What is your teaching philosophy?

Nearly everyone who has ever been involved with instruction knows that there are different types of learning styles which work best for people to uptake and retain information in a classroom setting. Perhaps as a student you have even taken a survey to determine what ‘type of learner’ you are. Accommodating the personal learning needs of every student is challenging in a typical classroom setting and, I would argue, nearly impossible when class sizes reach >100 students. However, being involved with one-on-one tutoring allows for more intimate interactions, a cooperative approach to learning, and the ability to better adapt instruction to individual needs. My philosophy is that I must maintain an attitude of flexibility, accommodation and innovation to meet the diverse, individual needs of my students. In a large classroom this meant using different approaches to teaching to try and hit as many ‘styles’ as possible. Key to this is the ability of the instructor to listen to the students, observe their work, and try to modify their approaches to ensure the best experience possible for everyone. In a tutoring environment, the student has an important responsibility to be open and honest about what they need, what works best for them and what does-not. My goal as an instructor is to create an environment where you can be comfortable to share, open to new challenges, and not afraid of failure. I will be a careful listener, a keen observer, and approach the sessions with flexibility and creativity to give you the best experience I can.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

I see a first session most importantly as a learning opportunity for myself, since I have previously had no experience with the student. I need to determine what they need help with, question them about those needs, and try to develop a strategy moving forward. It is very important to me to be able to watch a student work through problems, listen to them describe concepts and carefully review any previous work they have done, so I can better understand their strengths and weaknesses. I will work with the student to identify what they think their academic priorities are, and then collectively use this information to develop a plan and begin providing the best assistance I can. In the past I have worked with students who needed help with say, ‘Concept-B’. However, upon watching a student work through questions related to Concept-B, it became clear that the issues resulted from an incomplete understanding of Concept-A, which is a foundational aspect of B. Sometimes moving forward means taking a small trip backward to ensure comprehensive understanding of difficult topics. I would encourage all students to try and provide their tutors with as much information as possible, prior to their first session, so that precious time can be used more efficiently.