Sunday, 6 December 2015

John Mason's Questioning In Math class

The author’s ideas are connected with inquiry-based learning in secondary school mathematics. He values the questions and thoughts of the students. He believes that “students whose teacher challenges them appropriately but significantly are likely to develop flexibility and creativity in their thinking.” Another method of inquiry I learnt from this reading is asking the student “how do you know?’. Thus the student will reflect on his thoughts and push the student to think beyond the answer and find the “why”.
Moreover, I was surprised the way they teach in Japan, “in how many ways can you find the answer?”. This is a good method as the student will learn different ways and adapt to the one he/she prefers. During my long practicum, I would definitely try this method and ask the students to come to the board if ever they came up with a different way of solving.

Also, I would try to make some puzzle where answers will be in small envelopes and the student will have to figure out what kind of questions fit this solution. Students will be more engaged working in a group rather than just learning the traditional way and solving equations, or learning formulas.

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