Search
Ben M.'s Photo

Penn State Engineer | DevTeQ Founder | STEM & Academic Tutor
Ben M.

0.0 (0 ratings)

3 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $75
Contact Ben

About Ben

Bio

I’m a Penn State Computer Engineering graduate, professional software developer, and Founder & Technical Director of DevTeQ LLC, a Pittsburgh-based web development and technology agency. My background spans mathematics, programming, engineering, science, data, and analytical problem-solving, and I’ve applied those skills in both academic and professional settings.

I work primarily with high school and college students in subjects including calculus, algebra, statistics, computer science,...

I’m a Penn State Computer Engineering graduate, professional software developer, and Founder & Technical Director of DevTeQ LLC, a Pittsburgh-based web development and technology agency. My background spans mathematics, programming, engineering, science, data, and analytical problem-solving, and I’ve applied those skills in both academic and professional settings.

I work primarily with high school and college students in subjects including calculus, algebra, statistics, computer science, programming, engineering, physics, chemistry, and SAT/ACT preparation. In programming, I’m especially comfortable with Python, JavaScript, Java, C/C++, web development, databases, and helping students understand the logic behind their code instead of just getting it to run.

My teaching style is patient, practical, and confidence-focused. When a student is stuck, I break the problem down until we find the exact point where it stopped making sense, then rebuild from there. My goal is for students to understand why something works so they can solve the next problem independently instead of memorizing steps.

I’m also comfortable working with students who feel overwhelmed, behind, or frustrated with a subject. A large part of tutoring is reducing that pressure, creating a clear path forward, and helping the student see that difficult material becomes much more manageable when it is explained in the right way.

Whether you’re working through a difficult assignment, preparing for an exam, debugging code, improving your math skills, or trying to raise your SAT or ACT score, send me what you’re working on and we can get started right away.

Read more

Education

Penn State
Computer Science Eng

Policies

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Ben hasn’t set a schedule.

We’re having trouble loading this schedule right now. Please try again later.

Approved Subjects

Accuplacer

Accuplacer

My engineering education required strong command of algebra, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and structured writing—the core skills assessed by the ACCUPLACER. I help students break multi-step problems into manageable steps, identify the rule being tested, and check their reasoning efficiently. For writing and reading questions, I emphasize grammar, organization, context clues, and evidence-based elimination strategies. My goal is to build both the underlying skills and the test-day confidence students need for accurate course placement.
ACT English

ACT English

I bring an engineering and technical communication background that requires precision, logical organization, and close attention to language. I tutor ACT English with a focus on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetoric, organization, and efficient answer-choice elimination. Students can expect a structured, practical approach that identifies recurring question patterns and builds both accuracy and speed for test day.
ACT Math

ACT Math

My engineering background gives me a strong foundation in the algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, and quantitative reasoning tested on the ACT. I help students break complex problems into clear steps, recognize common problem types, and choose efficient solution methods under time pressure. My tutoring combines concept review with test strategy so students strengthen both their math skills and their ACT performance.
ACT Science

ACT Science

My engineering background involves interpreting graphs, tables, experiments, trends, and quantitative evidence, all of which align closely with ACT Science. I help students identify variables, analyze experimental design, compare viewpoints, and distinguish what the data supports from what it does not. My approach is especially useful for students who need a systematic method for navigating dense passages quickly and accurately.
Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator

My professional work spans web development, digital design, branding, and media, giving me practical experience with vector-based design workflows. I can tutor Illustrator topics including shapes, paths, anchor points, layers, typography, color, alignment, clipping masks, and export settings. I focus on real design tasks and efficient workflows so students learn both the tools and the reasoning behind professional vector design.
Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom

I work with photography and digital media and understand the Lightroom workflow from image organization through final correction and export. I can help students with exposure, white balance, tone, color, cropping, masking, sharpening, noise reduction, presets, and catalog organization. My tutoring emphasizes practical editing decisions so students understand not just which controls to use, but how each adjustment improves an image.
Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop

My professional background includes web development, digital media, and image editing, giving me practical experience with Photoshop workflows. I can tutor layers, masks, selections, adjustment layers, retouching, compositing, typography, resizing, and export preparation. I emphasize nondestructive editing, organized files, and repeatable techniques that students can apply to school, creative, and professional projects.
Algebra 1

Algebra 1

My engineering background is built on strong algebra skills, and I tutor Algebra 1 with an emphasis on clear reasoning and dependable problem-solving habits. I can help with equations, inequalities, functions, graphing, systems, exponents, polynomials, and word problems. Students can expect step-by-step explanations that build understanding rather than relying on memorized procedures alone.
Algebra 2

Algebra 2

Engineering requires extensive use of Algebra 2 concepts, including functions, systems, quadratics, exponentials, logarithms, complex numbers, and polynomial and rational expressions. I help students connect symbolic work to graphs and real applications so the material feels coherent rather than like a collection of formulas. My goal is to strengthen both current course performance and the mathematical foundation needed for precalculus and calculus.
American History

American History

I have taken multiple history courses covering American history and have continued studying the subject extensively through independent reading and research. My knowledge spans the major eras of United States history, including colonization, the Revolution, the founding period, westward expansion, the Civil War, Reconstruction, industrialization, the world wars, the Cold War, and modern American history. I have especially deep interest and subject knowledge relating to the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, including the historical events, major figures, military context, and broader political and social forces surrounding the conflict. I approach American history by connecting individual events to the political, economic, military, geographic, and cultural forces that caused them rather than treating dates and names as isolated facts.
Anatomy

