For the Love of Lists

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Best Math Resources for Any Age

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Best Math Resources for Any Age

Happy Pi Day everyone!

To celebrate this year’s Pi Day I’ve decided to put together a list of some of my favorite math resources. Math is one of those subjects most people either love or hate, but as it is every present in our world it is still one we should all understand. Even if you haven’t been interested in it before, check out these sites to see a different side of the STEM world!

Adult Education

  • Wolfram MathWorld – a mathematics encyclopedia and resouce
  • Khan Academy – free opencourseware on a wide range of math subjects
  • MIT OpenCourseWare – free opencourseware from the MIT Mathematics Department
  • Coursera – a compilation of free math courses from the world’s leading universities
  • TED Talks – intriguing TED Talks about some of math’s most interesting questions

K-12 Education

  • TED-Ed Math Videos – fun, educational TED videos to get kids interested in math applications
  • The Math Dude – podcasts covering mathematics lessons and fun math facts
  • PBS Learning Media – a variety of resources, including articles, videos, and interactive media, focused on explaining mathematics
  • Mathsframe – includes over 200 math games for ages K-12
  • Yummy Math – a site dedicated to demonstrations of how math applies to our everyday lives

Note: I’ve separated these sites in order to identify which are at an elementary level and which are more advanced, but high school students may be better served by those listed under “Adult Education”.

For more math fun, check out my post on the Top 10 Ways to Celebrate the Ultimate Pi Day!

How to Stay the Course: OpenCourseWare and Independent Study

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OCW Motivation
Ever wanted to learn a new language?  Pick up some computer skills?  Perhaps brush up on some world history?  It’s never been easier with the wide availability of open courses and online education.  The world of knowledge is literally at your fingertips 24/7, merely a click away.  But even with a resolution to expand your mind, it can be difficult to stay motivated when there is no external pressure to push through the work.  For some it even brings back memories of groaning school days and exam stress.  Yet, it doesn’t have to feel that way.  In this age we are given such an opportunity to learn anything we’ve ever wanted to learn from scholars and experts all around the world.  With a few tips and tricks you too can stay the course.
OpenCourseWare (OCW) lessons deliver educational content typically published by universities and posted free or at low-cost online.  They include course notes, example problems, videos, articles, and more designed for independent study.  A quick search will yield results from the likes of Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Tufts, and many others.  In addition, stand alone learning sites have been established to provide general education on a variety of topics.  Subjects range from personal finance to advanced robotics, with everything in between.  Here are a few of my favorite sources:
So now that you’ve chosen a course, how do you approach it?  Check out these ten tips to keep you on track:
1) Set a (SMART) goal
     Before jumping into a course, you’ll be most successful if you understand what you want to learn and when you want to learn it by.  For example, “I’d like to complete this course on introductory physics within three months in order to understand the fundamentals of mechanics.”  Framing the goal will help you plan out the best way to achieve it.
2) Understand your motivation(s)
     It’s not always enough to just want to do something without knowing why you want to do it.  Ask yourself what you to gain by taking an online course: maybe studying up on personal finance will help ease the stress of tax season/family budgeting or perhaps learning to code will enhance your resume.  Make a note of the reason and post it somewhere visible so it won’t be forgotten.
3) Set short-term milestones
     Some of these courses are based on material that can be covered within a week, while others are built around semester-long college syllabi.  Don’t let the longer ones discourage you!  Break up the course into smaller chunks (i.e. units) and set a timeline to complete each of them.  Mark the dates in your calendar so you have deadlines to meet.
4) Plan a reward
     While the satisfaction of completing a course may be enough for some, it always helps to dangle an extra carrot at the end of the road.  Choose a reward (or multiple small ones for short-term milestones) that you can look forward to at the end of the course.  Share your reward idea with friends or family to help you stay accountable.
5) Dedicate a routine time block
     In busy schedules it’s difficult to squeeze in time every day for an extra task.  Look at your average week and find a routine time you can focus on your education.  This may be 15 minutes per day or an hour twice a week; whatever works for you consistently.  Try to pick a time when you can be free from other distractions.  Sticking to a routine will get you a lot further than simply logging in now and then.  Speaking of distractions, make those time blocks social media-free!
6) Choose a study space
     Some people need complete peace and quiet in order to study, and others don’t mind a bit of background noise.  Try both and see what works best for you.  Noise-reducing headphones or white noise sites (like Coffitivity) are your friends.  Whichever you choose, have a clear workspace and equip it with whatever tools you may need (notebooks, pens, highlighters, post-its, etc).
7) Dedicate a notebook/binder/folder
     Speaking of supplies, it’s best to keep your course notes in one location.  This can be a notebook and folder with a set of printouts or a comprehensive binder.  Doing this keeps you focused on one subject at a time and lets you organize your thoughts for review.
8) Set reminders
     Even with a routine, it’s easy to put aside personal development when there are plenty of other tasks to complete during the day.  Set reminders for your study blocks and put your sessions in your calendars as standing appointments.  Make them motivational, functional, or authoritative: whichever will get you back on the computer.
9) Keep a running list of questions to answer
     Retention is always optimal when we are engaged in what we are learning.  If you get stuck on a concept or you don’t understand an example, make a note of it and search out the answer.  Allow yourself time to review your notes and clear up any confusion.
10) Supplement with real-world applications
     Course material can often get dry, so make it a point to read interesting related articles or practice what you’ve learned.  If you’ve been studying Spanish, try to have a conversation with a fluent speaker.  If you’ve been studying finance, create a sample budget.  If you’ve been studying engineering, read up on some of the incredible inventions being released.  Tying everything together will help solidify the material in your mind.
I hope these tips can help keep you motivated as you pursue your independent study.  If you haven’t explored OpenCourseWare before, now is a great time to try it.  There is literally a course out there for everyone.  Best of luck!