20 Nov 2024
On November 13, the Department of Foundational Mathematics at the School of Mathematics and Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, organised a dialogue session for first-year students on MTH019 and MTH013, two calculus courses, aiming to help students better understand and grasp the knowledge of calculus.
The session was opened by Dr Kun Zhang, the Deputy Head of the Department of Foundational Mathematics, who first introduced the faculty involved in the event and welcomed the students' participation.
Dr Kun Zhang
Following the opening, Dr Jie Fei, Dr Feiyan Chen, Dr Shiyan Guo, Dr Fajin Wei and Dr Yiru Ye shared their unique insights and experiences in learning mathematics, as well as the importance of calculus, encouraging students to make good use of teaching resources, diligently master textbook exercises, and seize opportunities to exchange with teachers during office hours.
The faculty emphasised that students should focus on building a basic framework of knowledge forming a preliminary cognitive system during their learning process, and adjusting their learning strategies in a timely manner based on teacher feedback to improve their knowledge system continuously.
Dr Jie Fei
Dr Jie Fei presented the knowledge framework of calculus to the students by displaying her organised teaching materials. "Whether it's MTH013 or MTH019, our teaching focus is on mastering computational skills and understanding the application of concepts. For theorems, we do not emphasise the assessment of their proof processes, but rather the flexible application of theorems in practical problems," he said.
The session also recognised students who performed exceptionally well in MTH004 in the previous academic year. They shared their study tips and insights, such as focusing on class time, summarising and generalising, adapting to English-taught courses, and valuing discussions with peers.
During the Q&A segment, students asked questions actively, and teachers provided patient and detailed answers, helping students gain a clearer understanding of course design, scheduling, and exam preparation methods.
The atmosphere at the session was relaxed and harmonious. Teachers prepared cultural and creative products as rewards and set up a bullet screen lottery session to stimulate students' enthusiasm for learning. Dr Rui Zhang, Dr Kun Zhang, and Dr Feiyan Chen presented prizes to the winners.
In her summary, Dr Rui Zhang, the Head of the Department of Foundational Mathematics, expressed hope that the session would facilitate full and in-depth communication between teachers and students, helping them make continuous progress in learning calculus and improving their mathematical literacy.
By Zhen Ma
Edited by Qinru Liu
20 Nov 2024