Anatomy

I studied anatomy in high school and completed college-level biology coursework that included the study of biological structures, body systems, and laboratory-based science. My academic work included dissections and direct study of physical structures and organ systems, giving me practical experience beyond textbook-only learning. I have also studied anatomy independently for many years as part of nearly a decade of serious bodybuilding, where understanding muscular structure, joint movement, biomechanics, and the relationship between anatomy and training is essential. My strongest areas include the musculoskeletal system, major muscle groups, movement mechanics, and the functional relationships among anatomical structures, while my biology background supports broader understanding of the body’s major systems.
Angular

Angular

I am a full-stack web developer and engineering graduate with experience building modern, component-based applications and explaining the architecture behind them. I can help students understand Angular components, templates, services, dependency injection, routing, forms, TypeScript, APIs, and application state. My instruction connects each concept to a working project so students learn not only the syntax, but also how the pieces of an Angular application fit together. I also help troubleshoot errors, organize code, and develop sound debugging habits.
Art History

Art History

I have studied art history with particular focus on Renaissance art, Impressionism, Modernism, and Pop Art, connecting artistic movements to the historical and cultural conditions in which they developed. I have especially deep familiarity with Andy Warhol and Pop Art, have visited the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh many times, and have created my own design work influenced by Pop Art principles. My study has also been strengthened by international travel and direct exposure to major works and historical sites, including the Louvre and St. Peter's Basilica. As a professional designer with training in composition, typography, color theory, and visual communication, I can analyze historical art not only by period and artist but also by the formal visual choices that distinguish one movement from another.
Art Theory

Art Theory

I am a professional designer with formal certifications in areas including typography, composition, color theory, Gestalt principles, and related visual-design fundamentals. I have applied these principles professionally while creating graphic design, layout, and visual media using tools including Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and After Effects. My art-theory expertise includes composition, balance, contrast, hierarchy, proportion, visual rhythm, color relationships, typography, negative space, Gestalt perception, and the way visual elements guide attention and meaning. Because I apply these principles in professional design work, I understand art theory not only as abstract terminology but as a practical system for making deliberate visual decisions and evaluating why a composition succeeds or fails.
ASP.NET

ASP.NET

My computer engineering and full-stack development background gives me a strong foundation in object-oriented programming, web architecture, databases, APIs, and server-side application design. I can help students understand ASP.NET projects, C# models and controllers, routing, Razor pages, authentication concepts, data access, and debugging. I teach by tracing how a request moves through an application so the framework feels logical rather than mysterious. I can also assist with assignments, project structure, and translating general programming knowledge into the .NET ecosystem.
Astronomy

Astronomy

I have completed college-level astronomy coursework and have continued studying astronomy independently as a long-term area of personal interest. My experience includes observing with a telescope, using star charts, following lunar cycles, and identifying the relationships among celestial objects and observable events in the night sky. I am especially knowledgeable about the planets, the Moon, basic celestial motion, and the physical and observational relationships between lunar cycles and phenomena on Earth. My astronomy background combines formal coursework with practical observation, allowing me to connect textbook concepts such as orbital motion and planetary characteristics with what can actually be seen and tracked from Earth.
Baseball

Baseball

I have played baseball for 10+ years and understand the mechanics and situational decisions that make fundamentals transfer into live play. I can work on stance and load, swing path, pitch recognition, throwing mechanics, glove work, footwork, baserunning, cutoffs, relays, and situational defense. I also emphasize game awareness—knowing the count, reading the ball off the bat, backing up throws, and knowing the next play before the pitch.
Basketball

Basketball

I have played basketball for 5+ years and coached for 3 years and can teach the fundamentals that directly affect game performance. I work on ball handling, shooting mechanics, finishing, passing, jab and pivot footwork, defensive stance, closeouts, rebounding, spacing, transition decisions, and pick-and-roll reads. I also emphasize help-side positioning, shot selection, off-ball movement, and recognizing an advantage before the defense recovers.
Biology

Biology

I have completed college-level biology coursework covering cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, molecular biology, anatomy, and related life-science topics. My laboratory experience included dissections, growing mold cultures, and collecting and analyzing pond-water samples to identify and evaluate microorganisms. This combination of lecture and lab work gave me experience connecting biological concepts to direct observation, experimental methods, microscopy, and evidence-based analysis. My strongest areas include cellular processes, genetics, evolution, ecology, anatomy, microorganisms, and the relationships among biological systems at the molecular, organismal, and environmental levels.
Business

Business

As the founder of DevTeQ, a technology and digital-services company, I work directly with business strategy, sales, marketing, pricing, operations, and product development. I have developed service packages, go-to-market plans, financial projections, client workflows, and growth strategies for real business initiatives. I can help students understand entrepreneurship, management, competitive analysis, business plans, and strategic decision-making. I connect academic business concepts to practical situations that make them easier to understand and apply.
C

C

My computer engineering and programming background gives me a strong foundation in C and procedural programming. I can help students understand variables, conditionals, loops, functions, arrays, strings, pointers, structures, memory management, and file handling. I also assist with debugging, compiler errors, program design, and breaking assignments into manageable steps. My goal is to help students understand how their code works instead of simply memorizing syntax.
C#

