You Don't Have to Struggle Through Math Class Alone

 

For as long as I can remember, math has been challenging for me. I always dreaded going to math class, so the thought of a college math class seemed terrifying to me. This semester I was required to take Statistics 2050, and I took it online hoping that it would be easier to learn at my own pace. I have come to find out that learning math online has its own set of challenges and I quickly realized that I needed to get help. While going to your professors and teachers' assistants can be helpful, I needed help from someone that understood the way I learn and could explain Stats in a fresh, new way. Luckily, the University of Wyoming has great resources, like the Center for Assistance with Statistics and Mathematics (CASM), in the Ross Hall basement.  

The CASM offers free, in-person tutoring for students enrolled in classes up to 3000 level, and sometimes even higher-level courses as well. You do not even have to make an appointment to get help, you can just walk into Ross Hall room 029 and receive high-quality, comprehensive math help. The personal level of face-to-face tutoring from CASM was also a very helpful opportunity to help me succeed in my online Statistics class. 

 

 

The help you will receive at the CASM is top notch! All of the tutors are advanced undergraduate and graduate students that participate in regular training so that they can help you to the best of their ability. Most of the graduate student tutors are also teaching or have taught courses they are tutoring, which ensures you’ll get the best help available when you stop by.  

Another benefit of going to the CASM when you need help is that you are getting help from other students, so it helps take away from the daunting idea of having to face your professor. When I received help from the CASM, I did not feel judged or stupid for not knowing how to solve a problem, but rather supported and encouraged to keep asking questions and learning. The tutors fully understand their job and genuinely want to see you succeed.  

The CASM is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, starting the second week of classes. It follows the University's academic calendar and is closed on the days the University does not have classes. 

Inside the CASM isn't the only place you can receive math tutoring help! The CASM staff has partnered with the STEP tutor center to help ensure great math tutoring is available more than just during CASM hours. The CASM tutors are available at STEP in the basement of Coe Library for one-on-one tutoring and it is the basement of Washakie for drop-in tutoring in the evenings. The flexibility of the tutors makes it even easier to receive help. In addition to CASM, some common math classes offer Supplemental Instruction. Supplemental Instruction is out-of-class sessions led by a student who has successfully completed the class. The SI sessions review lecture notes, textbook readings and practice problems. You can check and see if your course has SI and who your SI leader is. 

 

 

The CASM has a safe learning environment with a lot of resources for students to be successful. The space includes several computers, a printer, current mathematical textbooks for several different courses, white boards of all sizes, and a lot of other reference materials.  

The CASM offers math help for all different types of learners. Personally, I am a more visual learner and the tutors at the CASM were able to help me learn in a way that is specific to my learning preferences. With all the resources available to students at the CASM, you can experiment and find a learning method that is the most beneficial for you. The tutors allow you to experiment and try different methods, because you never know what will help you the best.  

Something that I really appreciate about the CASM is that you are not just another student, the tutors remember you and the learning style that works best for you. I was very shocked when I returned to the CASM a second time, and I was able to meet with the same tutor who remembered who I was and what I needed help with. Although I could not meet with the same tutor every time I visited, the tutors were able to adjust quickly and jump right into what I was struggling with.  

 

 

Because of the CASM, I have been excelling in my statistics course this semester. I have also applied everything I learned at the CASM to other math-related problems in my life. My sessions with the CASM have helped me with my homework and improved my base level of math knowledge.  

This semester was not the first time I got help from the CASM. My first year I was really struggling with the math aspect of an economics class, and the tutors at the CASM were able to pick apart what I was not understanding and find a new way to teach it to me. I went to the CASM many times before I took my final in that class and because of the help I received, I not only passed the class but also aced the final.   

Not everyone is good at math, but with help from the Center for Assistance with Statistics and Mathematics you can be. For me, all it took was recognizing that I needed help and taking the proper and remarkably simple steps to get the help. The CASM made a stark difference in my math grades and vastly increased my understanding in my classes. I went from not understanding any of the information in my math classes, to passing and even being able to help my classmates who were struggling, all thanks to the CASM.