<p>In class I feel so lost and on the test I don't even know what they're asking. I just regurgitate what I saw b4 and hope that it is right. I feel like I'm the dumbest one and ask the weirdest questions that everyone else already knows the answer to, yet my score does not reflect that. I cannot relate what I have learned to industry or to the math I have learned.</p>
<p>For example, I learned Fourier transforms or convolutions, but I cannot explain what it is. If I see a problem that asks me to compute the coefficient of Fourier transforms, I know what to do. If you asked me what a fourier transform can model or how does it look like, I cannot answer you. When I took Calculus at a community college, I can define what an integral is and I got the main point. After I transferred, I feel like the explanation and the concept doesn't get explained as well. Maybe the topic just got more difficult, I don't know. It's not like the problems got more difficult, but maybe I'm not used to such high levels of explaining. </p>
<p>The main question that I'm asking is that...
Am I supposed to research topics that I learn in class on my own and connect them?
Is this common with every 4-year institution, or maybe I got the really easy explanation at a cc and I don't really know that much about Calculus?
Is it just the engineering major where they only tell you as much as you need to know to solve the math problem?
Or is there just something wrong with me?</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat with Physics II, most likely due to the professor. I grasp enough idea/info from Physics I: Mechanics, but this Physics 2: Electricity & Magnetism, maybe it’s just me but I would not be able to explain what I’ve learn either. If I’m given the formula, I’ll know what I’m solving, but not really know how/where the equation derive from. Perhaps it’s the subject, I’m not a computer or electrical stuff (techy) type maybe this is why it’s hard. Cal I, Cal II are fine for me just problem solving and I know what I’m computing.</p>
<p>I’m finishing up my 2nd year at CC, classes are “challenging”, but Physics 2 is the worse so far because I’m not understanding lecture/concept. I hate Chemistry, but at least I knew what I was solving for and understand concept. (took physics over chemistry in HS) </p>
<p>I’m at a 3.5 GPA with about 60 credits. If this is the only class you having trouble in, it’s probably because of the teacher or unfamiliarity of the subject; I put the blame on my physics 2 professor. (Started w/ 15 students, we have 6 drops so far) Have you ask your classmate’s opinion of the course? I wouldn’t worry about it if this is the ONLY class you have problem with throughout your study.</p>
<p>If your classmates feels the same way, I think it’s your teacher.</p>
<p>I was and still in your position now, I asked about 3-4 students to compared my grade to theirs. From 15 we’re down to 9 students in class. With such small class, it’s easy to talk to everyone, and on our first test, I know at least 4-5 have to “search” using cellphones and tablets to get answer, including myself. We all admitted and saw each other, the other half of students I didn’t really ask.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s my teacher because other people seem to know much more than me and when they’re talking about it, I’m asking myself when did we go over that? It just seemed like they were able to build more grand ideas based on the professor’s lecture that I was.</p>
<p>Overall I know how to answer my professor’s questions because it’s just substituting and following the formula, but I would hate to think that all math is like that and there are no applications or grand theory. It’s not just one professor for me…it’s like three different professors in engineering. It just seemed like they either didn’t give the general picture of what we were doing.</p>
<p>Oh well if you’re struggling in multi-classes then I’m not sure, hate to say it, maybe it’s you. If your classmates are fine with it. </p>
<p>I know my Physics II teacher just literally read off Powerpoint slide on the Projector, never go over homework assigned. Just grade and that’s it. I find myself having to search for alternate source to figure out what the hell he was trying to teach or “read”. He show 0 examples of formula or problem.</p>
<p>[Khan</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org%5DKhan”>http://www.khanacademy.org) I know I should spend more time there, but keep procrastinating.
You probably have to do a little more studying outside classroom like me sometimes on stuff you don’t understand, especially if you but not your classmates have problem.</p>