How To Get Better At Maths And Super Mario

Today, my son more than confirmed his status as a surly teenager when I told him he had to do some maths exercises today. Up until now, he'd only engaged with the explanation videos but not with the exercises on Khan Academy. 

After skirting dangerously close to an emotional outburst, he finally picked up the pencil to give it a try. I left him to it because I know not to poke a volcano when it's close to erupting.

When I came back, he had worked through four exercises. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks and seemed to have trouble keeping his eyes open. Whatever powers of focus he had were now definitely gone.

I didn't want to let things end there. After all,  he'd only done the exercises because I'd used my best mom voice on him. 

Compliance - check. 

Understanding - nope.

So I sat down next to him to ask him a few questions about one of his favourite topics - Super Mario:

Me: What do you have to do to get good at Super Mario?

Him: Well, you have to play the game!

Me: What else could you do to get better at it?

Him: There are these really cool videos where they show all the secrets!

Me: Can you just watch the videos instead of playing the game to get better?

Him: Of course not! You have to actually play the game to get better. 

He then launched into an explanation about muscle memory and hand-eye coordination. I love when he launches into these explanations. Sometimes it's a little awkward, like that time when he insisted on explaining the whole Minecraft changelog, but it still gives me mom-pride.

Of course, I was also very pleased that my ploy had worked and gleefully took the conversation back to the dreaded maths exercises:

"Pretend learning maths is like learning to play Super Mario, what would you have to do?"

A flickering lightbulb went on in his head.

"Guess I'd have to do some maths, then..." he said frowning.

At first, doing a maths problem feels very difficult mentally. At least once we get past the "easy stuff" we can visualize. 

For example, try this:

2567 x 3065 = ?

Unless you're used to doing multiplications in your head, this will be difficult for you. 

You've probably already reached for your phone to use the calculator!

For me, engaging with difficult problems feels like lifting a weight in my mind. You know, the kind where you put all your strength into making that one lift? 

It's a lot of effort, and I can only do it once or twice in a row. 

In my head, I am even wearing one of those circus costumes from days gone by while I do it. Sometimes, there's applause and "oohhhhh"s and "aahhhhh"s from the crowd.

For Sean, the sensation is more like fighting his way through a dense jungle with only a dull machete. He says it's really frustrating because he doesn't even know if he is going in the right direction. He gets very tired.

Maybe it's similar for you, and maybe it's not. 

I guess it depends on how you visualize extreme effort. I lift weights. Sean fights through the jungle. 

Regardless of how you visualize mental effort, your mental muscles will bulk up over time. Your brain is fantastic that way.

There's a catch, though.

It will only work if you throw all your strength into lifting the weight or hacking away at the jungle.

Like everything else, the mind only gets stronger by doing things. 

So, besides watching educational videos, Sean and I will solve another set of maths problems tomorrow. 

He will go hack at the jungle. I will go lift some weights.