Studying Maths Off-Campus

For further one-to-one assistance on how to study maths and prerequisite mathematics, contact The Learning Centre.

What to do when you get stuck

• Scan the module first to see what is in store for you. The objectives in the introduction will also give you a summary of this.
• Begin at the beginning of the module reading through the text and examples. When you come to an activity, complete the questions included there. The solutions to all the questions are often included at the back of each module and we encourage you to look at these if you have a problem (it's not cheating, it is part of being a distance student).
• Purchase a small notebook or set of cards to include definitions of new words, symbols and concepts. When you come to a new word, symbol or concept, add this to the lists in this notebook.  For example, factors is a commonly used word but in mathematics it has a particular meaning, you might construct a notebook entry for this word. You could even develop your own index to the areas you have difficulty with.
• We encourage you to talk more about your mathematics. It is amazing how even maths can be helped by talking with somebody. You can do this with friends, work colleagues, at your tutorials or through the course discussion group.
• Contact your  lecturer for hints. This can save an enormous amount of time for people who take the wrong path.

Many people think that doing mathematics involves ‘doing the sums'. However, ‘doing the sums' is only one part of doing and being involved in mathematics. In fact, it doesn't matter how good you are at doing these sums if you can't communicate your answers or solutions with others. You have to be able to convince your colleagues or clients that your answer is the appropriate one. So communication is just as important in mathematics as it is in other subject areas. Other things that you will develop will include increasing your ability to think critically, refine ideas, interpret results and apply new ideas in creative ways. Just like many learners of mathematics in the past, you will all have to construct your own meaning for the new mathematics you are presented with. This will involve looking at what you already know and building on this to construct your own understanding of this new knowledge.

So it is important to realise that learning mathematics is an exploration where often:

• you will struggle to make ‘sense' of something
• you need to revise and refine your ideas
• more questions than answers might be raised in your mind.

So what can you do to help resolve such dilemmas?

• value your intuition and common sense
• listen to any nagging doubt in your mind
• recognise when you no longer understand something
• recognise and celebrate when you have finally ‘got it'
• be pleased when you get stuck as it is here you will be learning new skills

There is no doubt that you are going to get stuck sometimes. This can occur when you are trying to work through the study material or when trying to solve a problem.

DON'T PANIC!

Try to see ‘getting stuck' in a positive light.

Strategies for getting unstuck when working through the study material.

• try to recall the last time you were stuck – how did you get out of it then? Remember that you did get out of the hole
• go back a couple of paragraphs and read aloud, slowly
• skip the part you are stuck on and read forward a few paragraphs and check the corresponding activity set and then return to where you were stuck
• check some old school textbooks you might have for a different explanation
• contact the discussion group or somebody you might know and explain to them the topic up to the point you got stuck (they don't have to be doing maths too).
• remember that you are not alone – contact the discussion group to talk with other students or contact your tutor

Strategies for getting unstuck when ‘problem solving'.

• re read the question slowly
• determine what is required
• determine information given and note any special conditions
• determine if any information is irrelevant
• break down the problem into parts
• 'guesstimate' the answer to part of the problem and proceed
• look at a simpler problem

If things have still not gone quite right then:

• check that you have not copied anything down incorrectly
• scan for errors in your calculations
• look back at answers to similar questions
• start with a fresh page where you cannot see previous working
• read the question again slowly
• leave the problem for another day
• ask your tutor or lecturer for help