Introducing Math for Scientists: Empower Students with Essential Math Skills for Scientific Success

Your students are eager to dive into chemistry, biology,  or other sciences but there's one common hurdle holding them back—math. You've seen it time and again: enthusiastic students suddenly overwhelmed by equations, struggling to bridge the gap between abstract numbers and the real-world science they love. This frustration can lead to disengagement, and in some cases, students might even consider dropping the course, or worse, leaving their studies altogether.

Introducing Labster's Math for Scientists Unit

To address this challenge, Labster is excited to present the Math for Scientists unit—a new resource designed to help students build the foundational math skills necessary for success in their science courses. This unit provides immersive, step-by-step practice that reduces anxiety, builds confidence, and helps students master critical math concepts. With interactive simulations and real-time feedback, students can finally bridge the gap between theory and practical lab work, allowing them to approach scientific problems with newfound clarity and confidence.

First activity: Scientific Notation

Launching in November 2024, the first activity in this new unit is the Scientific Notation math activity—a foundational tool for students in science.

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Understanding scientific notation is a must-have skill for scientists, and in this activity, students will learn to navigate this key concept with confidence. The activity is structured into three learning objectives, allowing students to build their knowledge incrementally:

Objective 1: Convert basic numbers into scientific notation

Obective 2: Convert complex numbers into scientific notation

Objective 3: Evaluate and ensure the accuracy of scientific notation conversions

Students must achieve 70% mastery at each level before progressing to the next, allowing them to track their progress and experience a sense of accomplishment. They can also revisit sections to improve their scores, all within a gamified environment that keeps them engaged while ensuring they grasp the fundamental math that supports their scientific studies.

Upcoming Activities

Here’s a preview of some of the upcoming Math for Scientists practice activities:‍

Significant Figures:

• Objective 1: Identify the number of significant figures in a given numerical measurement.
• Objective 2: Round numbers to the correct number of significant figures.
• Objective 3: Retain the correct number of significant figures in calculations.
  

Conversion Factors & Dimensional Analysis:some text

• Objective 1: Understand and apply dimensional analysis to convert units using one conversion.
• Objective 2: Apply dimensional analysis to convert units using multiple conversion factors.
• Objective 3: Apply dimensional analysis to solve more complex problems.

These activities and two more: Density and Logarithms and Exponentials, will be rolling out between the end of 2024 and early 2025. You can start planning to add them for your spring semester 2025 courses. Contact us for more information, or to be a beta tester on these new activities. Otherwise, stay tuned for further updates!

Final Thoughts

With Labster’s Math for Scientists unit, students can overcome their math-related anxieties and embrace it as an essential tool for their success in the sciences. Get ready to witness their confidence grow as they master the mathematical skills they need to excel in their scientific studies.

Want to learn more about our Math for Scientists unit? Click here to download the full details.