‘Once it all clicks, it’s an awesome feeling’: Maths Mentor Caitlin shares her tips for maths success
Feeling a little flustered by maths in your unit work and assessments? You’re not the only one!
That’s why we asked Deakin student and Maths Mentor Caitlin Waterford to tell us a little about herself and share her top tips for succeeding with maths subjects.
Caitlin is currently studying her Bachelor of Education (Primary) with the goal of working as a primary school teacher in future.
Why did you want to become a Maths Mentor at Deakin?
I think that maths is a subject that is commonly viewed by students in a negative light due to previous experiences or the mindset that ‘they aren’t good at it’. As I am passionate about maths, I really wanted to work with other students to build confidence and create positive experiences, working to erase the negativity sometimes felt towards the subject.
In your experience, what are the most common problems that students face with maths?
Confidence. Many students come to the Maths Mentors with the capability to work through the problem or topic that they are stuck on but are just lacking the confidence to express their ideas.
What are your top three tips for students who may lack confidence with maths and who want to improve their skills in this area?
- Go back to basics. Spend time mastering the basic skills of mathematics so you can apply these to more difficult problems.
- Seek help. Sometimes having someone to talk through your thinking with is all you need. Deakin has so many great resources!
- Persevere. Understandably maths isn’t everyone’s favourite or best subject, but the skills learned from it are so relevant and necessary for life. Once it all clicks, it’s an awesome feeling!
Why should students attend a Maths Mentor drop-in, and what can a student expect during one of these sessions (whether they’re delivered on campus or online)? Is there anything they should do to prepare?
The Maths Mentors is a free program facilitated by students, for students. The mentors come from all different faculties and courses and thus are able to address problems of all sorts. When students drop in they will, in most instances, be able to work one-on-one with a mentor. Students are encouraged to bring material from their class/seminar that they may want assistance with. However, this is not required!
What are your favourite things about being a Maths Mentor?
I love that it is a program facilitated by students for students as I believe learning from your peers is one of the best ways to learn! As a mentor myself I have learnt from so much from both fellow mentors and students who have dropped in.
Get in touch today!
If you want to chat to someone about your maths concerns, attend one of our online or on-campus drop-ins hosted by a Maths Mentor like Caitlin! You don’t need an appointment, just bring your maths questions. You can share your screen, talk or text with the mentor. You can also get in touch via email and access all the useful resources on the Maths Support Resource Centre at any time.