An (Video) Education

Math was a curse word for me while in elementary school. In high school I learned a new dirty word, Physics, and in university it was Logic. Now that I am wrapping up my post-graduate program in Marketing, I have found a way to appreciate and enjoy working with numbers. It took a long time for me to realize it was not my fault for struggling with math subjects throughout school – it was the way they were taught to me. 

With the exception of one Logic class, I was able to avoid math classes during my undergrad. When I began my post-grad last January I mourned the fact that I had to take a Statistics class. This was the first time I was attempting any math class since my senior year of high school. It was the first time I bought a calculator since I was fourteen. Luckily, my instructor felt that a top-line approach to Statistics would be the most appropriate way to teach a three-month class, and theory trumped calculating. However, to help us understand and work through the calculations, he used a textbook that was best used with a computer program. This interactive program was filled with videos, sample questions, and would explain how to solve a problem over and over again for me. I used it like a game, trying to get a perfect score as fast as possible. After using this program for a short while I realized I could work with numbers, and I could enjoy working with numbers.

I found out this semester that there are many different ways that people learn, and that the way I was educated may not have always catered to my learning style. After some investigation, I found out that I am a visual learner. I love maps, charts, taking detailed notes, programs where I can work through math problems (Math Blaster!) and I love watching videos that explains concepts that I did not fully understand in lecture.

One of the most valuable resources I have come across since starting my post-grad program is Khan Academy. Khan Academy has thousands of videos, all available for free, that cover multiple topics. Unlike an instructor, you can pause these lectures and rewind in case you missed something. This video was particularly important when I first started studying Statistics: 

This semester I’ve been taking Financial Analysis. At first I was terrified of this class! After a particularly stressful lesson I thought I would never get the hang of it. I had to remind myself that my learning style, especially for math, was different. I browsed Khan Academy and, once again, I found some incredible videos that cleared up concepts I was having trouble with:

There really is nothing like walking into a class and feeling confident over the material, especially after years of doubt. Switching gears and studying marketing has challenged me in many ways, but turning my hatred and fear of numbers into something I found enjoyable has been one of my most cherished accomplishments.

I can never recommend GabeZichermann enough for his work on integrating gaming into classrooms. In his TED video, Zichermann discusses how gaming enhances kids’ ability to learn and grasp concepts. As someone who struggled with learning, this makes me very excited for the future of education: