Math phobia – the fear of math is something most first-year students studying a stats course in the university have. For a good number of them, it is a mindset they have had since high school. Or maybe even since their elementary school days. But have you wondered what it is that makes math seem so tough and mentally strenuous to students? Why are most students generally afraid of math anyways?
Research has shown that mathematics is not an intuitive or spontaneous subject for most. It is not a course that can be understood without proof or reasoning. Learning math requires time and devotion.
To be good at something, you need to devote quality time to it, same with math. So you have to keep working on it, keep practicing, and keep studying it - which is the problem. Studies have shown that the problem is not that math is too difficult for most students. Rather, the actual problem is the lack of a "fixating power."
Most mathematicians today were not born math geniuses. Instead, they most likely developed a staying power in the area of math. Which is something you too can develop. But first, there is a need to change your mindset from 'math is difficult' to 'math is fun.'
Math is Fun – How a First-Year Student Can Make That Happen?
As a student studying a stats course in school, encountering math is definite. With courses like basic statistics, for instance, certainly, you cannot run away from this dreaded subject. The main reason for this is that statistics is a branch of applied math. Mathematical methods are usually required to solve statistical problems in a stats course. As a result, these two courses usually go hand in hand. However, they are both still fundamentally different.
Knowing that you cannot avoid dealing with math, it is necessary to consider making learning fun and easy. Luckily, we have put together guides on how you can make learning math fun. See how to prepare for your first year stats course.
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It is all about your mindset
Having a negative mindset about math is not to learn math in fun or the easy way. Instead, a negative mindset makes you focus on the worst outcome or worst aspect rather than the positive. Negativity breeds stress, anxiety, and confusion, making the learning process extremely tasking, slow and challenging.
Rather than making statements like 'I hate math' or 'math is so hard,' make positive statements. Statements like, I love math or math is fun. Research has proved that positive thinking has physical effects on us. They help to relieve stress, enhance coping skills, among others.
This helps improve our attention span and gives us the needed staying power while cracking those tough mathematical nuts.
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Hire a tutor
While developing a staying power is not as easy as it sounds, getting a math tutor lightens the load. It helps you develop the much-needed staying power easily, as a math tutor will help to keep you in check. With ongoing assignments and tutorial sessions, growing a staying power becomes more than an idea. It becomes a reality for you.
Fortunately, Superprof – an online tutoring Canada platform allows you to engage experienced math tutors' services. You can also opt for online math tutors if you do not want physical tutoring. Engaging the services of a tutor via Superprof allows you to choose your tutor based on personal choice. This could range from your price, opinion, and preference.
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Build on a solid foundation
How well a foundation is built determines how well it can hold up its structure. For example, a shaky foundation equals a shaky structure that can all come crumbling down like humpty-dumpty one day. Becoming good at math requires you to have a good grasp of math fundamentals. A proper understanding of basic math like addition and subtraction is needed to grasp more complex math like algebra, for instance.
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Never try cramming
There is always the temptation to cram things that seem difficult, like math or basic statistics. However, cramming is stuffing information into your short-term memory. Being stored in the short-term memory, there is a tendency for this information to be lost when you need it. So rather than cramming, aim to understand and grasp the concepts and methods.
This will help you to identify questions and the mathematical method they require. Understanding mathematical concepts also help in building a firm foundation and applying them as you advance in your stats course.
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Do not skip classes
Whether you are enrolled in a physical or online college, skipping class is never a good idea when dealing with math in a course like statistics. For instance, missing basic statistics classes may equal missing out on foundational blocks vital to sequential stats lessons.
Find great online course on statistics here on Superprof.
What Should Students Do Before Their Basic Statistics?
As a first-year statistics student, you are bound to come across basic statistics. Basic statistics help lay the foundation for further statistics lessons as you advance. This means that you need to get it right from the start to avoid problems later. There are vital steps you need to take before your basic statistics class, and they include:
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First off, relax
Yes, relax and develop a positive mindset. As we stated earlier, having a wrong mindset can negatively impact your academic performance. Do not become stressed or worry about the course or your performance in it. Rather be positive and believe you will ace it.
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Brush up on the necessary foundational knowledge
Before taking your basic statistics, you should constantly go over the fundamental principles or terms used in the course, such as line and bar graphs, for instance. Especially if it has been a long time, you familiarize yourself with these concepts. So brushing up on them helps you easily understand their application in basic statistics math.
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Get the needed statistics help
This could be by signing up for a physical or online math tutor or stats tutor via good tutoring platforms like Superprof.
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Sign up for online statistics courses
This is also another kind of statistics help available on Superprof. Other than hiring a tutor, you can take online courses instead. Since everything will be done virtually, you can create a flexible learning schedule that works for you.
As a stats student, having a firm grasp of a foundational building block like basic statistics is mandatory. Like we said earlier, basic statistics is a foundation for sequential statistics knowledge. If the foundation is faulty, whatever you build on it would automatically be faulty. Statistics is not hard with these resources.
Why Should You Get a Stats Tutor in Your First Year?
There are generally a lot of struggles and distractions that come with the first year in college. These include; new surroundings, a new learning schedule, personal freedom, and many freshman parties and programs. As a year one student, it is encouraged to engage a tutor. This tutor will serve as your academic adviser and a sort of academic check and balance for you.
Subsequently, as you go up the ladder, you will find this check and balance helpful in several ways. First, it will ensure the academic and other areas of your life are adequately balanced.
A stats tutor will help you get a soft-landing in the world of college statistics.You will be well-prepared to know what to expect and not be caught unaware of unfamiliar topics. For example, if you struggled in math in high school, you should get a college tutor to ease your academic load.
Signing up for a stats tutor via Superprof assures you of hiring a professional as you begin your college journey.
Do You Need Group Lessons to Pass a Stats Course?
While there is no definite answer to this due to the diverse study patterns of individuals, study groups do help. A study group is the coming together of the brilliant and not-so-brilliant to rub minds on a class topic. For one, a study group enables you to stay on schedule with what was taught in class.
With a study group, you can also learn and grasp concepts better. This is because you can engage and discuss the resources with others actively. For example, having a study group prevents procrastination and piling up class lessons. In group study sessions, you can review stats topics and see things from a new angle.
Find great stats tutor here on Superprof.
Will Online Math Tutors Help You as a First-Year Statistics Student?
One of the perks of hiring online math tutors is flexibility in scheduling. This is a perk with the myriad of classes lining up for first-year students. You will easily schedule tutoring sessions without worrying about geographical constraints.
Hiring an online math tutor gives you access to quality math tuition from wherever you are. You get the chance to learn at your pace and a reduced cost while saving time and energy. Using Superprof, stats students can engage an online math tutor of their choice, whether based on opinions or preference.
The chances are that you have heard tales of woe about the difficulty of stats from senior colleagues. But they may not all be true; you can ace your stats course easily. All you need is good planning, time management, a good tutoring Canada platform like Superprof, and a positive mindset. Then sit back and watch the A's roll in.
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