A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)

by Barbara Oakley

Paul’s Techniques for Limited Study Time 1. Read (but don’t yet solve) assigned homework and practice exams/quizzes. With this initial step I prime my mental pump for learning new concepts—new chunks. 2. Review lecture notes (attend every lecture as much as possible). One hour of lecture is worth two hours reading the book. I learn far more efficiently if I am faithful in attending lectures and taking detailed notes—not just staring at my watch and waiting for it to be over. I review my notes the following day while the subjects are still fresh in my mind. I’ve also found that thirty minutes with a professor asking questions is easily worth three hours reading the book. 3. Rework example problems presented in lecture notes. It never helped me to practice problems given by either the instructor or the textbook that didn’t have solutions to provide feedback. With the example problems I already had a step-by-step solution available if necessary. Reworking helps solidify chunks. I use different-colored pens when I study: blue, green, red—not just black. I found that it helps me focus on reading my notes better; things pop out more, instead of blending together into a confusing collage of inexplicable mathematical chaos on the page. 4. Work assigned homework and practice exam/quiz questions. This builds “muscle memory” chunks for the mind in solving certain types of problems.