Math Is Fun Forum

That's encouraging for me, for sure, as I prepare to sit for the actuarial exams again.

Instead of just studying for the exam like I did last time (Einstein on insanity) I'm trying to find a way to put my study habits into some larger framework or purpose. . . this goes into my whole idea of teaching with an "angle."

So, I want to be an actuary--it's a dream of mine.

But, in order to get there, I feel like I need to help others get there too . . . karmic balance and all that.

Having math lessons isn't enough for me though--I want to do something within a larger scope like Gail Tverburg at http://ourfiniteworld.com/ . . . from her about page:

"Gail the Actuary’s real name is Gail Tverberg. She has an M. S. from the University of Illinois, Chicago in Mathematics, and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Gail is involved with oil and other limits in several different ways:
1.As a researcher. Gail regularly goes back to data from government and other web sites, and creates her own graphs and does her own analysis. She also follows the work of others doing research.
2.As an actuary. Gail is interested in what the implications of reduced oil supply are for the economy and for financial institutions.
3.As an educator. Gail is interested in bringing the message about what is happening to as broad an audience as possible"

That's just epic!

Anyway . . . that's what all this "unique" angle stuff is all about. It's about helping myself pass the exam, it's about helping others pass the exams, and it's about helping to raise awareness on some bigger issue.

-Anton

I like that!

I'm going to have to incorporate that technique into whatever I do.

It seems rather Socractic . . . hey, maybe my "thing" will be to walk around challenging people.

Hahaha . . . I suppose that didn't end too well for ol' Socrates.

-Anton

OK Roniman,

So, I have to ask . . . and any other teachers out there . . . feel free to answer as well. What is it that seems to work to get people to learn the most? I've been hearing a lot about "applied learning" lately. Is that just another "buzz" word or is having an immediate application pretty much the go to teaching method for mathematics?

I'm trying to find a unique "angle" on how to approach teaching math; but, everything I've come up with is either faddish or . . . I don't know . . . silly.

-Anton

I had a music teacher tell me once that "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect" . . . I try to live by that.

Which is why, after an unsuccessful attempt at sitting for actuarial Exam P, I am going back to the basics and making sure I have command of everything from High School math into Calculus.

It's going to take a lot more time, but as I progress in the exams I think it's going to be a good investment.

Thanks again for welcoming me to the group I look forward to getting into some discussion around the forum.

-Anton

Thanks Everyone!