I have recently graduated from the Geology department at the University of Georgia with a PhD. I have four years' experience as a lab and writing instructor and 8 years' experience working in an active lab. This experience has allowed me to work one-on-one with students to help them better understand the concepts of geology and their writing skills.
I think that the most effective way to learn math concepts is to practice the concepts learned in the classroom. Therefore, most time will be spent working on problems and being available to allow the student to discuss concepts that are difficult to understand.
I think that most students struggle with science because it is presented in the classroom as a large body of facts that are required to be learned but not necessarily understood. This is the result of time and budget limitations in the classroom. As a tutor I would focus on the process that results in a "fact" that the students are being asked to learn, in an attempt to give the student a more fundamental understanding of why the "facts" are what they are. This would allow the student to be more invested in the information and be able to relate more easily to the subject they are trying to learn.
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