Webwork
You aren't doing yourself any favors by looking the answers up online, or getting them from a friend. That being said, do be aware of how you are spending your time. If you are trying to integrate the same function twenty times, probably tries 5 through 20 weren't really teaching you anything. If you're going in circles, try something new. Take a walk, do another problem, reread the section in your text, ask a friend, go to office hours, post on Piazza, or visit the MLC.
Quizzes
Quizzes are an opportunity to get feedback on what you know and what you don't. Use them as a guide: where to spend your limited time.
Midterms
Study well for the midterms. Use your webworks and suggested homeworks. Read the chapter, and try to do the worked-out exercises. When you're doing practice problems, treat them like mini quizzes: no peeking at the answers. Peeking gives you a false sense of mastery, and can become a crutch. Try explaining concepts to a consenting colleague, or an imaginary friend. Talking through concepts from start to finish is a good way to cement them in your mind, and expose gaps in understanding. It's much more efficient to study a little over a long period of time than to cram. I get it-- I cram sometimes too. But I'm less cranky and more prepared when I start early.
Suggested Homework
Do all of them. Check your answers against the back of the book. The suggested problems are a minimum. If there are a few that you don't get right the first time, do more from the same section.
Reading the Textbook
Before lecture, go through the chapters for the day. We all space out from time to time when we're listening, especially when we're listening to something highly technical. If you have an outline in your head of where a lecture is going, it's easier to recover from these lapses. Also, by reading ahead, you can get an idea of which parts are going to be the hardest for you, and pay special attention during those parts of lecture. If there's something from the reading you're particularly concerned about, you can formulate a quesiton to ask if it's still not clear from lecture.
Attendance
Come to lecture. Come prepared (by keeping up with everything listed above). Try your best to pay attention. Think hard about questions you are asked. Ask questions when you have them. Don't pack up until the lecture is fully over.
Websites
common 105 website
our sectional 105 website
Connect
Webwork
Piazza
Math Help
Get help if you need it! Struggling is good so long as it is productive. It's a hard thing, but think about how long to spend on a problem before you give up. Giving up too easily teaches yourself bad habits; but don't go in circles and waste your time.
There are lots of resources for math help, but I highly recommend not using any of them to solve a problem until you've tried that problem at least a few different ways. Never ask for help with a problem you haven't thought about on your own. If you see a problem and have no clue where to start, look harder. Read the problem slowly and carefully. Reread the textbook. Look for similar problems in your notes. You're also highly encouraged to search online for notes that make sense to you, such as Paul's or
Patrick JMT
Then, try one of the following.
Piazza
Math Learning Centre
free tutoring from AMS
Visit office hours
Other Help
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