Spesh Maths in 2011

[Andiio]

In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.

So do you just go through the textbook at home and write your own notes?
Sometimes I find I like to copy down the notes onto rough paper and then edit them and add some of my own words, examples etc into them and then just completely rewrite them all neatly into a book

[kyzoo]

I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S

Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?

No. I almost never listened in classes (ask EZ xD) and I never developed notes/bound reference throughout the year (I spent 20 minutes making a 3 page bound reference, and I didn't even open that in the exam). All I did was note the really tricky little details stuff, and the result of that is my Compilation of Tricky Points X.x

And haha I finished Spesh course like 1.5 months before the actual exam. I don't understand you ppl who finish it in the holidays =X

[Martoman]

No bound notes is the way I went in.

In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.

So do you just go through the textbook at home and write your own notes?
Sometimes I find I like to copy down the notes onto rough paper and then edit them and add some of my own words, examples etc into them and then just completely rewrite them all neatly into a book

Writing things out in own words and deriving things for yourself is a must.

[TrueTears]

In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.

+1, exactly how i do things

[kyzoo]

In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.

This is definitely the way to go =D

In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.

So do you just go through the textbook at home and write your own notes?
Sometimes I find I like to copy down the notes onto rough paper and then edit them and add some of my own words, examples etc into them and then just completely rewrite them all neatly into a book

The thing about Spesh is...you don't need to make notes, it's actually a waste of time for the most part.

[Andiio]

I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S

Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?

No. I almost never listened in classes (ask EZ xD) and I never developed notes/bound reference throughout the year (I spent 20 minutes making a 3 page bound reference, and I didn't even open that in the exam). All I did was note the really tricky little details stuff, and the result of that is my Compilation of Tricky Points X.x

And haha I finished Spesh course like 1.5 months before the actual exam. I don't understand you ppl who finish it in the holidays =X

Bahahah xD It sounds like I have no life but I'm really excited to go through it.. haha
I reckon that if I finish the course once in the holidays and then gain my own personal understanding of it, I'm basically just relearning and revising the concepts in class - which I believe can further solidify those concepts? Plus, I'd be able to ask the teachers more detailed and indepth questions!

[TrueTears]

For maths in general: know how to construct your own proofs, no need to take notes if you thoroughly understand the concepts (ie, can you prove something is true for yourself? if not, then you don't understand it), know your fundamentals (again know where things come from, not just HOW do things work).

[Martoman]

I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S

Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?

No. I almost never listened in classes (ask EZ xD) and I never developed notes/bound reference throughout the year (I spent 20 minutes making a 3 page bound reference, and I didn't even open that in the exam). All I did was note the really tricky little details stuff, and the result of that is my Compilation of Tricky Points X.x

And haha I finished Spesh course like 1.5 months before the actual exam. I don't understand you ppl who finish it in the holidays =X

Bahahah xD It sounds like I have no life but I'm really excited to go through it.. haha
I reckon that if I finish the course once in the holidays and then gain my own personal understanding of it, I'm basically just relearning and revising the concepts in class - which I believe can further solidify those concepts? Plus, I'd be able to ask the teachers more detailed and indepth questions!

Lol my boyfriend did this, don't feel like a social recluse...

[TrueTears]

But beware that the process of mathematical learning often begins with knowing HOW things work, however for most students (this goes for VCE and mathematics students in general), they forget to realise that after knowing how things work, they need to conceptually formalise their understanding which is kinda like "backwards" learning. Knowing how something works -> then going back to formalise it with rigor and understanding/constructing proofs. This is the case for many areas of mathematics and is a good way to learn.

http://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/there%E2%80%99s-more-to-mathematics-than-rigour-and-proofs/

http://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/there%E2%80%99s-more-to-mathematics-than-grades-and-exams-and-methods/

[Andiio]

OMG terry tao - MY HERO

But yeah, that's true; I'm the sort of person who always wants to know how/why/what/when/where in Maths + Science etc

[TrueTears]

he is a hero of many

a true inspiration for all mathematicians young and old.

[darkphoenix]

Make sure you understand the concepts.

Unlike methods, Spesh requires a deeper level of understanding and thinking.

[onerealsmartass]

hey, im planning to do both methods and spesh 3/4 next yr.
i have done general advanced maths (but we didnt learn any of the spesh content only stuff related to further :/)
so essentially i will have no background knowledge for spesh....

im also planning to learn/teach myself most of the course over the summer or get a tutor to ease the workload throughout next yr so that i will mainly be revising, when everyone is learning

Thoughts?

[Chavi]

hey, im planning to do both methods and spesh 3/4 next yr.
i have done general advanced maths (but we didnt learn any of the spesh content only stuff related to further :/)
so essentially i will have no background knowledge for spesh....

im also planning to learn/teach myself most of the course over the summer or get a tutor to ease the workload throughout next yr so that i will mainly be revising, when everyone is learning

Thoughts?

A couple of guys in my Spec class went straight in this year without GMA. That said, they did complete Methods admirably the previous year.
I heard somewhere (citation needed? ) that Methods and Spec were designed to be taken concurrently.

I'm not sure that it's such a good idea to go through the entire course over the summer. At this point last year I was planning on doing the same thing, and a close friend warned me against it (incidentally he had received 50 in Spec and a 99.95) - it means that you'll be bored in class and demotivated for SACs and the finals. Familiarize yourself with the course - yes. But go in depth - no.

[onerealsmartass]

hey, im planning to do both methods and spesh 3/4 next yr.
i have done general advanced maths (but we didnt learn any of the spesh content only stuff related to further :/)
so essentially i will have no background knowledge for spesh....

im also planning to learn/teach myself most of the course over the summer or get a tutor to ease the workload throughout next yr so that i will mainly be revising, when everyone is learning

Thoughts?

A couple of guys in my Spec class went straight in this year without GMA. That said, they did complete Methods admirably the previous year.
I heard somewhere (citation needed? ) that Methods and Spec were designed to be taken concurrently.

I'm not sure that it's such a good idea to go through the entire course over the summer. At this point last year I was planning on doing the same thing, and a close friend warned me against it (incidentally he had received 50 in Spec and a 99.95) - it means that you'll be bored in class and demotivated for SACs and the finals. Familiarize yourself with the course - yes. But go in depth - no.

Thanks for the reply, what i meant to say was that i just want to get a broad understanding of the course so i wont be thrown by the new concepts and such when we actually learn it in class.
Would it be 'harder' to do spesh without GMA and methods 3/4 in yr 11?? -The feedback that ive had from teachers, students and VNers suggest that this yrs exams for both methds and spesh were relatively difficult so i am getting very worried that i may not be able to cope xD