C#

I have worked on three different professional projects using C#. My first project was creating a VR simulation for a research project using Unity game engine. Second project was building an integrated camera system to detect passing objects speeds and characteristics commissioned by weapons contractor Northrup Grumman. Thirdly, I built an industry grade application for steel mill factory workers to monitor and adjust their equipment using the UI.
C++

C++

Having my BS in Computer Science Engineering at Penn State, I have used C++ to create many projects for various classes. These classes include AI algorithms, DSA problems, and even simple solutions for I/O and file storing and fetching. Using C++, I practiced basics such as popping and pushing onto stacks and heaps, but also advanced concepts such as shortest path algorithms like Djikstra's. I learned computer science fundamentals such as sorting algorithms, OOP concepts, pointers, polymorphism, inheritance, and encapsulation.
Calculus

Calculus

Calculus is foundational to engineering, and my background includes working with limits, derivatives, integrals, optimization, related rates, and applied problem solving. I help students understand what the mathematics means while also developing reliable methods for solving problems accurately. I am especially effective at identifying algebra or trigonometry gaps that may be making calculus harder than it needs to be.
Chemistry

Chemistry

My engineering education included college-level chemistry and laboratory-based physical science as part of a rigorous technical curriculum built around quantitative problem solving. I developed working knowledge of atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, nomenclature, stoichiometry, solutions, gas laws, acids and bases, thermochemistry, equilibrium, measurement, and dimensional analysis. Engineering coursework trained me to manage units, significant figures, assumptions, conversions, and multi-step calculations with the precision chemistry problems require. My strongest chemistry work is in the mathematically structured portions of the subject, where conceptual understanding must be translated into equations, ratios, balanced reactions, and defensible numerical results.
Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering

Having a background of being in a Mechatronics vocational program in high school as well as many Computer Engineering classes at Penn State, I learned how to use assembly MIPS code, translate binary, do bit manipulation, use Verilog to program circuit boards, and do all of the electrical calculations. Being able to draw, design, and implement circuits also made me a valuable member of five different robotics teams that I participated on. Additionally, I have experience with 3d CAD, measurement devices, VR simulation software, computer architecture, and especially fundamental computer functionalities such as the role of different computing components.
Computer Programming

Computer Programming

Having a BS in Computer Science Engineering from Penn State as well as five total years of professional experience as a computer programmer I am qualified to tutor this subject. I have worked on many projects with many different coding languages. I continue to work daily on expanding my expertise in computer programming.
Computer Science

Computer Science

Having a BS in Computer Science Engineering from Penn State, I have been professionally coding in C# for three years. I have experience in many different languages and technologies, including cloud computing, networking, computer and network security, computer systems, embedded systems, IT solutions, VR and AR, and more. I specialize in UI/UX design and development using C# with various frameworks and complementing technologies. I have also worked with Java, Python, C, C++, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Linux.
Differential Equations

Differential Equations

My engineering background includes using differential equations to describe changing physical and technical systems. I can help with first-order equations, separable and linear equations, second-order equations, characteristic equations, initial-value problems, and common solution methods. I teach students to first identify the equation type, then select an appropriate method, work carefully through the solution, and verify the result.
Discrete Math

Discrete Math

My computer engineering education included the mathematical reasoning that underlies algorithms, logic, computer systems, and software design. I can help with propositional logic, sets, relations, functions, combinatorics, graphs, recursion, proof techniques, and Boolean reasoning. I explain abstract ideas with concrete examples and show students how to translate a word problem into precise mathematical statements. My goal is to build the reasoning process needed to solve unfamiliar problems independently.
Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver

I am a professional full-stack web developer with experience creating and maintaining production websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, and modern development workflows. I can help students use Dreamweaver’s visual and code tools while also understanding the actual web standards behind the interface. Lessons can cover site setup, page structure, styling, links, images, responsive layouts, file management, previewing, and publishing. I emphasize transferable web skills so students are not limited to one editor.
Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

I earned an engineering education centered on computer and electrical systems, with coursework involving circuits, electronics, digital logic, signals, mathematics, and system design. I can help students analyze circuits, apply foundational laws, interpret schematics, understand components, and connect equations to physical behavior. My teaching emphasizes units, diagrams, assumptions, and step-by-step verification so errors are easier to locate. I can support conceptual review, homework, exam preparation, and engineering projects.
Elementary Math

Elementary Math

I am an engineering graduate with advanced academic training spanning algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, differential equations, probability, statistics, and quantitative problem solving. That background gives me a deep command of the elementary foundations beneath higher mathematics, including place value, arithmetic, fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, measurement, geometry, and early algebraic reasoning. I understand how number sense, estimation, visual models, inverse operations, and multiple representations prepare a student for later algebra rather than treating elementary math as isolated procedures. My technical work also requires constant use of numerical reasoning, unit conversion, estimation, error checking, and step-by-step verification, which are the same habits that make foundational mathematics reliable.
Elementary Science

Elementary Science

I am a computer engineering graduate with formal training in physics, chemistry, mathematics, electronics, measurement, and scientific problem solving. My academic and professional technical work requires forming hypotheses, interpreting observations and data, separating variables, checking assumptions, and using evidence to determine why a system behaves the way it does. I have strong subject knowledge in matter and energy, forces and motion, electricity, simple machines, measurement, graphs, weather and Earth systems, and the scientific method. My engineering background lets me explain elementary science as a connected system of cause and effect rather than as disconnected facts to memorize.
English

