Success in Learning Science and Math
Study Smarter, Learn Faster – Study Tips for Math & Science Problems
Jul 11, 2009
Science and math learning techniques and approaches are very different from the ways one approaches the humanities. Whether fulfilling a math requirement for a humanities degree or changing from one major to another, it behooves the smart student to be prepared.
Work Versus Understanding
In humanities classes, study success is based on understanding of concepts; in science and math classes, success is based on understanding specifics. This usually translates to a lot more work. Many students dread the effort involved, but it can be less stressful once a student has developed the right methods.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Reading textbooks and listening to lectures is all well and good, but ultimately these are only windows of access. The only way to pin down a high grade is to genuinely understand the material, and the best way to understand the material is to work through it.
Problem-Solving Skills
Problems written in a textbook can be helpful, but they have their limitations. The process of getting from the beginning to the end of a math or science problem has many different layers, and it's not always easy to see where to start. That, then, is the first question students should ask: "Where do I start to approach this problem?" Break it down into steps, then make sure the steps are in the right order: sometimes an earlier step will need to be done before later steps make sense.
After having reached an answer, it is wise to check work by going in the reverse order: can you get from your answer back to the beginning of the problem, or do you arrive at a different result?
Having an answers list in the back of a textbook is helpful, but not wise to rely on too frequently; however, if stuck on one problem, it can help to find a similar problem with an answer available, and focus on finding the methods that can be used to reach the known answer. Afterward, then, return to the "stuck" problem and apply the same methods.
Interactive Problem-Solving
Because the process of solving a problem starts differently for each person, it's very helpful to work with other students in math and sciences, or to work with a tutor. A good tutor will be able to give hints uniquely suited to each student, in order to lead that student to his or her own process of finding the right answer.
For the antisocial or less affluent student, an AI (artificial intelligence) can be a good tutor: ALEKS is one useful service that costs $19.95 per month, as of 7/09: less than cable TV. Because it offers explanations tailored to the problem, and problems tailored to individual student weaknesses, it can really be worth the money.
Additional Hints & Tips for Study Success
Students can also improve their studying habits by understanding that we learn in different ways and that there are many different learning types, or improve their grades by learning how to write a great term paper.
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