Like many science students, I went into my first university math lecture expecting it to be difficult and stressful. I assumed the content would feel abstract, and I often worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up. Many students today arrive with similar feelings. They bring different levels of preparation and confidence, and math can seem far-removed from the subjects they care about most.
Yet math supports almost every STEM field, and it shapes subjects outside STEM, including economics, business, and psychology. Helping students understand ideas in a more approachable way can affect how they engage with the rest of their studies, and set them up for career success.
Instructors can support students more effectively by using visual explanations that reveal the structure behind each mathematical concept and help learners build confidence as they see ideas unfold.