English

I write technical, business, marketing, web, proposal, and client-facing material professionally as the founder of a technology and media company. My work requires precise control of grammar, sentence structure, tone, organization, vocabulary, clarity, and audience because weak wording can change the meaning of technical requirements or undermine a business message. My English expertise includes grammar and usage, sentence and paragraph construction, reading comprehension, vocabulary in context, evidence-based analysis, essay organization, revision, and professional communication. I routinely edit writing for both correctness and effectiveness, distinguishing between a sentence that is merely grammatical and one that communicates the intended idea with precision.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

I am proficient in German and have also studied Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, Greek, and other languages, giving me extensive firsthand experience with the process of learning unfamiliar grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence structure. This language-learning background has taught me to compare grammatical systems, recognize patterns, break down unfamiliar constructions, and understand why direct word-for-word translation often fails. I am also a professional technical and business writer with strong command of English grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, tone, reading comprehension, and revision. I can help English learners understand not only what is grammatically correct, but how English meaning changes through word order, context, idiom, register, and the relationship between spoken and written language.
European History

European History

I have completed college-level coursework in European history and have continued studying the subject independently across medieval, early modern, and modern Europe. My strongest areas include the Early Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, World War I, World War II, and German history. I have traveled to more than ten European countries and have studied history while physically visiting many of the places where major events occurred, giving me direct geographic and cultural context for the material. I also lived in Germany for more than a year, which deepened my knowledge of German history and its relationship to broader European political, religious, and military developments.
Finance

Finance

I have a minor in Management Information Systems from a university business school and completed formal finance coursework that included corporate finance and financial decision-making. I have also independently studied investing, accounting, financial management, return on investment, business valuation, investment analysis, budgeting, forecasting, loans, and financial projections. As a serial entrepreneur, I have applied these concepts to real business decisions involving costs, expected returns, financing choices, budgets, and evaluating whether an opportunity is economically worthwhile. My finance background combines formal academic training with practical experience interpreting numbers, comparing alternatives, projecting outcomes, and connecting financial analysis to business strategy.
Financial Accounting

Financial Accounting

I have formal business and accounting education through my Management Information Systems minor and related business coursework, and I have applied financial accounting directly while operating multiple businesses. My hands-on experience includes bookkeeping, transaction categorization, reconciliations, invoices, bills, expenses, payroll, sales tax, budgeting, financial reports, and QuickBooks Online. I understand how individual business transactions flow into the accounting system and ultimately affect the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and broader financial picture of a company. My strength in financial accounting is connecting the mechanics of debits, credits, accounts, journal activity, and financial statements to the real operating decisions a business owner or manager needs to make.
GED

GED

I am an engineering graduate and professional technical and business writer with strong command of the quantitative, scientific, reading, and writing skills tested across the GED. My technical background covers algebraic reasoning, geometry, statistics, data interpretation, scientific graphs, experimental reasoning, and multi-step problem solving, while my professional writing work requires grammar, reading comprehension, argument structure, and evidence-based communication. I understand the GED as an applied reasoning exam in which students must extract information from passages, tables, graphs, equations, and real-world scenarios rather than simply recall isolated facts. My strongest GED areas are Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, and Science, including efficient interpretation of unfamiliar problems and elimination of unsupported answer choices.
General Computer

General Computer

Having a BS from Penn State in Computer Science and 5+ years of professional coding and computer experience I am qualified to teach general computer. I have many areas of computing expertise in addition to coding including IT support having done so in my other business running a software development company. Founding DevTeQ LLC Software Solutions I have learned many computing skills I can teach confidently.
Geography

Geography

I have studied geography at the college level and have pursued the subject extensively through independent study, travel, memorization, and map-based learning. I have memorized the countries of the world, national flags, national capitals, U.S. state capitals, national leaders, and all 3,143 counties in the United States. I have traveled to approximately fifteen countries, giving me firsthand exposure to different regions, landscapes, climates, cultures, and political boundaries. My strongest areas include physical and political geography, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, climate zones, ecological regions, countries, capitals, flags, and the relationship between geography and the species and human societies that develop within particular environments.
Geology

Geology

I have studied geology extensively through independent fieldwork, specimen collecting, excavation, and long-term study of rocks, minerals, crystals, fossils, and Earth processes. I have conducted my own field digs, identified specimens in the field, and built substantial practical knowledge of mineral and crystal types, formation processes, and the chemical conditions that produce different crystal structures and growth patterns. My geology knowledge also includes plate tectonics, fossils, structural geology, rock and mineral identification, geological formations, and the interpretation of materials found at excavation sites. I am especially strong in mineralogy and crystals, where I combine visual identification with knowledge of composition, formation environment, structure, and geological context.
Geometry

Geometry

My engineering background gives me strong experience with geometric reasoning, measurement, spatial relationships, and trigonometric applications. I tutor angles, triangles, similarity, congruence, circles, coordinate geometry, transformations, area, volume, and proof strategies. I help students turn diagrams and given information into a logical sequence of steps, which is especially useful for students who know formulas but struggle to decide how to begin.
Government & Politics

Government & Politics

I have completed college-level coursework covering government, political theory, and political subjects, and I have continued studying politics independently beyond the classroom. I have volunteered for local political campaigns, participated in political clubs and organizations, and gained firsthand campaign experience through activities including canvassing. I have also researched political issues and created political research videos for public audiences, which required organizing evidence, explaining competing ideas, and communicating political concepts clearly. My strongest areas include American government, political institutions, political theory, campaigns, civic participation, public policy concepts, and analyzing how political systems and organizations function.
Grammar

