Alan

Tutoring is a matter of discussion between the student and the tutor with the aim of seeking various avenues of possible solutions. I am keenly aware that students often have a mental block about certain aspects of subjects and need to be encouraged to see the subject from different ways. No single approach to understanding exists - we all have to be guided to an approach which is most helpful to us. I am a great believer in the student trying to solve problems themselves the tutor is a guide at this stage. After the struggle, then would be the time to discuss options for solutions. This would begin with the student explaining how he/she has approached the problem, and what the line of reasoning was used. In this way, light is thrown on what is causing the problem for the student. Having helped to overcome the problem, the student would then have another go at the question.

No single approach to understanding exists - we all have to be guided to an approach which is most helpful to us.

Availability: Most days and most evenings, although there are, from time to time, periods when I am unavailable .

Willing to travel: 8 miles

Experience: I am now retired after almost 40 years working for a MoD research establishment. This was contractorised in 1993, so I have effectively worked in private industry for the last 17 years of my career. My work involved theoretical assessments of military systems and their effectiveness. I therefore have a depth of experience in the application of mathematical physics to everyday problems.

I take a delight in continuing to increase my knowledge about maths and physics, and I am therefore very knowledgeable about many areas of my subject. Having now retired, I am anxious to pass on some of this knowledge to others, and particularly, to help students to thoroughly understand these subjects, and to find the pleasure to be had from that deep understanding.

I have little teaching experience in the formal sense. I was a personal tutor for 14-16 year old students at a school in Basingstoke for about 5 years, but that was more about everyday life than about schoolwork. However, the latter did crop up from time to time, and I was only too happy to help with homework some of the time. Near the end of my professional career, I was a maths and physics tutor for three years at a school in Tadley. I have now been tutoring students in maths and physics for GCSE, A-level and 1st year university courses since 2011. Part of my professional career involved giving lectures to knowledgeable audiences - and one has to have a thorough knowledge of ones subject, and be able to put it over well, to get away with that.