I’m doing an Open University degree in Computing and Mathematical Sciences. Completion of next year’s module will earn the last 30 points for the qualification.
The problem is that the course has varied its focus each year on either maths or computing. I’ve done little maths for the last two years – last year was Software Engineering, the year before was Developing Internet Applications. Preceding that wasGraphs, Networks and Design, which was challenging and lovely, but involved maths of a particular flavour. The upshot: the last time I worked hard at maths learning was 2005, and that was a struggle at the time.
Much of maths involves building on strong foundations, and thinking about things in the appropriately accurate, unambiguous manner. It is possible to march ahead through an accumulation of poorly understood precepts – enough at least to get high marks in assignments and exams.
The plan is to look over the ground that’s been covered – but this time, to make it familiar territory, rather than viewing it from a window at high speed. This may reveal a direction for next year’s journey, and even provide enough momentum to create a trajectory. It will most likely involve dawdling around some of the simpler areas of the landscape.