Grammar

I write and edit technical, business, marketing, web, and client-facing material professionally, where grammatical accuracy directly affects clarity, credibility, and meaning. My daily writing work requires command of subject-verb agreement, pronoun agreement, modifiers, parallel structure, clauses, sentence boundaries, punctuation, verb tense, syntax, word choice, concision, and consistency. I routinely diagnose not only whether a sentence is incorrect, but exactly which grammatical relationship has failed and how a revision changes its meaning or emphasis. My expertise is strongest in explaining grammar as a structured system of relationships among words, phrases, and clauses rather than as a list of memorized rules.
HTML

HTML

As the founder of DevTeQ Web Solutions, I have built many custom web apps using HTML. I have 5+ years of experience in using HTML to build UI's including using it to lead HMI development on a $4M project in industry. I use HTML and other web building languages regularly and can confidently teach these skills to my students.
Java

Java

My software and engineering background gives me a strong foundation in programming and object-oriented design. I can tutor Java fundamentals including variables, control flow, methods, arrays, classes, inheritance, interfaces, collections, exceptions, and debugging. I work carefully through code execution with students so they learn to diagnose problems, understand program behavior, and write cleaner code independently.
JavaScript

JavaScript

JavaScript is central to modern web development, and my professional background includes building interactive web applications and working with front-end programming concepts. I can tutor variables, functions, arrays, objects, scope, DOM manipulation, events, asynchronous code, promises, APIs, and debugging. I help students connect syntax to real application behavior so they can move from isolated exercises to building functional projects.
JQuery

JQuery

I am a full-stack web developer with a strong foundation in JavaScript, the DOM, events, asynchronous requests, front-end debugging, and maintaining existing web applications. I can help students understand jQuery selectors, traversal, event handling, effects, AJAX, plugins, and how jQuery relates to modern browser APIs. I teach students to trace what the code selects and changes so they can debug methodically. I can also help modernize or repair legacy assignments and projects that depend on jQuery.
Linear Algebra

Linear Algebra

My computer engineering education required extensive work with vectors, matrices, linear systems, transformations, and the mathematical models used throughout engineering and computing. I have applied matrix-based reasoning in engineering mathematics, numerical methods, signal and systems work, and computational problem solving where several variables must be represented and solved simultaneously. My linear algebra expertise includes Gaussian elimination, systems of equations, linear independence, span, basis, dimension, matrix operations, determinants, linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and orthogonality. I am especially strong at connecting symbolic procedures to their geometric and engineering meaning so that matrix operations represent transformations and systems rather than arbitrary arithmetic.
Linux

Linux

My computer engineering and software-development work includes operating systems, command-line tools, filesystems, permissions, networking, scripting, servers, and deployment workflows. I can help students navigate Linux, manage files and processes, use pipes and redirection, understand permissions, install software, inspect logs, and troubleshoot common problems. I explain commands in terms of system behavior, so students understand what they are doing before using elevated privileges. Lessons can support coursework, development environments, or practical administration skills.
Literature

Literature

My academic and independent study of literature includes classical works, Homer, Greco-Roman mythology, ancient civilizations, philosophy, and the historical contexts that shaped major texts. I am also a professional technical, business, and creative writer, which gives me extensive practical experience with language, structure, tone, argument, narrative, and close attention to how words create meaning. My literary-analysis strengths include theme, characterization, symbolism, narrative structure, point of view, rhetoric, historical context, and connecting individual passages to the larger purpose of a work. I approach literature as both an artistic and analytical discipline, examining how language, culture, philosophy, character, and structure interact to produce a text's meaning.
Macintosh

Macintosh

My information-technology and software background enables me to explain operating systems, files, applications, accounts, settings, backups, and troubleshooting in a clear, systematic way. I can help students become comfortable with macOS navigation, Finder, keyboard shortcuts, application management, storage, security settings, and common productivity workflows. I adapt lessons for beginners, Windows-to-Mac switchers, and users solving a specific problem. The focus is on repeatable skills that make the student more independent.
Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics

I have completed college-level coursework in macroeconomics covering GDP, inflation, unemployment, monetary policy, and the major indicators used to evaluate national economic performance. I have also independently studied public finance and written papers analyzing the national debt, its economic implications, and different approaches that have been proposed for addressing it. My macroeconomics background includes aggregate economic activity, business cycles, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, monetary policy, fiscal considerations, productivity, and long-term economic growth. I focus on understanding how changes in one part of the economy can affect employment, prices, investment, borrowing, production, and broader economic conditions.
Microeconomics

Microeconomics

I have completed college-level microeconomics coursework covering supply, demand, elasticity, pricing, market behavior, and the economic choices made by firms and consumers. My business studies also included competitive analysis and strategy, which connect directly to how firms respond to incentives, costs, competitors, and changing market conditions. I have started and operated ten businesses over multiple years, giving me firsthand experience with pricing, demand, costs, competition, resource allocation, customer behavior, and tradeoffs in real operating environments. My microeconomics background combines formal theory with practical business experience, allowing me to connect graphs and models to the decisions actual firms make.
Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

