Dr David Butler on Maths Support, Confidence, and Backing Yourself
Maths can feel tough, isolating, and honestly a bit intimidating at times. For this MiTSA interview, we spoke with Dr David Butler about his own student journey, why needing extra help is completely okay, and how Maths Learning Support helps students feel more confident and less alone.
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I started university back in the 1990s, studying mathematics and computer science. Even though computer science was part of the degree, it was really maths that sat at the centre of it for me. I later went on to complete a PhD in pure mathematics, specialising in finite geometry.
Getting there was not completely straightforward. I came from a different state, and one of the biggest challenges was the difference in assumed knowledge. There were things other students seemed to already know that I had to catch up on.
That is where Maths Learning Support really helped me. It gave me a place to build up the knowledge I had missed and keep moving forward.
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One of my biggest challenges was that it simply took me a long time to get through the work. Sometimes it could take me up to two weeks to complete something properly. That meant I did not have much time left for extracurricular activities.
At times, I felt embarrassed about taking longer than other people. But eventually I realised that it did not really matter. I did not need to measure my progress against everyone else. What mattered was that I was happy with my grades and what I was learning.
That became really important for my self-worth. I learnt that doing things at your own pace does not make you less capable.
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Helping other students made a huge difference.
I enjoyed sitting with people, working through problems, and explaining ideas. And in doing that, I strengthened my own understanding too. Teaching other people helped reinforce concepts in my own mind and made me a better problem-solver in my own university work.
Sometimes the best way to learn something is to help someone else learn it too.
“Maths can feel isolating, but support helps you realise you are not alone.”
~Dr David Butler
“Taking longer to learn is not a weakness.”
~Dr David Butler
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For me, the PhD was much better than undergraduate study.
A big part of that was that there were no formal courses. I could focus on research, and because I was being paid, I treated it like a job.
At the time, I also had a daughter, so flexibility mattered a lot. I worked about eight hours a day, splitting that time between home and university. I treated it like weekly work that needed to get done, rather than forcing everything into one rigid structure.
That flexibility gave me room to slowly read journal articles, think carefully, and work through difficult material properly.
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Students can expect to be heard, supported, and helped without judgement.
A lot of students come in feeling unsure, embarrassed, or stuck. Sometimes they just need help understanding one concept. Other times, they do not even know where to begin. Some students are completely lost, while others already have lots of ideas and just need help bringing them together.
One of the biggest things Maths Learning Support offers is confidence. It can help students feel more confident with the content, and sometimes even more confident speaking with their lecturer afterwards.
It also reminds students that they are not the only one struggling. Maths can feel isolating, but support spaces help you realise you are not alone.
And most importantly: there are no stupid questions.
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It is still better to come in and get support than not come in at all.
Of course, starting earlier is always better. But life happens. University does not happen in a perfect vacuum, and sometimes students do end up under pressure.
The important thing is that students should not avoid getting help just because they feel embarrassed or think it is too late. Getting some support and learning something is always better than getting none at all.
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AI can be useful, but if you use it to solve a problem, you still need to understand the maths behind that solution yourself.
I encourage students to bring in what AI has given them and show it to Maths Learning Support. We can then work through it together so the student actually understands what is going on.
That matters especially in exams, where AI is not there to help.
At the end of the day, the goal is not to make students dependent on AI. The goal is to help students feel more confident in their own ability so they can trust themselves more and rely on AI less.
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A helpful way to think about feedback is that there are often two approaches.
One is: “You need to fix this.”
The other is: “I am struggling with this — can you help me with it?”
Often, the second approach opens up a more constructive conversation.
My advice is to be brave and say something. Not everyone will respond well to feedback, and that is just reality, but it should not stop you from speaking up.
If you do not feel heard, there are other support pathways available, including the Dean of College or AUSA student support.
And where possible, try to speak to people face to face. Emails can sometimes sound harsher than you mean them to.
“It is always better to ask for support than get none at all.”
“Believe more in your own power to think, reason, and solve problems.”
~Dr David Butler
Final takeaway
Dr David Butler’s story is a strong reminder that university success does not have to look fast, perfect, or effortless.
Sometimes success looks like asking for help.
Sometimes it looks like taking longer.
Sometimes it looks like backing yourself anyway.
And that is exactly why support services like Maths Learning Support matter.
You can find Math Learning Support here:
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City East location: Level 3 Hub Central (Eastern side)
City East opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday -
Mawson Lakes location: Level 1 Sir Eric Neal Library (building C)
Mawson Lakes opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Tuesdays and Fridays -
Online opening hours: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (Adelaide time)
