HOW TO DO WELL IN THIS COURSE
The following will help you to maximize your performance in this class, in terms of your grade as well as the learning you take away from it:
1. Keep abreast of the class
Lectures progressively build on the material covered before. If last week's material is hazy in your mind, this week's lectures may not make much sense. So:
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Prepare for each class by reading the text and/or lecture notes from the web page |
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Review the lecture notes after each class; make sure you understand the material |
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Resolve anything you are doubtful or unclear about right away; that's why I have lots of office hours |
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It is not a good idea to start reviewing material only just before the problem sets |
2. Keep testing yourself as we go along
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As we finish each topic in class, work through the corresponding practice problems. Do not let everything pile up till the next problem set is due. |
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Do not jump into the problem sets before working on the practice problems. The practice problems are designed to help you understand the material and get you prepped for the problem sets. |
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When you do the practice problems, always work through to the end of each problem before you look at the solutions, even if you think you have already made a mistake. Making mistakes initially is part of the learning process. Every mistake you make while working through problems at home is (hopefully!) a mistake you will not make on the exam. Looking at the solutions at the first sign of trouble is a very poor substitute for the learning that occurs when you complete each problem yourself. |
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If you get any part of a problem wrong, make sure you understand not only what is the right way to do it, but also what was wrong with what you did. |
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For each problem that you work through, try and grasp the basic concepts underlying the problem. That way even if you encounter the same problem with a slight twist, you will know how to handle it. |
3. Group Projects: do 'em right!
The group projects can help you bring up your grade; it is not very difficult to get scores close to 100%. The key is to: a) understand clearly what you're supposed to do; b) figure out how it needs to be done; and c) simply do it, making sure nothing slips through the cracks.