Kode Zee: Game Dev, Tech, & Programming Tutor
About
I am Zovon Lee Mannah and I've been tutoring for almost a decade now. I started tutoring for my Computer Science department at Clayton State University in 2013, primarily teaching Java programming. I tutored professionally with my university until I graduated with my Bachelors in Computer Science in 2017. After graduation, I worked a handful of corporate positions for about 3 years, while tutoring privately on occasion. I also began working as a vocalist in corporate event bands after graduation, so after my last corporate position in 2020, I decided to increase my personal tutoring business to retain my flexibility and availability for gigs and follow my love of music and performing.
As a tutor, I pride myself on meeting my clients goals. Whether that's quickly improving grades for younger students, or improving workplace competency for some of my adult students working in tech. Seeing people learn, and eventually outgrow me, is one of my greatest rewards. Many of my clients have appreciated my relaxed demeanor, use of creative metaphors and illustrative examples, and positive encouraging attitude. I am most frequently praised for my ability to "Figure-It-Out." Because I haven't taken every CS class at every university or used every specific business application, I usually must learn something new with each client. But that's the nature of the tech industry; rapidly changing and evolving, causing curriculums and project specifications to change as well. I never stop learning, and that's why my students appreciate me. No matter what assignment/project/obstacle is thrown at me, I have the Figure-It-Out necessary to learn what needs learned to do what needs done. Furthermore, in my experience particularly with my adult students, I am simply willing and able to do what sometimes they are not willing or not able to not able to do, for one reason or another. Figure-It-Out usually just involves researching on Google, watching lengthy tutorial videos, and reading long articles and technical documentation. On top of that, I can take a concept I just learned 5 min ago and teach it to you like I've been doing it for a long time, and as the saying goes "that why he makes the big bucks."
I enjoy the cooperative nature of working on a focused goal with someone else. I was a more than capable software developer, but I really couldn't stand sitting quietly at a desk for 8 hours without getting to talk to anyone. That's one thing I love about tutoring; we come together focused on a single goal for 60-90 minutes.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, I get to know the new student as I would any person. I learn about their past educational experience, interests, and motivations. Next, I home in on their immediate concerns, such as an assignment/project for school/work. Our first session usually lasts 60-90 min and I use this time to make progress on the student’s immediate concern, while assessing their current capabilities and understanding of the material. At the end of our first session, if it seems like we’ve hit it off and may continue working together long-term, we discuss long-term tutoring goals and scheduling.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
On top of my bachelor’s degree in computer science, I have tutored in this discipline since 2013, both institutionally and privately. I have also worked with students from colleges across the country, from UCLA to Georgia Tech and many in between. I’ve primarily worked with college students/adult learners in programming courses for various languages and technologies. I’ve also taught young students programming and game design, as well as related subjects like English and Math.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I typically charge an hourly rate per person, but I’ve also worked out bulk rates or payment plans based on multi-person sessions or regularly booking many hours per week. I accept payments through Zelle, CashApp, Paypal, Venmo, and Google Pay, and typically collect payment after the session.
How did you get started teaching?
I started programming in 2011 right after high school graduation. I was a self-taught game developer working on a passion project, following tutorials online and figuring out how to implement my own ideas in my project. This gave me a leg up once I started college in the CS major. I’ve always been the type to help my peers academically, so I often assisted my in-class peers get unstuck when the professor taught our Comp Sci 1 class remotely. I had to take a few prerequisites before I could apply, but I started working as the sole Computer Science tutor at Clayton State University in 2013, and tutored consistently until I graduated in 2017.
What types of students have you worked with?
I’ve worked with students of all ages, in school, in the workplace, in-person and online. Online tutoring has allowed me to tutor students in other countries. I’ve worked with students on the autism spectrum, and with different degrees of learning disabilities.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Recently, I got married to the love of my life on a most spectacular one-of-a-kind day: Tuesday 2/22/2022. It was a beautiful occasion with friends and family, the weather was gorgeous, and everything came together perfectly.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would advise don’t get caught up looking for hours for a specialist. Finding a more seasoned specialist that also tutors would be great but finding such a specialist in the tutor pool is unlikely because many tutors are more generalists. A specialist is likely applying that specialist knowledge for over $50/hr in a corporate position. Definitely look for a specialist, but if you can’t find one, go for a Google-Fu Figure-It-Out master like me. ;)
More importantly, I recommend finding someone whose communication style you appreciate. You want a tutor that makes you feel comfortable being wrong until you can get it right. I enjoy fostering a more relaxed, candid educational environment that focuses on your needs, encourages questions and experimentation, and doesn’t make you feel bad for what you don’t know.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
- Do I like the way this tutor talks/communicates?
- Is this tutor experienced in what I need or willing/able to learn?
- What kind of tutoring environment am I looking for?
- Are my goals short-term (1-2 weeks) or long-term (whole semester or 3-6 months)
- What else can I learn from this tutor?