Practice

Daily practice is essential for learning. Right now I am beginning to learn how to play the piano, which is an interesting experience for me as a teacher. It’s quite fun to be an absolute beginner at something, and experience all the joys and frustrations that come with learning something new. As an absolute piano … Read more

Should Learning be Fun?

I recall reading about a calculus teacher who taught in a gorilla suit one day to make his class more entertaining. This was lauded by some as a good thing. It is absolutely not a good thing! The unintended message is that calculus is so intrinsically boring that clowning around is needed to make it … Read more

Concentrate to Learn

We must concentrate to learn effectively, a point that I have experienced numerous times in my life. The myth of multi-tasking has been thoroughly debunked by now (for example, see here), but nevertheless many of us try to learn things while trying to do something else. This is ineffective and just ends up causing stress. … Read more

Effective Learners Work Daily

The main purpose of this web site is to help students learn about mathematics and physics, and in particular to provide guidance in how to approach your studies in a professional and effective way. I’ll be posting every week on these topics, and will also be regularly uploading various learning materials. But if there is … Read more