This past weekend and this week I have been studying for my Calculus III midterm which, unlike last semester where I always felt like I was struggling to get my homework done and floundering when it came to understanding the topics, I have felt more prepared than I have in a long time, in addition to less stressed. I’d been having trouble figuring out why that was and was worried that I should feel more stressed. What I realized is that this semester, I have gone into office hours and understood my homework better than I ever did last semester.
Last semester, my professor assigned problems out of a textbook, which I didn’t mind, but I was able to use online resources more readily, one in particular called Slader, which provides detailed answers to problems from hundreds of different textbooks. Although this was helpful for receiving full credit on my homework and for helping me understand how you were supposed to get from step A to B, I often found myself relying too much on Slader and not doing enough of my own work. This in turn made it so that I was not as confident in the material and my ability to work through questions on my own.
My professor this semester writes all of his own homework questions, so if I want to ask for help, there’s no way for me to look it up online, like I could last semester. I have to go in to his office hours and ask specific questions about the problems I don’t understand. This also works in my favor, because I have to articulate what I’m not understanding and can then receive a more individualized answer.
When I do go to office hours, I often bring the whole homework assignment with me and work on the problems in his office. That way, when I have a question, I can ask him immediately and clear up the issue right away, and often have a realization like Jim just had.
Because our homework is due every Wednesday and I most often go to his office hours on Monday, I can also get the homework done early and am not trying to hastily finish it on Tuesday nights.
What I also enjoy about the professor I have this term is how accessible he is. He has his set office hours, but always encourages us to come in other times because he is normally in his office. In addition, the atmosphere he creates makes every student feel comfortable, even when they might need to ask him to clarify something more than once. It can be hard to admit that you don’t know something and be okay feeling vulnerable academically in front of your peers, but in addition to the environment that my professor creates, he exudes that to his students, and I always feel comfortable asking questions in front of my classmates. If you are someone who does feel uncomfortable talking in front of others, most professors are willing to meet outside of their regular office hours to accommodate all of their students, so reaching out is always a good idea if you need extra help.
It can be hard to muster the confidence to visit a professor’s office hours, but in my experience, it is normally worth it. In addition, the help that you can receive on homework and practice tests can be worth it just by the fact that it could help minimize stress. I am not always the best at utilizing this resource, but would recommend it to everyone. Professors are here to help you learn the material, and in going to office hours, you are showing them that you are there to better understand the material and expand your current thought processes. And that’s what education is all about. So utilize professors and their office hours, and don’t be afraid to ask for extra help or to meet outside their scheduled times, if they don’t work for you. It will definitely benefit you in the long run.
If anyone is interested in the math professor I am referring to, please don’t hesitate to contact me: [email protected] He’s the best!