About Integral Learning

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Integral Learning emerged from a decade of highs and lows, self-reflections, and a profound desire to combine my passions for math education and mental health. The journey was far from straightforward, mirroring the ups and downs of my neurodivergent brain. However, these experiences have shaped Integral Learning into what it is today.

Over the past decade, I have supported high school, college, and university students in their math courses. As I worked with them, I noticed a recurring pattern: their struggles extended beyond a lack of understanding of the course material. Often, they grasped the concepts, but their emotional and psychological perceptions of math hindered their performance. Reflecting on my own past experiences, I realized that these students were struggling with similar challenges. Mental health and self-efficacy were negatively impacting their math performance. To truly support them, I realized I needed to go beyond mere explanation; I had to address the feelings they were having towards learning math, particularly their math anxiety. This realization marked the beginning of Integral Learning and my quest take a more holistic approach to math education.

Over the years, I’ve been working to develop and expand Integral Learning beyond private tutoring. It’s clear that math anxiety affects many students, with statistics showing that about 25% of university students and 80% of college students struggle with it. While we know math anxiety negatively impacts students’ math performance, there are no tools or resources that directly consider its impact on students’ long-term learning and achievement. This has significant repercussions on students’ long-term academic and career plans, especially those interested in pursuing STEM. Students should not feel the need to avoid math or believe they are not meant to follow their goals, but when math anxiety is present, this is a likely consequence. With Integral Learning, my goal is to help students fully recognize their abilities and create a more inclusive and supportive learning experience. 

- Divya