math drop in

Math Drop-In Center

 

The Drop-in Center will be closed for Spring break, March 11-15. See you on March 18! 

Spring 2024 Schedule

We are open evening hours Monday through Thursday, as well as daytime hours Mondays through Friday. During these hours, visit the Drop-in Center in CSI 101, or on Teams (online) using the link below.

  • Mondays 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm
  • Tuesdays 10am-12pm and 6pm-8pm
  • Wednesdays 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm
  • Thursdays 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm
  • Fridays 2pm-4pm

To visit in-person, come to CSI 101  (the Feigenbaum Center) during the hours above. No appointment is needed!

For help online, click the sign in button below during the hours above. Fill in the sign-in form, then check your e-mail for a message describing how to proceed to our Teams Channel.

Sign in Here!

For each visit (in-person or online), please fill in a sign-in sheet. Make sure to bring your class notes, book, or other class materials that can help the tutors help you!

We will not be open when the campus is closed due to weather emergencies (check MCLA's home page: a top-of-screen ribbon announcement will appear in this case).

Spring 2024 Courses

At the Math Drop-in Center, we can help with any course with a MATH prefix (Math for Liberal Arts, Intro to Statistics, Math for Educators, PreCalc, Calc sequence, etc.). Additionally, we can help with some STEM courses. Below are courses outside of the math department that tutors can help with this semester.

Physics

o   Phys 132: General Physics II: 6:30pm-8pm Mondays, 6pm-8pm Tuesday, Wednesday; 2pm-4pm Wednesdays and Fridays 

o   Phys 140: Astronomy: 6:30pm-8pm Mondays, 6pm-8pm Tuesday, Wednesday; 2pm-4pm Fridays 

o   Phys 252: Intro to Waves, Optics Relativity: 6pm-8pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 2pm-4pm Fridays

o   Phys 351: Modern Physics: 6pm-8pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 2pm-4pm Fridays

o   Phys 580: Mathematical Physics II: 6pm-8pm Tuesday and Wednesday; 2pm-4pm Friday

Computer Science

o   CSCI 121: Java I: 2pm-4pm M, W, Th, F; 6pm-8pm M-Th; 10am-12pm T

o   CSCI 211: Networking Theory II: 6pm-8pm Monday; 10am-12pm Tuesday; 2pm-4pm Wednesday

o   CSCI 235: Digital Circuit Design: 6pm-8pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; 10am-12pm Tuesdays; 2pm-4pm Wednesday and Friday

o   CSCI 236: Web Development: 2pm-4pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; 10am-12pm Tuesdays; 6pm-8pm Mondays and Wednesdays

o   CSCI 343: Full Stack Development: 6pm-8pm Monday; 10am-12pm Tuesday; 2pm-4pm Wednesday

o   CSCI 346: Programming in Visual Studio: 6pm-8pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; 10am-12pm Tuesdays; 2pm-4pm Wednesday and Friday

o   CSCI 361: Data Structures and Algorithms: 6pm-8pm Monday; 10am-12pm Tuesday; 2pm-4pm Wednesday

o   CSCI 390: Junior Seminar JQE: 6pm-8pm Monday; 10am-12pm Tuesday; 2pm-4pm Wednesday

BIOLOGY:

o   BIOL 100: Concepts in Biology: Mondays and Wednesdays 6pm-8pm

PSYCHOLOGY:

o   Psyc 290: Psychology Research and Stats I: 10am-12pm Tuesdays

Philosophy:

o   Phil 200: Logic and Critical Reasoning: T 11-1, T 2:30-4:30; W 1-3; Th 11-1; Sun-Thurs 6-8

General GRE:

o   Math Section: 6pm-8pm Monday-Thursday; 2pm-4pm Friday

About

MCLA's Math Drop-in Center is a place for students with any questions related to mathematics. 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. Some of our tutors are also able to help with science courses and computer science courses. The Center is free for the MCLA community to use, and all MCLA students, faculty, and staff are welcome to drop in—no appointment necessary!

For any questions about the Math Drop-in Center, please email Dr. Liz Hartung at e.hartung@mcla.edu.

 

How can I get the most out of my visit?

  • Fill in a Sign-In Sheet! You can do this online via the above link. You will be asked: (1) what course you're here for, and (2) who your professor is. We ask that you fill in a new sign-in sheet every time you visit; this is so we can better help you when you're here, and it's also so that we can continue to apply for grant funding to remain open. We also use our records of day/times of arrivals in making staffing and operational decisions.
  • Have your syllabus, textbook, class notes, homework and computer/calculator available if appropriate.
  • Come and use the space as a place to do homework. Work on your homework on your own, and then ask one of the peer tutors a question when you get stuck. When you do ask for help:
  • 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 Center or 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; if you can't work through the material, just return when a more experienced tutor is available. Tutor bios with classes the tutors can help with are on this page below.
  • Don't ask tutors to help you with a take-home test. They are not allowed to do so.
  • Leave anonymous feedback 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 if you're an online visitor. Your tutors won't read your feedback directly: it goes to the faculty coordinator, who summarizes and paraphrases it at tutors' meetings.

