NICK

INTERESTS:
Geographical and geeological educational issues, especially those impacting on SW England.
Most sporting activities and currently involved in gig rowing, having rowed in the World Championships in the Scilly Isles several times.
Formerly Head of Soccer at Truro School.
I now regularly volunteer as a tour guide for the National Trust at Levant mine in Cornwall.

Tutoring Experience

I have spent over 30 years teaching in secondary schools in various parts of the UK (in both the state and independent sectors) teaching both geography and geology to university entrance level. At my previous school our geology department was awarded the best school in the U.K. by the 'Good Schools Guide' for its 'A' Level results! As an educator my approach initiates student-centred learning involving debate and discussion, avoiding being merely a dispassionate purveyor of facts. As a teacher, I prefer not lecture but encourage guided self-discovery with any student. My approach is more ‘the guide by the side’ and not ‘the sage on the stage.’ Use of various opportunities provided by IT, e.g. Powerpoints and related hyperlinks, is also advantageous and can quickly underpin understanding and learning through multi-sensory images, sounds and spoken words. As part of my own personally-led INSET I have researched education in my specialist subjects for an M.A. and, at present, for a PhD in my own time.

Tutoring Approach

As an educator my approach initiates student-centred learning involving debate and discussion, avoiding being merely a dispassionate purveyor of facts. As a teacher, I prefer not lecture but encourage guided self-discovery with any student. My approach is more ‘the guide by the side’ and not ‘the sage on the stage.’ Use of various opportunities provided by IT, e.g. Powerpoints and related hyperlinks, is also advantageous and can quickly underpin understanding and learning through multi-sensory images, sounds and spoken words. As part of my own personally-led INSET I have researched education in my specialist subjects for an M.A. and, at present, for a PhD in my own time.