Information about Harrison - Mornington tutor

Personal Description:

Award-Winning Maths Tutor | 15 Years of Experience | 99.45 Atar | HD Tertiary Grade | 3 University Degrees | Detail Oriented | Strategic | Proactive | Caring | Free First Lesson | Special Offers Available

Hello, I’m Harrison.

In my time as a maths tutor, I’ve had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students from all over the world. Maths is my passion, and tutoring maths is my dream job. It allows me to support myself, impart wisdom to those who share my passion, consolidate what I’ve spent decades learning, and continue to learn at my own pace.

Areas of mathematics that interest me personally include Computation Theory, Information Theory, Representation Theory, Group Theory, Number Theory, Measure Theory, and Topology. Presently I am studying the theory of groups, rings, fields, vector spaces, and algebras, as part of a Pure Maths university degree. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, exploring metaphysics, and computer programming.

I am very proud and thankful for being blessed with the patience and capability to reach this advanced level of mathematical understanding. It’s a relief to know that putting in the effort is worth it. With me by your side – guiding you through the tumultuous world of mathematics – I’m very confident that you will improve and exceed your expectations.

Thank you for your consideration.

Tuition Experience:

At university I have studied a Bachelor of Software Engineering, Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, and Bachelor of Information Technology. This vast educational experience has refined my skills in understanding complex information and communicating it, in simple and concise terms, to an intellectually diverse range of students.

Much of my academic career has been focused on teaching mathematics to Australian high school students. I’ve helped them master topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Functions and Relations, Calculus, Probability, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Vectors, Kinematics, Complex Numbers, Logic, Proofs, Statistics, Finance, and Networks.

In the Australian curriculum, my favourite subject to teach by far is Specialist Maths. This is a captivating subject that accurately mirrors the type of maths that students will encounter at university. That being said, Math Methods and General Maths present their own set of unique challenges and are also very interesting and enjoyable subjects to teach.

WHAT SETS ME APART

Tutoring is not a side hustle for me; it is my livelihood, and I treat it with the utmost respect. As a full-time tutor, my priority is the education of my students, and I go above and beyond to ensure they succeed. I offer additional lessons during exam periods and SAC times, making myself available when students need extra support. Unlike in a typical classroom setting, you won’t get recycled explanations. I provide a range of alternative methods and explanations, tailored to each student's needs. I also take the time to understand how each student learns best, allowing me to adjust my pace and approach accordingly. I encourage active participation and feedback, ensuring students are comfortable and engaged throughout the learning process. My flexibility, care, attention to detail, and ability to engage students are what set me apart.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

With me as your tutor, no question will go unanswered. If a problem cannot be solved during class, the student will receive a video or document with a detailed explanation of the solution. I believe in providing thorough support, so lessons will not end abruptly just because the time is up. The topic or problem at hand will be finalised to the best of my ability, even if that means going slightly overtime. I also understand how frustrating it can be to get stuck on a problem and then have to wait an entire week (or more) to ask your tutor for help. This is why I encourage my students to reach out between lessons with any issues they are struggling with. I make it a point to respond promptly; typically, within a day or two. Please note, these additional services are NOT offered by tutoring agencies, as it goes against agency policy for tutors to provide services outside of lessons.

Tutoring Approach:

LESSONS

The initial lesson is called the Trial Lesson. Its duration is one hour, and it’s free of charge. Lessons may take place in one of three locations: online via Google Meet, in person in my classroom in Mornington, or in person at the student’s residence. Lessons go for a minimum of 60 minutes and the duration of a longer lesson must be a multiple of 30 minutes. Students may take as many breaks as they need throughout a lesson. The travel time to the student residence will be charged at the same hourly rate as the lesson.

Other educational products on offer include: [1] a two-hour lesson with a $20 discount; [2] an intensive full-day lesson valued at $360 which takes place on the weekend; [3] a video recording of worked solutions and explanations to selected maths problems; and [4] a written document containing worked solutions for selected maths problems. Products 3 and 4 cater to students who are either too busy or too anxious to attend tutorials, and are charged at an hourly rate of $60, in 30-minute intervals, starting at 60 minutes.

Depending on my schedule, I may also offer a discounted payment option (about 20% less) for students who can commit to weekly lessons during the school term as well as during school holidays. Please enquire about availability and details after your trial lesson.

Also, please note that a complementary lesson will be awarded to any client who refers a new student once that new student has completed a paid lesson. If you have a lot of friends who need tutoring, this is a fantastic way to save money.

TEACHING STRATEGIES

Each student learns differently, and there is no "one shoe fits all" approach that guarantees success. Most maths teachers overlook this basic fact, but I make it a priority to understand each student's unique strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. This is an ongoing process that realistically takes more than just one lesson to fully understand. Moreover, maths is a versatile field where different topics commonly require different teaching strategies.

1. Often the biggest issue with teaching maths is that the student doesn’t know exactly what they don't understand or why. So, the first step needs to be identifying where they lost track, and the quickest way to do this is typically by going over the student’s school material.

2. Each topic in maths tends to come packaged with a variety of new problems. This can be very daunting for students, making it seem like there is no end to what they must learn. However, the truth is that most maths problems can be solved via a very similar logical process. It’s one of my main goals as a tutor to help students see this for themselves.

3. Reframing a topic or problem can make it much more accessible. Showing students how to reframe and training them to do it themselves is vital. The ability to reframe a question during a test can save a huge amount of time. It’s a strategy that gives the ugliest of problems an elegant and beautiful solution.

4. People are visual creatures, so leveraging visual tools is typically a fantastic way to communicate information. This can be done via diagrams or sketches, via computational software, via short online videos, or by using physical objects to demonstrate the mechanics of a problem. Providing students with good graphical representations makes all the difference in the world.

5. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Weekly practice is essential.