Re: [MATHEDCC] How to Succeed in Math

Lawrence Gilligan (gilliglg@email.uc.edu)
Sat, 17 Jan 1998 12:14:54 -0500

Congrats on the web site:
>How to Succeed in Math at
http://coolmath.com/success.htm

If I may be so bold, I would like to suggest another "how to study for a
math exam" entry.

It comes from the student statement (I'll bet you've heard this one!): "I
don't understand it, Professor X. I understood all the homework but got a
23 on your exam"

Students who have the discipline to do homework sometimes find themselves
in this dilemma. I suggest to my students that the reason is that homework
is relatively similar each night -- that is, all the questions usually come
from the same section. On an exam, they are mixed up. I suggest to
students as they study for an exam, make up their sample exam on 3"-by-5"
cards. Before they take it, SHUFFLE the cards. Then they develop
experience on HOW TO START the problem. Better yet, study with a friend
and take each other's set of shuffled cards.

Anyway, great web site. I am going to adjust my website to include a link
to it!

Lawrence G. Gilligan
Professor of Mathematics

University of Cincinnati
OMI College of Applied Science
2220 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45206

(513) 556-4868

FAX: (513) 556-4878

http://www.uc.edu/~gilligan

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