Creating Active Learners:
How a student approaches learning is very similar to how they approach life in general. This is why colleges and
employers have traditionally used a person’s grades or transcripts to evaluate their ability to perform on the job. This does
not mean that a person’s ability to earn high grades in school is the only way to success in life. However how a person
perceives themselves as a learner and responds and adapts to different challenges will determine, to a large degree, their
destiny.
This illustrates the difference between a passive learner and an active learner in terms of future potential. A passive
learner is at the mercy of their environment. An active learner adapts to their environment and responds positively to stress
and stimulus. An active learner will become stronger and more capable given a new or changing environment. A
passive/resistant learner will falter and fail. They will fail to grow and become powerless to change or adjust. They will
live a largely ineffective life.
eMath is designed to develop active learners more than many traditional mathematics courses. Most of the processes,
procedures, and methodologies detailed here have been chosen with this in mind. Mathematics is not a spectator sport-you
learn the content by continually interacting with the concepts and ideas through trying, struggling, and improving after
repeated attempts. To learn mathematics well you MUST approach your learning in an active manner.