Math Drop-In Center

For the Spring 2021 semester, we are open virtually as the Math Help Drop-In Channel on Microsoft Teams. To get free, friendly online help with any math from any course, go here anytime, fill out the sign-in form, and ask your questions: bit.ly/MCLA_math . For live response, tutors are online 4-9pm Sunday through Thursday.

About

After a successful first three years, MCLA is continuing to run the Mathematics Help Drop-In Center, a place for students with any questions related to mathematics. Due to COVID-19, we are protecting the health and safety of our tutors by temporarily operating as an online-only Microsoft Teams Channel.

Among our tutors, we have the ability to assist with the mathematics portions of problems from any course in any department on campus, as well as the ability to help students studying for the mathematics portions of exams like the MTEL, GRE, and TEAS. The Center is free for the MCLA community to use, and all Portal users are welcome to drop in—no appointment necessary!

How can I get the most out of my visit?

When you first arrive in the Channel, file the sign-in form that will tell us: (1) what course you're here for, and (2) who your professor is. A record of how many students we serve, what the busiest times are, and in what course students are seeking help assists us in planning.
To get matched with a tutor, you must leave a message in the "Conversations" sub-Channel. If you don't leave a short message to introduce yourself and briefly describe your math issues, then tutors will not know you're there!
Leave your anonymous comments after your tutoring session by following the form link that will be sent to you via e-mail, and that is available on the "General" Teams sub-Channel.
Have your syllabus, textbook, class notes, homework and computer/calculator available if appropriate.
Have specific questions. It's not very helpful to tell the tutor you're confused about everything. It's much more helpful to have picked out particular homework problems you are stuck on or particular topics or examples you want explained.
Seek out other students in the Channel who are in the same course as you. A lot can be accomplished by breaking out into small group chats/calls, and it makes good use of the time you're waiting for the tutor.
Even though the tutors are very good mathematics students, they are still students, and so there may be occasional questions they can't answer. Don't let this bother you; just return when a more experienced student or professor is in the Channel, or "@" them in the Tutoring Channel chat.
Don't ask tutors to help you with a take-home test. They are not allowed to do so.
The tutors have their own studies, so please don't bother them with questions when they are not working. We all need our spare time.

Tips in this section were adapted from Hofstra University's page.

Where can I get general help with math and coding outside of the drop-in center's hours?

Tutors

Amalia Badohu $Amalia Badohu headshot$

Amalia Badohu (2021) is a double major in chemistry and physics from Boston, MA. She has taken Calculus I-III, Intro to Mechanics, Intro E&M, Intro Chem I & II, and many other courses.

Amalia works Sundays 8-9pm and Mondays and Wednesdays 4-8pm.

Kelli Garrant

Kelli works Sundays 6-8pm and Wednesdays and Thursdays 6-9pm.

Robert Leonard $Robert Leonard Headshot$

Robert Leonard (2023) is a physics major from Watertown, MA. He has taken Intro to Mechanics, Intro to Waves, Optics, and Relativity, and Calculus 1-2. He can also help with Programming in Java 1-2. Robert is currently taking Intro to E&M, Intro to Statistics, and Calculus III. His hobbies include flute playing and exercise.

Robert works Mondays and Wednesdays 4-6pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays 8-9pm.

Dean Little

Dean Little (2021) is a double major in physics and biology with a minor in mathematics from Lowell, MA. He enjoys swimming and is interested in foreign languages. He has taken Calculus I-III, ODE, Intro E&M, and Mathematical Physics, and is currently enrolled in Partial Differential Equations, Calc IV, and Waves, Optics, and Relativity.

Dean works Sundays 4-6pm and Mondays 8-9pm.

Shantell Manzira $Shantell Manzira headshot$

Shantell Manzira (2022) is a double major in Mathematics and Secondary Education with a minor in Music from North Attleboro, Massachusetts. She has taken Precalculus, Physics of Superheroes, Intro to Mechanics, Calculus I & II, Proof I, and Linear Algebra, and is currently enrolled in Proof II and Calculus III. Shantell is also the president of the Mathematics Society. In her free time, she can found arranging music for the Allegrettos.

Shantell works Sundays 4-6pm and Sundays through Wednesdays 8-9pm.

Holly Swanson

Holly works Sundays 6-8pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-8pm.

Encourage Your Students to Visit

Include This Blurb in your Syllabus

The Math Help Drop-In Center is now open virtually as the Math Help Drop-In Channel on Microsoft Teams! To get online help with any math question from any course, please follow this link: bit.ly/MCLA_math . Fill in the sign-in sheet and post your introductory message in the "Conversations" channel. From 4-9pm Sunday through Thursday, there will be student Tutors live on the Channel, ready to offer free, friendly and supportive help with math.

Use Pre-Tests in your Class

Ungraded pre-tests can often help students decide early whether they will need help with the mathematics that an upcoming course topic entails, and such evaluations can often be given in five minutes, or as take-home assignments. For templates on particular topics, please e-mail Erin Kiley at emkiley@mcla.edu .