Inquiring about Inquiry
Just think back to when you were a student, sitting in math class, being told to memorize your multiplication table or the formula to solve a problem asking for area. But why do I as a student need to know these concepts? Why am I learning this? These are the pressing questions that students ponder about whenever introduced to a new concept. As educators, we have a responsibility to guide our students and help them fully understand mathematical concepts. This week's discussion focused around the notion of knowing vs. understanding: the difference between the two.
A major problem with students today surrounds the idea that they do not fully understand the concepts being taught. Therefore, the question remains: Should educators drill concepts into their students in order for them to know a concept? Or should they teach strategies to help students understand concepts? Personally, I believe a healthy balance of both aspects will provide students a great foundation to know a concept. The students may demonstrate their understanding through given mathematical tasks once they have acquired basic knowledge of the area. Further researching this topic, I found an interesting article, written by Maryellen Weimer, highlighting the notion that students are unprepared to solve higher thinking questions due to the fact that do not have the basic skill set to tackle these types of questions. The article provides some strategies and examples between surface and deeper learning. Please click here if you would like to read the full article.
In addition to the article mentioned above, the government document titled "Paying Attention to Mathematics Education," also highlights the importance for students to understand and know concepts.The article provides teachers with suggestions of ways of focusing on mathematics in the classroom. Personally, I enjoy the suggestion of engaging the students and allowing them to develop their own skills by making connections in order to extend their understanding. From my own experiences, I can relate this suggestion to my time in placement. In my opinion, my best and most engaging lesson during my time in a grade four classroom was when the students were given the task to conduct their own surveys about a a topic of their choosing; followed by constructing a bar graph with the data they had collected. The activity provided a great opportunity for all students in the classroom to fell welcome and engaged about a topic they were interested in. From favourite flowers to favourite sports teams, all students were extending their learning by participating in an active learning environment. The students were able to make connections and use their skills to conduct their own surveys. This activity also demonstrates a great way to incorporate inquiry-based strategies into the classroom. Although students were all responsible to create a table of values to organize their data and create a bar graph, each student had the freedom to make a connection to the data they wished to collect.It is one of several inquiry-based strategies that I will be discussing in my webinar this upcoming week; highlighting the various benefits of student learning when using this type of teaching.
When discussing deeper vs. surface understanding as a whole, it is important to remember that each and every one of us is capable of learning mathematical concepts. In this week's modules, the main idea to take away from the videos is that all individuals should have a positive mindset when it comes to a subject they do not necessarily enjoy; such as math. The language in which a teacher speaks to his or her students is also an important component. Encouraging students to persevere and keep up the hard work will help students grow and develop their skills for future concepts. As one makes mistakes, one's brain will continue to grow. Therefore, as educators, let's encourage students to keep working at an area with which they are struggling and celebrate their growth mindset.
In short, this week has provided a well rounded recap of the vast advantages of implementing inquiry-based learning in the classroom. As educators, we will be faced with a wide variety of learners in each class we may teach. Therefore, inquiry-based learning provides educators with rich opportunities for all students in the classroom to feel comfortable in participating in activities; as they continue to grow in knowledge and keep a growth mindset.
For some final thoughts, you may view the following TED Talk, found on YouTube, about re-imaging one's classroom to set the stage for the best possible learning environment for students:
Hi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post! The TED talk was really interesting. I like her point about embracing purposeful technology. I think the Gizmos that Pat talked about in class this week fit in well with the concept of using technology to enhance student learning as they allow students to actively explore and experiment with different concepts and ideas. The Paying Attention to Spatial Reasoning document from our reading also encourages teachers to integrate this kind of technology into the classroom as it encourages students to manipulate objects and see spatial relationships which helps them to build conceptual understanding.
Hi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteYou presented some interesting ideas in your blog post. I agree with your perspective that both knowing/doing math and understanding math are important for students in their math education. A growth mindset is so vital for students to have, even with subjects they do not enjoy. It ensures they try harder and are better equipped to deal with challenges. The key point to remember from your post is that everyone can learn math (if they put the effort). I am excited to see your webinar this week!