Unlock the secrets of mathematical learning with "Making Math Click," a groundbreaking course from educators Dr. John Mighton and Dr. Barbara Oakley. Drawing from their journeys from math struggles to success, they share powerful strategies that work for learners of all abilities and backgrounds.



Making Math Click: Understand Math Without Fear


Instructors: Dr. Barbara Oakley
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What you'll learn
Master evidence-based teaching strategies like scaffolding and retrieval practice that help any student succeed in math.
Discover how your brain's two learning systems work together to build mathematical understanding and automatic pattern recognition.
Transform math anxiety into confidence by understanding that mathematical ability develops through the right practice.
Skills you'll gain
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3 assignments
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There are 4 modules in this course
Ever dread a required math course or struggle to help someone with unfamiliar math homework? In this first module, mathematician John Mighton and engineering professor Barbara Oakley share their personal journeys from math struggles to mathematical success. You'll learn surprising insights about how your brain processes mathematics, exploring why students who struggle may have too MANY neural connections rather than too few. Through practical examples involving fractions and other fundamental concepts, you'll discover how both understanding and practice contribute to mathematical mastery. Whether you're learning math yourself or helping others learn, this module provides key insights about how the brain really tackles mathematical thinking, laying the groundwork for more effective learning strategies.
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments1 ungraded lab1 plugin
What makes math finally "click" for students? This module reveals the science behind successful math learning, exploring why students learn best when achieving about 85% success on new material. You'll discover how to build strong neural pathways through smart scaffolding - breaking complex ideas into manageable steps. Through practical examples, you'll learn why retrieval practice (pulling information from memory) proves far more effective than passive review, and see how extension activities can challenge advanced students while keeping core concepts clear. The module concludes by examining why simpler representations often work better than elaborate real-world problems, showing how to strip away distracting details so students can grasp essential mathematical patterns.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
Think everyone has to learn math at the same speed? This module reveals why differences in learning pace can become strengths rather than weaknesses. Through concrete classroom examples of teaching division, you'll see how effective teachers manage different learning speeds in the same classroom, using smart extension questions to keep everyone engaged and learning. Whether you're a teacher or a learner, you'll discover why spaced practice works better than cramming, and how to turn different learning speeds into advantages for deeper understanding.
What's included
1 video
How do we spark genuine enthusiasm for math while bridging different teaching approaches? This final module explores the science of motivation and the power of multiple explanations to reach diverse minds. You'll discover how interleaving different types of problems helps build deeper understanding, and see how traditional and reform approaches to math teaching can work together. Through practical examples of tackling word problems and meeting different learners' needs, you'll learn how to make math accessible to every kind of mind. The module concludes by showing how to bring these varied approaches together to help all students succeed in mathematics.
What's included
3 videos
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