A Strategy For Success in Math

For many people, learning math can be an extreme challenge. It can be like a battlefield, where on the one hand, the teacher says, “this is what you need to learn”, and on the other hand, the student says, “I have no idea what you are talking about!” Are there any ways that the student can come better prepared for the battle?

I believe that as the human brain sees material for the 2^nd, or 3^rd, or 4^th, time, it almost naturally get easier. If we can create an environment such that a student learns the skills and concepts prior to classroom instruction, their likelihood of achieving success can grow, using a mathematical term, exponentially. And, not only hear the material, but to practice questions related to the lesson and have immediate feedback to the solutions. A significant by-product of such an approach is the almost certain increased level of confidence. Convincing oneself of being a capable math student, can be a huge step forward in a positive direction. In my mind, far too many students create a mental barrier to being a successful mathematician.

There is no doubt that extra time is required here. What would motivate a student to invest this kind of time when there is no clear cut positive result as a reward? If they hear that the experience of other students has proven to be successful, and if a solid mark is vital for a career goal, I believe a student would give serious consideration to this strategy.

For this plan to work, there needs to be video instructional lessons, as well as practice questions with solutions, to a complete course. The specific example I am about to share is based on the Alberta, Canada grade 12 math curriculum. A student approached me for tutoring assistance. Along with the tutoring, I provided this student with some online materials that met the criteria above; instructional videos for every concept in the course, along with practice questions for each lesson, and detailed solutions. There was also a practice exam with detailed audio solutions. I asked this student if she wanted to consciously apply this strategy of “working ahead” at the outset. She agreed to the plan. Here was a conscientious student who realized that her up-front time investment would likely yield dividends. And it did!

This student had about a week prior to beginning classroom instruction when she delved into the online materials. As she walked in the door for day 1 of the term, she was well over half way into the first unit. She finished all the videos and most of the practice questions before the classroom unit exam. Confidently, she passed the first unit exam with an excellent mark. This set the stage for a very positive experience throughout the term. Confidence was moving in the right direction.

Although it was more challenging to stay ahead of the material as time moved on (she also had to be cognizant of current classroom instruction), there were still many opportunities for her to stay “ahead of the game”. Coming in to the course, her goal was just to pass. She passed with honors.

Her success was due to several factors. She worked hard. She put in the time. She sought assistance when necessary. However, by her own account, this particular “working ahead” strategy played a significant role in her achievement.

“Math is definitely not my strong suit so I decided it was best to reach out and get some help. I met with Phil twice a week and decided that we were going to try to work ahead of the class. I truly believe that working ahead was extremely beneficial to my understanding in math 30-1. Working ahead made it easier to understand what was being taught in class because I was able to see the material we were learning before hand, and while being a student that needs time to process information, it was very helpful to have a resource that allowed me to succeed. The first time I met with Phil I had told him that my goal for the class was just to pass, but he made sure to help me with whatever I needed and reminded me to stay confident when going into tests. Phil not only helped me pass the class, but helped me pass with honors which I would have never been able to do on my own.”

Jordan F.