Math is a subject that many people either love or hate. Regardless of which side of the equation you’re on, having a strong understanding of mathematics is essential for navigating our increasingly digital and quantitative world. The best way to get a grip on math is to study with one of the world’s best educators, professor of mathematics Jo Boaler.
Here is the best course of action for learning math with Boaler.
Warm Up Your Brain
Before you start diving into the complex world of mathematics, it’s important to prime your mind for the task at hand. Practicing mindfulness, reading about math and getting your creative juices flowing are all important steps before beginning a math lesson.
Taking a few minutes to meditate on the importance of the lesson and to focus your attention can help you find mental clarity. Reading up on the basics of mathematics and the topics you will be tackling can help you get motivated and understand the bigger picture. Lastly, engaging in a creative activity such as playing a musical instrument or drawing a picture can help prepare your brain optimally.
Find Your Learning Style
Jo Boaler has identified three primary learning styles when it comes to math: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners often benefit from seeing images and diagrams to help them understand.
Auditory learners may prefer verbal instruction and reasoning. Kinesthetic learners may prefer to actively engage with math, such as building physical models or using objects to illustrate the concepts being taught. Finding your primary learning style can help facilitate the learning process and make the most of your time with Boaler.
Engage with Problems
One of the best and easiest ways to learn math with Jo Boaler is to engage with math problems. Rather than trying to memorize different equations, engage with the problem at hand and actively work out on paper what the solution might be. This problem-solving process is one of the most important lessons you can learn.
Boaler’s method actively engages students’ mental muscles, revealing different nuances of the mathematics. Ask friends or classmates to review your work and point out mistakes while you are working, as this can lead to an even better understanding of the mathematics.
Make Connections
In mathematics, making connections between previously-learned concepts is just as important as learning new theories. Jo Boaler’s teaching style emphasizes the importance of weaving together different mathematical theories and making connections.
Having an understanding of how the different concepts relate to one another can help increase your overall knowledge and expand your view of the subject. Encourage yourself to see the big picture when tackling new problems and to connect the dots between the different principles involved.
Work Outside the Classroom
For many people, the best way to learn math is through additional practice outside the classroom. Jo Boaler encourages her students to work with her during office hours and to pursue online resources. Seek enrichment activities such as visiting museums, attending conferences, and reading relevant books.
All of these resources can help give you a better understanding of the material and help you absorb the material even faster.
Develop a Growth Mindset
In her teaching approach, Boaler emphasizes the importance of having a growth mindset. This means embracing challenges, viewing mistakes as opportunities to learn, and persevere despite frustration or failure.
Having a growth mindset can help you learn more effectively, increase your performance, and stick with the material even in the face of difficulty.
Participate in Discussions
No matter if you are attending a class in person or joining an online course, it’s important to take part in discussions. Ask questions when you don’t understand something and actively participate when topics are discussed.
Sharing your opinion and collaborating with classmates can help you build relationships and engage with the material on a deeper level.
Take Notes
Taking notes is one of the most important habits to develop if you want to succeed in the classroom. While this is especially true of math classes, taking extensive notes can help you make connections, identify weaknesses, and remember information better. Jo Boaler encourages her students to take notes in class, create summary sheets that they can use to review and ask her specific questions in order to make the most of their time together.
Seek Additional Help
If you’re still having difficulty getting the material, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Asking questions during class and taking advantage of office hours are great places to start, but if you need more assistance, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask.
Jo Boaler’s online resources that can be reached 24/7 and can serve as a great source for extra help and engaging with additional material.
Learn the Fundamentals
Math may seem overwhelming and like a mountain of equations to many students, but it can be broken down into the basics leading to simple and achievable problems. Jo Boaler always starts out by breaking down the material into its basic components, making the material much more approachable.
This can help a great deal when trying to understand new concepts, as it reduces the amount of knowledge that needs to be processed and understood.
Be Fearless
Don’t let yourself be dissuaded by difficulty and the feeling of being overwhelmed. Jo Boaler always encourages her students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves.
Fear of failure can hold many students back from achieving success, but taking risks can help open up a world of possibilities. Learning from your mistakes and having a willingness to try again can help immensely in furthering your grasp of mathematics.
Conclusion
Although math can seem daunting and complicated, understanding the principles can make the material much more manageable. Jo Boaler is one of the world’s leading mathematics educators, with effective and actionable tips to help you learn and understand math better.
Warm up your mind with mindful practices and creative activities. Become familiar with your learning style and engage with problems, making connections and seeking out resources to further your knowledge. Develop a growth mindset and reach out for help when needed.
Breaking down the complexities into the fundamentals can help you make progress and learn more effectively. With these steps, you can make the most of your time studying with Jo Boaler and become well-equipped to tackle any mathematical problem.