Abigail

Hello, my name is Abbi :)

I am a Psychologist through and through! I have studied the subject myself at GCSE, A level, university undergraduate, masters and PhD, and have taught the subject at GCSE, A level, university undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I also hold a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, awarded to me in 2020, which "demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education".

Currently, I am a researcher in Psychology, and offer both online and f2f tutoring for Psychology students.

I am here to support you, and help you to build the confidence and knowledge you need to achieve your academic goals.

Tutoring Experience

** GCSE and A Level **
I have offered private one-to-one tutoring for students at GCSE and A level, in line with AQA standards. I have also supported a home schooled student to gain a GCSE qualification in the subject as part of their National Extension College course. Here, I have designed tutoring materials, at-home exercises (homework), marked assessments according to required exam board standards, provided guided assessment feedback, supported practice exam papers.

** University undergraduate **
At Between 2014-2021 I have held several teaching roles at the University of Essex. I have been a graduate teaching assistant and lecturer in Psychology for an APA accredited, undergraduate BSc Psycholgoy course. My teaching duties throughout these roles included the following: the design and delivery of tutorials, lectures, workshops and classes, the design of assignment and assessment materials, formal assessment and feedback. I have also conduced additional support "drop in" sessions for students to voice their concerns and boost their confidence in their academic ability.

** University postgraduate **
Between 2019-2020 I was a graduate learning assistant in Psychology for masters and masters conversion course students. Here, I assessed formal course material e.g., essays and laboratory reports, and provided bespoke feedback to students. I have also been a mentor to a PhD student in Psychology.

** Other **
I also enjoyed being a PhD Tutor for the Brilliant Club between 2017 and 2018, where I designed and delivered a course on the Philosophy of Science to students at GCSE level, across 3 secondary schools.

Tutoring Approach

** Identifying academic goals and milestones **
I help students to identify their academic goals, and the necessary milestones needed to achieve their academic goals. We will work together to identify what it is that you need to do and best way to achieve this. For example, learning how to answer an exam question in order to maximise your marks, how to write coursework to a high standard, revision strategies for formal and/or practice exams, etc. We will also go through the topics/units for your exam board using a RAG approach, to ensure that you are performing your best in all areas.

** Confidence and self esteem **
I believe that developing skills in confidence and self esteem is half the battle. In my teaching experience, working on your academic confidence will help you to achieve your goals, and feel less stressed doing so. I will listen to your concerns and help you to realise your academic talents - everyone has them, but they look different for different people. It is, and has been, fantastic to see pupils enjoyment of a subject override doubts related to their academic capacity, and to see this reflected in their grades.

** Individual learning styles **
We all have different learning styles and strategies. What works for one person will hinder another, and that's perfectly normal. I will ask you about what strategies work best for you, what aspects studying stress you out most, and what is more likely to confuse rather than help you. My approach to tutoring you will be guided by your progress, comfort and enjoyment.