Mathematics is not a spectator sport! To learn the material in
MTH 306 you must get fully involved. Simply put, to succeed you must work
hard.
The payoff is that you will be learning important concepts and techniques that
are used in many science and engineering applications.
Take notes during the lectures. Think hard about difficult points. Don't
let confusion stand. Get help as soon as difficulties arise. Don't wait. I will
be glad to
help you. Your fellow classmates and the Mathematics Learning Center are valuable
resources. So is your GTA. Use all these resources early and often!
Take an active role in class by answering and asking questions.
Take good notes, but do not expect to understand everything as it happens in class.
Recopy and expand the notes you take in class before the next class meeting. This will help you organize your study, and provide a good personalized reference for the future.This is the time to straighten out points that you didn't fully understand in class.
Study the text with pencil and paper at hand. Stop and workout missing steps or things that you don't understand. This is an effective way to study a mathematics.
Work as many of the suggested problems as you can. And be honest with yourself. Do you need more practice? If so solve more problems. You can find more in the text. The practice midterm and final exams toward the end of the text contain many more problems..
Form a study group and work together on a regular basis. You will be surprised at how much you can learn that way.