Innovative, expert Computer Science teacher offering structured, high-value group sessions where students collaborate to achieve top grades consistently.

Find out more about Harvey

• 1) Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  It’s hard to remember the first ever experience, but some notable moments from my childhood stand out, most of which are gaming related. I’ll never forget the awe of watching my family members play The Sims on the old family computer. Realising you could build a second floor was far more mind-blowing than it should have been – and the fact that you could decorate any way you wanted had my mind racing with ideas. It was fascinating. I remember purchasing my first PC games and spending hours (probably past my bedtime) exploring everything there was to do in them.

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  In my personal life, seeing how the games industry has evolved has shown me the scale of the digital world. It is no longer a niche hobby – practically everybody is gaming in some capacity. That being said, a more profound consideration is AI.
  
  AI has begun to shape people’s lives in a similar way I think, and it’s only a matter of time before it is embedded in our everyday lives, for better or for worse. That being said, we can turn it into something magical and captivating – and there is great value in using the technology responsibly and ethically.

• 3) Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  Computers give us everything. You can shop, communicate, experiment, play, and perhaps most importantly learn online. I have studied computer science for many years now, choosing it as an option for my GCSEs and A-levels entirely because of my love for computers. I then went on to study game design at level 6 and most recently a PGCE in secondary computing. It has shaped the last few years in particular, and although my particular area of expertise is game design and development, I have a fondness for almost all aspects of computer technologies. I think game development is more accessible and exciting than ever before, and I want to inspire and motivate the next generation to create the games/software they want to make. Entertainment is more necessary than we realise, and games are a social, interactive source of it.

• 4) Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I think so-called ‘visionaries’ are incredibly overrated. People turn to their financial success, and it’s true – it cannot be ignored - but I believe it’s far more beneficial to mark their paths as completed, and look to new horizons. Forge your own path, because the world doesn’t need copycats, it needs original thinkers. That’s how they got to the top, after all. I am personally much more inspired by those that help others understand the world around them and encourage us all to learn a little more every day.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  One of my first coding experiences was with batch files. This was before I discovered Python or C, and all I really knew how to do was make a small text based adventure game where the user could type in what to do next, and I would describe what they could see. I was desperate to learn more, and made hundreds of small text based games. There was one day at school where several of my friends were on a trip, and so I spent the whole lunch time at the library computer, typing away telling the user they’d been slain by a monster, or that their sword had lost its durability… I haven’t stopped coding ever since, even if my focus has shifted to more versatile languages.

• 6) What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  IT/computing is not for everybody – but this person ended up here for a reason. Something about them was compelled to learn more, and even if they were finding it difficult (it is a tough subject), we would take a step back and look at it from a different perspective. I would aim to keep them intrinsically motivated above anything else, so that the learning process becomes easier long term. We don’t need a motivational pep talk, but we can work together and assess what brought them here in the first place.

• 7) What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  In my spare time I play piano, I’m writing a teleplay and musical, and I make small indie games. I also value being a high-quality educator so that I can teach professionally and continue to inspire the next generation of computer scientists. For this reason I read, research, and give my PGCE all I’ve got.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  While my expertise is certainly oriented towards the fundamentals of computer science and programming, I am a generalist – I know a lot about many different aspects of computing and can form links between topics/subjects for students. I personalise the curriculum for each and every student, thoroughly preparing to ensure everyone has the best education possible. I communicate with students to understand their needs and structure the lessons around them. For IT, I leverage technology to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment at every opportunity.