Basically, math is and can be applied to different parts of daily life, and being able to appreciate it and its value will help students work on understanding it early on. However, not every single student will have an easy time in grasping math concepts. Professor Jo Boaler, professor of mathematics education at Stanford Graduate School of Education and lead author on a new working paper called “Fluency Without Fear” shared in an article, “Students learn math best when they work on problems they enjoy, rather than exercises and drills they fear.”
If students understand the concepts more than memorizing tables, numbers, and formulae, a student can most likely learn to love math while sharpening their problem solving skills that are needed in the real world. If you are one of those who find math a challenge, it is never too late to get better at it. Here are some tips.
Understand instead of memorize
Professor Boaler shared that math can be better appreciated and understood if it were taught in different ways such as how English is taught. “In English, a student reads and understands novels or poetry, without needing to memorize the meanings of words through testing. They learn words by using them in many different situations – talking, reading, and writing,” she says.
She also elaborated that memorization and testing in the name of fluency can cause harm to children instead of helping them learn and appreciate math concepts. "We have the research knowledge we need to change this and to enable all children to be powerful mathematics learners," she said.
Have a clear and solid grasp of your fundamentals
Master fundamental topics such as calculations involving numbers, sizes, or other measures that also include addition and subtraction, which are essential to have a better understanding of more complex problems. Other basic topics include multiplication, division, fractions and decimals, and percentages.
Set goals for yourself in the process of learning, this way you can gain the confidence to break down problems in its simplest form. In time, you will be able to solve questions that take more than one step to find the answer.
Use math in daily life
Using your knowledge in practical situations makes math concepts more digestible and useful. Once you realize that these are necessary skills to have in order to make life more efficient for you, then you will put more effort into building the discipline needed for math.
Some practical examples include managing your finances and creating a weekly or monthly budget for personal expenses.
Practice makes progress
One of the main things that will help students get better at math is if they consistently practice. The fear of making a mistake in a computation may discourage them to keep trying. Boaler stated, “Math anxiety and fear play a big role in students dropping out of mathematics.” This holds true to those who believe they are not “good at math” and prefer to focus their time and energy on what they are good at.
It does take some time for one to find ease in solving math problems, but one should not think that they are not cut out for it.
Ask questions and talk to a mentor
Having an open line of communication with a mentor helps in any field and is just as important in honing your math skills. If you find a problem challenging or if you cannot understand some abstract concepts, ask someone who can help you through it. If you are a student, having a mentor guide you and support you through the process does wonders. It may be easy to get some research done and practice tests online, but nothing beats having someone talk you through the process.
Online schools such as Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) features a modernized curriculum that helps hone problem solving skills by providing students with relevant experiences where they can apply what they learn in classes. Students also get the opportunity to talk to mentors and/or professors directly online if they need to consult with anything they need help with and have access to study materials they may need via a learning management system which is available 24/7.
MMDC also offers Projects, Problems, and Cases (PPC) based classes which encourages students to apply their knowledge into actual projects and solve real-world problems in every class they are enrolled in. Students are assessed based on output and not traditional test methods which helps prepare students to deliver quality output and grow their soft skills.
If you get the support you need in your academics early on, you will be able to flourish in real life. MMDC’s Director of Learning and Development Noel Torregoza shares how MMDC values guiding their students through practical applications. He says, “MMDC approaches Math learning in a very distinct manner. We place a strong emphasis on understanding the logic of math concepts instead of merely applying rote procedure. Learners engage a series of pragmatic challenges, similar to those they find in a work environment. They then discover which concept to apply, and what manner to use these as they define complex problems, predict outcomes, identify patterns or trends, and make data-driven decisions. By bridging the gap between concepts and real-world applications, our program shifts the focus from memorizing procedures and passing tests, to gaining meaningful comprehension and appreciation for Math.”
To learn more about MMDC and their programs, visit https://www.mmdc.mcl.edu.ph/. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
