Here are some tips to be successful in (your) class:
PURCHASE A NOTEBOOK FOR THIS COURSE AND START GETTING ORGANIZED.
Suggested Notebook Tabs for Statistics - DifEq - Trig - Algebra - Precalc - All - If your course does not appear, use the Algebra Tabs.
1.
Make sure you have all the prerequisites for the class (see your Syllabus
to check). If you
have not met the prerequisites, you may cause yourself a lot of frustration,
acquire math anxiety and lose a lot of time and money!
2.
Attend all classes! If
you have to miss a class, make all the effort to learn what was covered while
you were absent, before you come to
the next class. You may call a
friend or your instructor to get the assignment, and read the covered sections
from the book. [Also, check the course
HW/Schedule and handouts.]
3.
Do your
homework
regularly! I will be
assigning a minimum number of homework problems for each of the sections
covered. You need to show an honest
effort to solve every one of these problems.
Do not look at the solutions guide before you've spent some time on your
own to solve a problem. On the
other hand, make sure to check your final answer, so that you can find and
correct any errors. Everyone
makes mistakes - the key is not to get discouraged and frustrated, but to learn
and not to repeat the same mistake. If
you are having a lot of difficulty solving the homework problems, you may want
to get help from your instructor or the Math Lab.
Study groups may also be very helpful.
4. Read the covered sections from the book: One of the most important skills that you can get out of your college education is the ability to teach yourself. Ideally, I recommend that you glance at the sections to be covered, before coming to class. Once you have an idea about what will be covered, you’ll grasp the material a lot easier in class. Read the section again, after it has been covered, before attempting to do the homework. As you are reading the book, go over the solved examples carefully, and making sure that you understand each step.
5. Study a little each day: Try to set a fixed time in your schedule, where you study for this class on a regular basis. This may be two hours before class, or it may be in the evening, after the class meets. Try to stick to this schedule throughout the course. Trying to cram for at test simply by studying the night before the test is very stressful and does not usually lead to good results. By studying a little each day, reviewing for the big test will be a breeze.
6. Don’t wait until things get out of control: If you sense that you aren’t doing well in the class, seek help immediately. Do not wait until mid-semester to start doing something about the situation. If you find that you are no longer enjoying the class and things are getting very difficult and overwhelming, chances are you need some help. Talk to your instructor immediately to get some ideas about what can be done.
7. Be realistic about the expectations you have of yourself: Full-time work, full-time school, a family to take care of is too much to handle all in one semester. You need to have some priorities and understand that it is impossible to do everything at once. It is important not to over-commit yourself so that you can have sufficient time to devote to those tasks that are important to you.
8.
Try to enjoy the experience and have fun:
You will get the most out of this class, if you do not look at it as
another requirement that you need to meet in order to graduate, but instead if
you view it as a new learning opportunity.
Try to forget about the pressure of making a good grade, and concentrate
on the learning process as well as understanding the material. Good grades will
follow.
Ira
Rosenthal, former Mathematics Department Chair and (currently) Professor of
Mathematics at PBCC Eissey Campus wrote this.