I use Microsoft Excel and spreadsheet-based analysis in the operation of a technology business for budgeting, projections, expense review, operational tracking, comparisons, planning, and decision support. My technical background allows me to structure workbooks as auditable models, with clear inputs, formulas, dependencies, checks, and outputs instead of manually edited collections of numbers. My Excel expertise includes formulas and functions, relative and absolute references, IF logic, XLOOKUP and lookup methods, SUMIFS and COUNTIFS, tables, sorting and filtering, data validation, PivotTables, charts, conditional formatting, data cleanup, and workbook organization. I also understand how to design spreadsheets for maintainability, error detection, repeatable analysis, and presentation to people who did not build the original workbook.
Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint

As the founder of a technology, media, and strategy company, I create professional presentations for strategy, sales, technical explanations, business planning, and stakeholder communication. My work requires turning complex information into a clear visual hierarchy that can be understood quickly by technical and nontechnical audiences. My PowerPoint expertise includes slide masters, layouts, typography, alignment, charts, diagrams, image handling, speaker notes, animation, transitions, accessible design, and consistent presentation systems. I also understand the difference between slides built to support a live speaker and slide documents designed to communicate independently, which changes the appropriate amount of text, visual density, and narrative structure.
Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word

I use Microsoft Word for professional technical, business, proposal, planning, and client-facing documents that must remain clear and consistent through repeated revision. My work includes structuring long documents, maintaining formatting standards, collaborating on edits, and preparing polished deliverables for people who were not involved in creating the first draft. My Word expertise includes styles, headings, sections, page breaks, headers and footers, tables, images, references, automatic tables of contents, comments, Track Changes, templates, and long-document formatting. I use Word structurally rather than relying on manual spacing or one-off formatting, allowing documents to remain stable when content, page order, or collaborators change.
Networking (Computer)

Networking (Computer)

My technology work includes configuring networks, domains, DNS, firewalls, cloud-hosted applications, secure authentication, and connected devices. I can help students understand TCP/IP, IP addressing, routers, switches, Wi-Fi, subnets, DNS, DHCP, ports, and client-server communication. I also teach practical troubleshooting methods and foundational network-security concepts. My computer engineering and development experience helps me connect networking theory to real applications and infrastructure.
Philosophy

Philosophy

I have studied philosophy through classical studies, formal logic, political theory, religious and historical study, and extensive independent reading. My strongest background is in classical philosophical thought and the relationship among logic, ethics, political ideas, human behavior, and the historical cultures in which philosophical systems developed. My computer-engineering and mathematics background also gives me rigorous experience with formal reasoning, Boolean logic, propositions, validity, inference, and identifying whether a conclusion actually follows from its premises. I approach philosophy by separating assumptions from arguments, defining terms precisely, comparing competing positions, and evaluating the logical and practical consequences of an idea rather than simply memorizing philosophical names and doctrines.
Phonics

Phonics

I have experience helping younger learners with foundational reading skills, including sounding out letters and words, recognizing patterns, and breaking unfamiliar words into smaller pronounceable parts. My strong background in English grammar, professional writing, and foreign-language study gives me a detailed understanding of how sounds, spelling patterns, syllables, and word structure interact. I am comfortable working with letter-sound correspondence, blending, segmenting, consonant combinations, vowel patterns, syllables, decoding, and reading fluency. I approach phonics as a practical reading system, helping students connect written symbols to sounds so they can decode unfamiliar words independently rather than relying only on memorization.
Physical Science

Physical Science

I am a computer engineering graduate whose technical education and professional work are grounded in physics, chemistry, electricity, electronics, measurement, and mathematical modeling. Engineering required me to move continuously between physical behavior and quantitative models, including forces, energy, waves, circuits, matter, heat, and measurement. My physical science expertise includes motion, forces, work, energy, waves, electricity, basic circuits, matter, atoms, chemical reactions, thermal concepts, graph interpretation, and dimensional analysis. I approach the subject by identifying the governing physical principle first, then using units, diagrams, equations, and reasonableness checks to verify the result.
Physics

Physics

I am a computer engineering graduate with rigorous physics-based training in mechanics, circuits, electronics, signals, energy, waves, measurement, and mathematical modeling. My engineering work requires translating physical behavior into equations, diagrams, system models, and testable predictions rather than treating formulas as stand-alone rules. My physics expertise includes vectors, kinematics, Newton’s laws, free-body diagrams, work and energy, momentum, rotational concepts, waves, electricity, circuits, and introductory electromagnetism. I am particularly strong at dimensional analysis, sign conventions, vector decomposition, model assumptions, and checking whether a numerical answer is physically possible.
Physiology

Physiology

I have studied physiology through college-level biology coursework that included anatomy, health science, exercise-related concepts, and the functioning of major body systems. My academic background is reinforced by approximately fifteen years of personal training experience across bodybuilding, strength training, cross-training, and competitive sports. I have spent years independently studying how muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, and metabolic systems respond to exercise, recovery, and training stress. I have also informally trained others and explained exercise-related physiology in practical terms, particularly how body systems, movement, adaptation, fatigue, and recovery affect performance.
Political Science

Political Science

I have completed college-level coursework in political science, government, and political theory and have continued studying political systems and institutions independently. I have volunteered for local political campaigns, participated in political clubs and organizations, and gained direct campaign experience through activities including canvassing. I have also researched political topics and produced political research videos, which required evaluating sources, organizing arguments, and explaining political ideas to a broader audience. My strongest areas include American government, political institutions, political theory, civic participation, campaigns, public-policy concepts, and comparing how political systems operate.
Prealgebra