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

RyanRyan Bradley

Hi! I'm Ryan, I'm a computer science and math tutor. I first got into coding due to my hobbies (music, stocks and videogames)- I wanted to learn more about how what I love works. I stuck with coding because I fell in love with puzzle solving and working out complex systems. 

Ryan works 6pm-8pm Mondays, 10am-12pm Tuesdays, and 2pm-4pm Wednesdays.


Sam Broderick
Sam Broderick

Hi, my name is Sam Broderick and I am a Physics and Mathematics major at MCLA with a minor in Software Development. I have taken Calc I, Proof I, Java I, and Intro to Stats. I am currently taking Calc II, Calc III, Proof II, Intro to Mechanics, and History of Math. I also have experience with C++, Python, and SQL if you need help with programming.

Sam works 6:30pm-8pm Mondays, 6pm-8pm Wednesdays.

 


Emily Downing, She/Her
Emily Downing headshot

 

Hi, my name is Emily Downing, and I am a Mathematics major here at MCLA. If you're looking for math help, I can assist with: Calc I-IV, Proof I-II, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Number Theory, Graph Theory, Geometry, History of Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, and Statistics and Data Analysis. I can also help with Intro to Chemistry I, Intro to Mechanics, Java I, Database Development, Systems Analysis and Design, Logic and Critical Reasoning, and I can help with coding in Python. I am also currently studying for my GREs if you would like a buddy to study with!

Emily works Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-8pm, 2pm-4pm Fridays.


Cody Lucido Headshot Cody Lucido, he/him


After taking a break from school and working as a personal trainer for two years, I realized that math was my main passion for work and the career path I wanted to take. So I am now a transfer student at MCLA starting Fall 2022 and am looking forward to advancing my own knowledge of mathematics and helping others with the field as well. I've loved math ever since I started doing basic addition and subtraction problems in the first grade, it's just always come easily to me. I was in the top math class offered all the way up through school to AP Calculus senior year of high school. Some hobbies of mine are listening to music, Cross Country running, calisthenics or body weight training, Ultimate frisbee, tabletop gaming, playing old video games, and watching and dissecting movies. I hope I can be a valuable student and member of the Trailblazer Mathematics team at MCLA!

Cody works 2pm-4pm Wednesdays.


Bobita atkinsBobita

Hi, my name is Bobita Atkins and I am a senior at MCLA. I am a math major with a software development, informational technology and data science minor. I am planning on creating my own charity and getting my master's in computer science. My hobbies are dancing, music, video games, and doing puzzles and hiking. I am also the president of Asian Student Association at MCLA. I can assist with: Calc I-IV, Proof I-II, Linear Algebra, Number Theory, Graph Theory, Geometry, History of Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Statistics and Data Analysis, Intro to Statistics, and Mathematics for Liberal Arts. I can also help with Intro to Mechanics, Java I-II, Database Development,  Python, Web Development, Object Oriented Design, Networking Theory and Admin I, Machine Learning and Cyber Security Best Practices. If you have other topics you'd like help with, I'd be more than willing to take a look.

Bobita works 2pm-4pm Mondays; 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm Thursdays, 

 


Aris Yu, they/themAris Yu headshot

Hey! I'm Aris, a transfer student and computer science major. While my knowledge doesn't always correspond directly to the classes offered here, I'm most comfortable with calculus, statistics, and logic. I'm also proficient in Python, C++, and Java for any CS related questions you might have. If you have other topics you'd like help with, I'd be more than willing to take a look.

 

 


AvaAva Hoffman


I am a Psychology Major with a minor in Gender Studies. I am looking to get my doctorate in Clinical Psychology and work in forensic settings as a specialist in trauma, victimology, and criminal pathology. Which is to say, I am kind of a black sheep. But us Social Scientists need to learn Statistics and research and methodology. . . And if you need help with any of that, I am your sheep! 

Ava works Tuesdays 10am-12pm

 


Tea CaravelloTea Math Drop in

Hello!  My name is Tea and I am a sophomore Physics and Interdisciplinary Studies major.  Outside of school, I love reading and playing video games!  I'm here for all of your physics help needs, as well as introductory math courses and Calc I & II, and I am always happy to try and help with any other topics you may have.

Tea works Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 6pm-8pm, and Fridays, 2pm-4pm.

 


Encourage Your Students to Visit

Include this Blurb in your Syllabus

The Math Help Drop-In Center is now open in-person as well as virtually on Microsoft Teams! To get in-person help with any math question from any course, please visit the Feigenbaum Center for Science & Innovation, Room 101 during our open hours (which are always up-to-date on mcla.edu/mathcenter ). To get online help, follow the sign-in link at our website, then fill in the sign-in sheet and follow the instructions that arrive in your e-mail inbox. Our tutors are friendly, supportive, and ready to help!

Have a Tutor visit your Class!

Having a tutor visit your class is a quick, easy way to let your students know about the services we offer, where they can see a friendly face that might encourage them to visit. To organize a visit with a peer tutor in your course, please email Liz Hartung at e.hartung@mcla.edu

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 email Liz Hartung at e.hartung@mcla.edu