One challenge I experienced during college was learning calculus. It was challenging because calculus required a deeper understanding of the subject than high school mathematics. There were three main strategies I used to learn calculus:

  1. Repetition
  2. Studying Course Materials
  3. Topic Categorization

In this post, I will describe these three strategies. Each strategy uses characteristics of Behaviourism and Cognitivism. They are important elements that help students retain information.

Repetition

Calculus, like most mathematics, requires practice in order to gain proficiency. Behaviourism is described as learning by responding to external stimuli. One example of Behaviourism is being able to answer addition questions when presented with flashcards.

Completing and answering pages of derivative problems is similar to answering addition problems after multiple practice questions. As you become familiar with the environment, you will be able to repeat the same process and learning strategies for similar derivative questions.

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Studying Course Materials

One way to ensure you fully understand the subject is by reviewing the course material. Cognitivism focuses a lot on the process of learning; and how to structure a study plan that helps mentally process the information effectively. In this case, being able to review your course material lets you analyze, deconstruct, and simplify calculus. As well, it allowed me to better deconstruct the examples, and also try them myself. It is easier to know if you understand the subject when you have more time to look at what you are learning.

Topic Categorization

Cognitivism provides learning strategies that help you digest information without being overwhelmed. With this in mind, calculus is a complex subject. You can easily be overwhelmed by the many subtopics like derivatives and integration. Therefore, categorizing each subtopic you learned in calculus lets you see the bigger picture and recall information more easily. When you categorize each subtopic, you can assign separate learning strategies and steps in your memory. Thus, when recalling a derivative, you will not get confused with learning strategies from integration.

Overcoming Challenge

With each learning strategy, the main goal is to overall understand the subject I am learning. I overcame my challenges in learning calculus ultimately because I engaged with the class materials through practice, feedback, and subject simplification.

Resources

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. (2018). Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism: Comparing Critical Features From an Instructional Design Perspective. Foundations of Learning and Instructional Design Technology: Historical Roots and Current Trends. https://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations/behaviorism_cognitivism_constructivism