Prealgebra

My engineering background is grounded in the arithmetic and algebraic skills students develop in prealgebra. I can help with fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, proportions, negative numbers, exponents, expressions, basic equations, coordinate graphs, and word problems. I focus on building number sense and explaining why procedures work so students develop a stronger foundation for Algebra 1 and later math courses.
Precalculus

Precalculus

My engineering training uses the algebra, functions, and trigonometry that form the core of precalculus. I can tutor polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions, along with identities, equations, sequences, vectors, and analytic geometry. I emphasize the connections between equations, graphs, and function behavior so students are better prepared for calculus.
Probability

Probability

My engineering and quantitative background includes probability, statistics, data analysis, and mathematical modeling. I can tutor sample spaces, counting methods, conditional probability, independence, expected value, permutations, combinations, and common probability models. I help students translate word problems into precise mathematical events and determine which assumptions and formulas actually apply.
Proofreading

Proofreading

I professionally write and edit technical, business, marketing, web, and client-facing material where errors in wording, grammar, punctuation, or consistency can damage credibility or change meaning. My proofreading work requires close review of grammar, punctuation, agreement, sentence boundaries, syntax, capitalization, spelling, word choice, repetition, formatting, and style consistency. I distinguish proofreading from developmental editing by first determining whether the language is correct and internally consistent, then identifying whether a sentence is unnecessarily ambiguous or imprecise. My technical background also makes me highly attentive to factual consistency, terminology, numbers, labels, and small discrepancies that are easy to miss when editing only for style.
PSAT

PSAT

My engineering background provides a strong quantitative foundation, while my professional work also requires careful reading, analysis, and precise written communication. I can help students with PSAT algebra, problem solving, data analysis, grammar, rhetoric, and evidence-based reading. My tutoring combines subject review with pacing, elimination strategies, and careful interpretation of exactly what each question is asking.
Psychology

Psychology

I have studied psychology through coursework and independent study, with my strongest areas in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, learning differences, and human decision-making. My studies have included psychological and learning disorders, including how different developmental and cognitive needs can affect behavior, learning, communication, and family dynamics. I have also worked directly with students with autism and other special needs, giving me practical experience observing how individual differences affect learning and interaction. My broader psychology interests include motivation, consumer decision-making, why people act against their own self-interest, and the cognitive processes that shape choices and behavior.
Python

Python

My software and engineering background includes hands-on programming and application development, giving me a strong foundation for teaching Python. I can tutor variables, data types, functions, control flow, lists and dictionaries, modules, file handling, classes, exceptions, and debugging. I help students trace code carefully, understand Python-specific behavior, and develop the problem-solving habits needed to write programs independently.
R

R

I have used R for data analysis projects involving business data, statistical reasoning, data cleaning, visualization, and interpretation of results. My broader background in engineering, statistics, probability, SQL, Python, and business analysis gives me a strong quantitative foundation for working with structured datasets and validating conclusions. I am comfortable using R to organize data, explore distributions, compare variables, identify trends, create visualizations, and support evidence-based decisions. I focus not only on producing output, but also on checking whether the underlying data, assumptions, time windows, and statistical relationships actually support the conclusion being drawn.
Reading

Reading

I have demonstrated proficiency in SAT Reading, SAT Writing, ACT English, and general Writing, giving me a strong foundation in close reading and language analysis. I can help students identify main ideas, inference, tone, purpose, evidence, structure, and vocabulary in context while separating what a passage actually supports from tempting distractors. I teach students to point to textual evidence for an answer and to develop a repeatable process they can use independently.
SAT Math

SAT Math

My engineering background gives me a strong foundation in the algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data analysis, and quantitative reasoning tested on SAT Math. I help students recognize recurring problem types, choose efficient solution methods, and use tools such as substitution, estimation, graph interpretation, and strategic answer-choice analysis. My tutoring balances content mastery with the pacing and accuracy required for a timed standardized test.
SAT Reading

SAT Reading

My engineering and technical background requires careful reading of dense material, logical analysis, and distinguishing evidence from assumption. I help students apply those same skills to SAT Reading by identifying central ideas, purpose, structure, evidence, vocabulary in context, and relationships among claims. I emphasize selecting answers that are directly supported by the passage and avoiding choices that sound plausible but go beyond the text.
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

My engineering and professional work requires clear, precise written communication and careful editing of complex material. I can tutor grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, transitions, concision, organization, and rhetorical effectiveness for SAT-style questions. I teach a rule-based approach to answer elimination so students can make decisions quickly and understand why the correct choice works.
Sketchup

Sketchup

My engineering, design, and 3D-visualization background gives me a strong understanding of spatial reasoning, dimensions, geometry, models, and presentation. I can help beginners navigate SketchUp, draw accurately, use groups and components, organize tags, apply materials, create scenes, and present models clearly. I teach clean modeling habits that prevent geometry from sticking together or becoming difficult to edit. Lessons can center on architecture, product concepts, classroom assignments, or personal projects.
Social Studies

