Christopher
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: CSU Sacramento - Bachelors, Electrical Engineering - Analog and Digital Control Systems
Music, electronics, nature, old school video games
American Literature
AP Computer Science Principles
Arrangement and Composition
Audio Engineering
BASIC
Biomedical Engineering
C
C++
College Chemistry
College English
College Level American Literature
College Physics
Computer Architecture
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Elementary School Math
Elementary School Reading
Elementary School Writing
High School Biology
High School English
High School Physics
High School Writing
HTML
Microsoft Office
PC Basic Computer Skills
Social Networking
Songwriting
Spelling Bee
Technology and Coding
Vocal Training
What is your teaching philosophy?
I try to find the way that the student learns best, whether it's using visual tools, association techniques, memorization tricks, or any way that can help connect the concept within the student's mind. I think it's also good to be able to explain a problem in a few different ways, in case one way makes more sense to a student.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would introduce myself and give a little background information about myself. Then, I would ask a couple questions about the student, about what their hobbies and interests are and what they are going to school for. Then, maybe we could find some common interests and have something cool to talk about.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Ultimately, students have to be self-motivated to learn effectively. Some students learn more quickly than others, but I believe that willpower and determination are the keys to success in anything in life, more than talent or ability. I am happy to share my knowledge in areas like test-taking techniques, effective note-taking, good study habits, and things like that, but I can only try to help motivate the student to succeed. The rest is up to the student.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Motivation can be tricky at times for anybody. It helps me to focus on the goal I am working toward, or to create the best environment I can when studying or working long, challenging problems. I like to create a positive atmosphere when I have to sit down and study for several hours. It's more like a social gathering and less like a time-out. For the student, I think focusing on the goal and really finding their passion will be the keys to success. If you are not passionate about the thing you are learning, then learning it will be a chore and will be met with much resistance. Try to find something interesting or useful in what you are learning, and then the motivation will take care of itself, because you will have the curiosity about your topic of study.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
There is no person who is able to learn everything well 100%. We all meet with challenges along our paths, and what determines our level of success is how we choose to respond to them. If a student has difficulty with a certain topic or area, then the student may feel frustrated, self-conscious, or just otherwise bad when it comes time to work on that topic. I think that, as a tutor, patience is key here, and really devoting time to the difficult topics so that the entire experience of learning can be improved as a result. I think it is essential for a tutor to really understand the topics they are teaching, so that they can illustrate concepts in whatever way is most effective for the student. Also, finding a way to relate a new concept to one that the student already knows is a useful tool that can help build associations, which break challenging problems into simpler steps for the student to understand. Also, taking a break once in awhile is a good idea. It is possible for you to get burned out if you spend TOO much time focusing on one thing.