Here are some simple guidelines for getting the most out of your Math Circle experience. Most important is your personal participation:
A math circle is an interactive activity. Be sure to have your camera on at all times and be ready to engage in discussion.
There are no grades in the math circle – there is no penalty for making a mistake or saying something not completely correct. Share ideas freely and brainstorm with the other circle members.
If you are lost, chances are you are not the only one… or maybe you are actually correct and the rest of us are wrong! Let us know if you can’t follow whats going on, either just say so or send an silent chat message if you prefer.
A typical math circle session includes elements that range from pretty easy to rather hard. Please don’t get frustrated if you are presented with questions you can’t answer immediately. If you find a question too easy, perhaps allow the less experienced members to have a go at it.
One of the best ways of learning is to teach. If you have a mathematically interested parent, or sibling, or friend, try to teach what you just learned after the circle session. It really forces you to think hard and deeply understand the math you just investigated.
Secondly, it’s helpful to have the right equipment:
You are embarking on an exploration of the mathematical world, so you need a good travel diary. A good hardcover ruled notebook is essential, something durable, that encourages careful thinking, and can be referred to months or years later. I like the classic Black ‘N Red hardcover notebook.
A surgeon does not go into the operating theater with a dull scalpel; no mathematician should ever have to cope with a dull writing instrument. That means you need to use a mechanical pencil. If you are the type of person to constantly lose things, then get some inexpensive disposable mechanicals such as the Papermate Sharpwriter. But if you are someone who can care for something precious, then get the Pentel GraphGear 1000 0.5mm. It’s a beautiful instrument and will last for a decade (if you don’t lose it).
Championship skiers fall down. A top baseball player fails 2/3 of the time. A mathematician learns by making mistakes. So it’s important to have a good supply of inexpensive erasers. The exact type is not so important; you could get these Papermates or similar. That being said, it never makes sense to erase a large section of a page; better to just put an X through it and move on. If you buy the Pentel pencil, only use the built in eraser in dire emergencies.
Now let’s look at the technology requirements:
Zoom puts a heavy load on your computer’s CPU and graphics. You should have a reasonably powerful computer or chromebook that scores at least 11000 on the Octane test.
Zoom requires a fast reliable internet connection, ideally with at least 20Mbps download and upload (test here). The suggested specs listed on the Zoom website are unrealistically low. If possible, use a wired (ethernet cable) connection rather than WiFi.
It’s best to conduct your Zoom session in the right environment. That means a quiet, well lit room, free from distractions. When facing the computer camera, you should also be facing the light source in the room, so your face is visible.