Beginning the End or Ending the Beginning

Back on Friday I had the opportunity to guide the introductory workshop for prospective students who are about to take Tec's admission test. I clearly remember how I felt during those courses 10 years ago--nervous and overwhelmed. The main difference is that today High School students are separated from those of College. In my opinion, it provides a better platform since High School students learn and understand in a different manner from the more adult ones. Moreover, the learning environment tends to be more relaxed than it used to be since we are talking about teenagers in their mid 10s trying to overcome an intellectual challenge--by themselves.
A method that truly worked out was not only the obvious approach of giving away hints and tricks to answer a SAT-ish/GRE-ish admission test, but motivating. Talking about life, and the tests we endure in order to forge our character rings a bell within the students' minds. Not only do they think about the challenge, but they start to FEEL the responsibility and the possible option of TRULY succeeding.

Introductory workshops, especially the Math/analytical reasoning ones, tend to be solely focused on their subject. However, having a guide who understands what the students are going through generates empathy. Let me give you an example. One of the attendees ensured that he does not even have a slight chance of passing the exam. We listened to him, supported him, and during the second session he started to seem more calm towards solving an exercise. He even provided innovative points of view about how to solve an exercise! Yesterday he contacted me via Facebook telling me that he thought the test was easy :D

Another characteristic that an introductory course guide should take into account is the fact that, in terms of the students I had, they are about to experience a life changing event. Starting High School, and opening their eyes to the world may seem daunting to them. Thus, it is a good idea to talk to them about what awaits them.

I ended the workshop by showing them the EXCELLENT Steve Jobs commencement address. They loved it :D (I'll post it later ;) )

So, this weekend's lesson--practice and motivate. Practice and Motivate. PRACTICE AND MOTIVATE. If Math is the result of a long process of wonder and discovery by motivated individuals... then the way we approach it should pay homage to that fact. Let's not forget that, after all, Math is a poetic way of understanding the universe.

More of this tomorrow...