Preparatory Mathematics 2015 Team of Instructors: Ciaran O’Sullivan and John Keogh 1

Abbott and Costello math joke 2

Buzz session 1 Introduce yourself to the people around you. Now be ready for the next task……… 3

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Maths Study Skills Math Study Skills Author: Alan Bass Pyblkisher: Addison-Wesley (E) ISBN13: ISBN10: X Contents:  What Makes Math Different  Learning Styles  Math Anxiety  Managing Your Time  Your Class Notebook,  Your Textbook and Homework  Class Time and Note Taking  Retention and General Study Strategies  Test Taking 7

Buzz session 2 Form into teams of 3 or 4 people. Now be ready for the next task……… 8

Chapter 2: What Makes Math Different Why is maths so tough? 9

The list of issues 10

Maths Study Skills Math Study Skills Author: Alan Bass Publisher: Addison-Wesley (E) ISBN13: ISBN10: X Contents:  What Makes Math Different  Learning Styles  Math Anxiety  Managing Your Time  Your Class Notebook,  Your Textbook and Homework  Class Time and Note Taking  Retention and General Study Strategies  Test Taking 11

Discussion based on Ideas from “Maths Study Skills” by Alan Bass Attitudes towards Maths. MATH ANXIETY –Symptoms of Maths anxiety –Why Maths anxiety –THE CURE Do math every day. Study smart. Do NOT skip class Be organized. Practice quizzing yourself. Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk. Use your resources. –THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ATTITUDE I am responsible for the grade I make in this course. I will be patient and persistent in pursuing this goal. I am smart enough to pass math. I will pay the price for success. Using Time. “ However difficult your struggles in maths might be, I can assure you that mine are greater.” Albert Einstein. 12

Class time - Before Reviewing the last class –Reviewing your notes from the last class. –Surveying the section that will be covered that day –Reviewing the material from the last section to prepare questions. –Doing one or two problems from a previous section that you know you can do. Punctuality Be on time! Get a good seat 13

ClassTime: Class time is a workout; no pain, no gain arrive early get a good seat, listen actively – focus!!!!!!! take good notes, ask questions. do not wait get stuck in! Class 14

ClassTime: During Class Ask Questions!!!!!!!!!! "Could you quickly go back to... ?" "Is that the only way to do that step?" "Could that step be done this way?" "Could we... ?" "What's the difference between... ?" "What if we... ?" "Why did you have to... ?” "For this type of problem, is that example about at the level of difficulty that would be on a test?" (Don't ask this one too much!) 15

ClassTime: After Class Do some work in between lectures –attempt all the skills from the last class Reworking notes Reread the notes. Add in extra steps and comments to the notes so that they are clearer. For something you don't understand, put a question mark by it and try write a question you could ask about it. circle key terms or formula or examples 16

Free Help: mathcentre resources which will help you: Quick reference leaflets which provide easily accessible support on key topics.leaflets Teach-yourself booklets with a more in-depth treatment of important topics and which include theory, worked examples and exercises.Teach-yourself booklets Practice and revision booklets which contain hundreds of practice exercises with answers.revision booklets On-line exercises, which allow you to self-test or practice basic techniques.On-line exercises Mathtutor video tutorials on a wide range of mathematical topics. (Streaming kindly provided by University of Portsmouth Creative Technologies, video tutorialshttp://stream.port.ac.uk iPod video segments, useful short clips from our Mathtutor video tutorials that you can download to your video iPod.iPod video segments 3GP mobile phone downloads, useful short clips from our Mathtutor video tutorials that you can download to your mobile phone3GP mobile phone downloads 17

Moodle Page: Enrolment Key:…………………… 18

Range Human Statistics!!!!! Shoe Size Mean, Mode, Median 19

Reflection Sheets 20 My reflections……….( key points learned, high point of the course, low point of the course, my mood, my learning, ……….) What have I learned from these reflections? (One thought to carry forward, aspects of learning of topic which are still of concern, …….) Each week and end of module