One of the most significant learning challenges I have faced occurred when I enrolled in MATH 200 – Calculus 3 at the University of Victoria. Although I had previously completed Calculus 1 and 2 with solid results, there was a gap of approximately two to three years before I returned to this subject. As a result, many foundational concepts had faded, and I found myself struggling to reconnect with core ideas while also encountering entirely new and more abstract content.

The course introduced a wide range of abstract and unfamiliar concepts. The most difficult aspect for me was visualizing multidimensional structures. This level of abstraction was unlike anything I had encountered in previous calculus courses, and it required me to adopt a completely different approach to learning.

At first, I relied heavily on behaviorist learning strategies, which is primarily repetition and memorization. I focused on solving large amount of practice problems in the hope that familiarity would lead to mastery. While this helped me recall some basic rules and techniques, it did not adequately prepare me to handle conceptual or application-based problems.

Recognizing that my strategy was insufficient, I shifted toward a more cognitivist approach. I began using visual aids, such as 3D graphing tools and instructional videos, to support visualization. I also reorganized my notes to better map the relationships between concepts, which helped me build a stronger internal framework for understanding.

Later in the course, I began attending the Math Help Centre on campus. Speaking with tutors and asking questions in real time helped me clarify concepts I had been struggling with. These interactions provided opportunities for active engagement, where I could work through problems with guidance rather than just passively reviewing solutions. This was a more constructivist approach to learning, as I was building understanding through dialogue, support, and hands-on problem-solving.

This experience highlighted for me that learning is dynamic and multifaceted. Each method offered useful tools at different stages. Flexibility in learning strategies, combined with persistence, played a critical role in overcoming the challenges I faced in learning.