[Tutor] looking to hire a tutor

[Alan Gauld]

> I am a postdoctoral research scientist learning Python programming.  I
> would like to hire a tutor who can spend 1-2 hours a week with me going
> overand critiquing my programming.

We are not available for hire but we do offer a critique service
on code to a limited degree - ie we don;t code review hundreds
(or thousands) of lines worth! But if you want to try ideas out and
ask us how they can be improved we can do that.

> programming classes (not free tutorials), which offer structure and
> feedback for a reasonable price.  To my surprise, I havent been very
> successful.

There are some traditional traiing companies that teach Python,
mainly in the US although at least one is here in the UK too.
But I don't know of anyone online who does that.

>   Working with online free tutorials hasnt been an ideal approach, partly
> because I dont get feedback and partly because they dont completely
> meet my requirements.

This list tries to provide feedback for most of the online tuts, and
I provide a feedback link on every page of my tutor and usually
respond to queries etc within 48 hours.

> Cares about good programming practices and is able to provide cogent
> explanations of programming principles.
> Can instruct me in the finer points of breaking a programming problem down
> into constituent parts.
> Is well versed in Python.  It would be great (but not necessary) if he/she
> were also familiar with data mining practices.

We do that here, but instead of one tutor you get dozens...

> I would be willing to pay 20-30$ an hour (or more depending on instructor
> qualifications).

And we are free. But you don't get one on one tuition. And its public
so you have to be happy to share your mistakes.

So I don't know how you get exactly what you want but this list offers
some of it for free.

HTH,

Alan G
Author of the learn to program web tutor
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld