a way that is not conducive to the student's learning style. When this occurs, it is time for a new approach to the concept, whether it be through diagrams, analogies, or anything else.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Particularly in math and physics, I encourage my students to draw pictures. This is a great opportunity for students who struggle with reading comprehension to work through the text piece by piece, and then have a different reference point when solving the problem.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find it quite important to understand a student's learning style, and to understand where a student's gaps in understanding lie. This allows us to build a complete framework of understanding.