Tag Archives: homework

Awesome Professors, Office Hours, and Actually Understanding Homework

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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!

Math’s Beast: the wonders and horrors of Calculus II

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unknown-2After finishing Calculus AB in high school, I was content with the fact that I might never take math again. Unfortunately, once I decided that I wanted to become a science major, taking math again was no longer an option – it was required.

Coming into college, I was intent on being a double major in biochemistry and English. I knew that I wanted to combine my love of the sciences with my love for writing and figured that a double major made sense. Thus, I would also need to take Calculus II in order to fulfill the major requirements for biochemistry. After taking Calculus I at Pomona last semester with one of the best math teachers I have ever had, I wasn’t too worried about Calc II and was confident that my professor had prepared me well. I knew that with hard work, I would be able to do well in the class. Although I still believe this to be true, I have heard more recently, from many friends, peers, and professors, that Calc II is the hardest of the three calculus classes. That was not exactly uplifting news and not what I wanted to hear about a class that was making me more and more nervous. It wasn’t until I remembered some of the basic skills you need to succeed in math classes, that I began to feel better.

Math is a subject that you must learn by doing. My mom is a fifth grade teacher and always tells her students that the only way to get better at it, is to practice. Although this is fairly intuitive, as many of us have been taught this lesson in other parts of our life, such as in sports or the arts, math is especially tricky because it is hard to remember that even if you can get one problem right, there are so many other variations that can be written. Math challenges us to evaluate what we are seeing at first glance. There are often problems that are easy to solve, but require work at the beginning to make the rest of the problem possible. This approach is unlike most of the problems we learn to solve in algebra classes where the strategy to solve for the specific answer is pretty straight forward. But in Calc II, not only are you solving for that specific answer, you must also determine if work needs be done beforehand so that the problem is properly executed.

Math can also be difficult simply because it does not seem applicable to our dailiy lives. For example, it might lead us to have these sorts of thoughts:math-fail-pics-409unknown

 

 

 

 

 

But what I am learning more and more often, is that Calc II is applicable and can help me understand more of what I am learning in my science classes. Although, it’s hard to believe, the parallels are there.

Calc II has proven to be a challenge, even this early in the semester, and yet, when I do end up figuring out that problem that’s been driving me crazy, I can’t help but feel exactly like this:

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Comments? Questions? Resources? Comment below and share any of your own success (or horror) stories about Calculus II.

Breaking Break: How to Make the Most of Thanksgiving

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Ahh, yes, it’s that time of year once again. The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping (well, at least it should be), and the end of November is within grasp. This also means that a lot has been happening since our last little break, back in October, and the end-of-the-semester crunch is beginning to rear its nasty little head. I know I’m not the only one wondering where this semester has gone–let alone the rest of this year. Time sure flies when you’re having fun, right?

Wait, there are HOW many weeks left before winter break???

With final paper due dates looming in the not-so-distant future, different class projects that always seem to be due at the exact same time, thesis deadlines approaching far too rapidly, and this semester’s flex allotment nearing dangerously low levels, it is definitely the perfect time for a little break–from work, from stress, and from all the aforementioned factors that can really weigh us down this time of year. Enter: Thanksgiving break! The perfect blend of time off, relaxation, good food, and the last little rest before the final push of the semester. Whether you’re going home, staying on campus, or tagging along to someone else’s house for the holidays, the break is a great opportunity to take a mental break from the stress of school, but also finish up some of the work that can pile up before the end of the semester and finals time.

Me @ all of my assignments right now……yikes.

As someone who absolutely needs to do some work this Thanksgiving break, I’ve outlined some of the ways in which this Thanksgiving break can be the best one yet–getting the necessary time off that we all deserve, while making sure there is still some productivity happening during the days off. Have a look at some of the steps I will be taking to ensure I stay on top of things as I stuff my face with turkey and enjoy some quality cuddle time with my cat. Keep in mind, what works for me might not work for you. But, if that’s the case, then go ahead and design your own Thanksgiving to-do list!

See? You can be just as productive as this lil guy here.

So, without further ado, here’s my “Thanksgiving Break Productivity Cheat Sheet!”

(spoiler alert: it is very unlikely that I will be following all these steps to a tee, but at least the foundation for not completely sleeping through my entire break is on the table)

  • Before you leave (or before break “officially” starts), plan out the work, applications, or specific assignments that you want to get done, and make sure to bring whatever you need to complete it.

This is particularly important if you are going to be traveling over break–be it home or elsewhere. If you need a specific book for reference as you finish up a paper, or need that one notebook you scribbled down some notes in for that one class, make sure you bring it! There is nothing worse than remembering that somewhere, in the deep crevices of your backpack, is a small piece of paper that has a really bomb piece of information on it that will totally cinch your conclusion. If you plan accordingly for the work you want to do, it will make it that much easier once it’s time to sit down and start it.

  • Figure out a day (or days) that would work best for you to set aside for being productive, and make a plan for how you want to structure your working day.

For obvious reasons, the actual day of Thanksgiving might not be your best bet for having some time to get work done. I know that I will be waaaaayy too full of yummy food all day to even think about sitting down and writing–talk about a food coma. But, if that works for you, then go for it! Visualizing how you’re going to spend your break (whether it be with friends, family, or in bed snuggling with your pets) makes it easier to set aside some time for working, especially if you already know you have plans to work around.

  • Tell your family/friends/pets that you want some time to yourself to do what you need to do.

It can be very tempting over break to try and squeeze in as much time with your friends and family that are in town as possible. If that’s what you want to do with your time, then have at it! Seeing old friends for the first time in a long time is a great way to rejuvenate after a solid couple of months of school. But, if you have work that needs to be done, letting them know ahead of time can help you make more effective plans, without hurting anyone’s feelings.

  • Be realistic about what you want to/will get done! 

Look, it’s Thanksgiving break. If you get caught up in the holiday spirit, or take an impromptu trip with your family somewhere and spend less time on your essay or whatever, it’s not the end of the world. You deserve a little break! And, if you’re like me and know that you’ll probably get less work done than you initially planned, leaving a little wiggle room for some extra down time might not be a bad thing.

And, on that note……

  • GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK!

It’s been a busy semester, and this break is happening for a reason (besides a government mandate…..you know what I mean). It’s good for us all to take a step back and reflect on how the semester has been going so far, and sometimes that means just getting out of the school mindset altogether. Especially at this time of year, instead of worrying about everything that is coming up after break (and it can be a lot, don’t get me wrong), think about everything that you’ve accomplished at this point. For seniors, this is pretty wild–it’s our last Thanksgiving as college students! We’ve done so much in our 3.5 years so far! But even if you’re not a senior, try reflecting back on all the papers, all the tests, and all the hard work you’ve put into your education. Seriously, you deserve a break!

So, keeping this all in mind, go forth and have a restful, well-fed Thanksgiving break. If you get all your work done, then hey! That’s great! But, if not, no worries. You’ll figure it out.

Happy holidays, and enjoy your time off~!