Social Studies

I have completed college-level coursework across history, anthropology, government, and other social-science subjects, giving me a broad interdisciplinary foundation in social studies. My historical studies include American history from Indigenous civilizations through the Civil War and modern periods, European history, ancient history, World War I, World War II, imperialism, and major empires across Eurasia and the Middle East. I have also studied the Silk Road, the Mongol Empire, Chinese dynasties, caliphates, political institutions, cultural development, and the interaction of geography, economics, government, and society. My strength in social studies is connecting events and civilizations across disciplines so that history, politics, culture, geography, and anthropology form one coherent picture rather than isolated facts.
Solidworks

Solidworks

My engineering background provides the technical foundation for parametric modeling, dimensions, constraints, assemblies, mechanical reasoning, and design communication. I can help students create sketches, features, parts, assemblies, and drawings while understanding design intent. I emphasize fully defined sketches, logical feature order, accurate units, and models that remain editable when dimensions change. I can support introductory CAD coursework, design assignments, and troubleshooting models that fail to rebuild correctly.
Spelling

Spelling

I have demonstrated proficiency in Writing, SAT Writing, and ACT English, all of which require careful command of standard written English. I can help students work with phonetic patterns, syllables, prefixes and suffixes, commonly confused words, and spelling rules while also recognizing the exceptions that must be learned directly. I use word families and repeated application in real sentences so correct spelling becomes part of the student's writing rather than an isolated list.
SQL

SQL

My software-development background includes working with structured data and relational database concepts. I can tutor SELECT statements, filtering, sorting, joins, grouping, aggregate functions, subqueries, inserts and updates, keys, table relationships, and normalization. I help students reason about what a query should return before running it, which makes debugging and database problem solving much more systematic.
Statistics

Statistics

My engineering and quantitative background includes statistical reasoning, probability, data interpretation, and analysis of numerical results. I can tutor descriptive statistics, distributions, sampling, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression, and probability concepts. I focus on helping students choose the correct method, check assumptions, interpret results in context, and avoid conclusions the data does not support.
Study Skills

Study Skills

My professional work requires managing complex technical projects, priorities, deadlines, dependencies, and large amounts of information without losing track of the next action. I use practical systems for breaking work into smaller tasks, estimating time, prioritizing, reviewing progress, and recovering when a plan slips. I can help students apply the same skills to homework, exams, long-term assignments, note organization, and weekly study planning.
Table Tennis

Table Tennis

I have played table tennis for years including on the official Penn State Table Tennis Team and can help players improve both stroke mechanics and point construction. I can work on forehand and backhand drives, topspin, pushes, blocks, serves, serve return, footwork, ready position, placement, and reading spin off the opponent's racket. I also emphasize recovery after each shot, changing pace and placement, and building points instead of simply trying to hit harder.
Tennis

Tennis

I have played tennis for 5+ years competitively in state level competitions and can help developing players improve stroke mechanics, movement, and point construction. I can work on forehands, backhands, serves, returns, volleys, split steps, recovery positioning, topspin, slice, consistency, and directional control. I also teach match concepts such as percentage tennis, attacking short balls, defending with height and depth, and recognizing when to change direction versus extending the rally.
Trigonometry

Trigonometry

Trigonometry is a core part of engineering mathematics, and I am comfortable tutoring right-triangle relationships, the unit circle, graphs, identities, equations, inverse functions, and applications. I help students connect sine, cosine, and tangent across geometric, algebraic, and graphical representations rather than memorizing disconnected formulas. My approach also reinforces the algebra skills and exact-value reasoning needed for precalculus and calculus.
UNIX

UNIX

My computer engineering and development work includes command-line systems, filesystems, processes, permissions, networking, scripting, servers, and deployment. I can help students learn UNIX navigation, file manipulation, pipes, redirection, permissions, process tools, shell commands, and practical debugging. I explain the underlying model behind commands so students can predict results instead of relying on trial and error. I can support academic coursework as well as practical development and administration tasks.
Video Production

Video Production

I have hands-on experience planning, recording, editing, and delivering professional video and marketing content. I can help students with cameras, lenses, exposure, lighting, audio, composition, interviews, storyboarding, green screens, and production planning. My post-production experience includes editing, color correction, motion graphics, captions, sound cleanup, and platform-specific exports. I teach the complete workflow from developing an idea through producing and delivering the finished video.
Vocabulary

Vocabulary

I have demonstrated proficiency in SAT Reading, SAT Writing, ACT English, and general Writing, where vocabulary must be understood in context rather than memorized as disconnected definitions. I teach students to use roots, prefixes, suffixes, word families, connotation, and surrounding sentence clues to determine meaning accurately. I also reinforce new words through reading and writing so students learn when and how to use them naturally.
World History

World History

I have studied world history through college-level history coursework and extensive independent study spanning ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern civilizations. My strongest areas include imperialism, the development and interaction of major empires, and the interconnected history of Eurasia through trade, conquest, religion, and cultural exchange. I have studied the Silk Road in depth, including the Mongol Empire, major Chinese dynasties, Islamic caliphates, and the ways these civilizations influenced one another across regions and centuries. I also draw on my broader study of European, American, and ancient history to place individual civilizations and events within the larger political, economic, religious, and cultural patterns of world history.
Writing

Writing

My engineering, software, and professional background requires me to explain complex ideas clearly for both technical and general audiences. I can help students with thesis development, organization, paragraph structure, transitions, clarity, grammar, revision, editing, and adapting writing to an assignment or audience. I focus on strengthening the student's own voice while giving them a repeatable process for planning, drafting, and improving their work.
Ben M.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Ben before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Ben

Ratings and Reviews

Hourly Rate: $75
Contact Ben