Differences Between Traditional Math Instruction And A...

This paper will explore some of the major differences between traditional math instruction and a problem-based instructional model. These models are defined largely by characteristics such as classroom environment, learning goals, teachers’ roles and whole-group approaches. I will address each of these topics more thoroughly throughout this paper and conclude by sharing some of my personal thoughts and goals regarding these two instructional approaches as they relate to the teaching of math. In a traditional math classroom, students are likely to sit in rows and work independently on assignments which mirror a concept that the teacher has just demonstrated for them. There is a strong emphasis put on memorizing facts though drill tactics. Students are expected to follow specific procedures, including algorithms. According to Mhlolo, the back-to-basics movement argues â€Å"that critical thinking and problem solving are based on well-learnt hierarchically lower-level concepts which in some cases are only developed through rote learning† (Mhlolo, 2014). On the other hand, Kohn calls rote learning robotic calculation and states that educators are constantly finding examples of how kids can do calculations without really knowing what they re doing† (Kohn, 1999). Problem-based instruction looks quite a bit different. Most notable, is the fact that students work to solve real-world problems rather than solving worksheets full of identical equations. Stude nts are alsoShow MoreRelatedGraduation Speech : Literature Review1648 Words   |  7 PagesUnless we understand and respond to those differences, we fail many leaners† (Tomlinson, 2001, p. 15). In the beginning of the year, my students and I got through the highly anticipated first few days of school full of expectations, community builders, and fun, when I quickly learned I had a classroom of â€Å"math haters.† When I surveyed my class, I found out the majority of my students thought math was boring and hard, and there was a strong dislike of math. While I collected my own data on them asRead MoreA Teacher Fosters Social Competence with Cooperative Learning1606 Words   |  7 PagesStacey Magnesio and Barbara Davis Copied with permission from Childhood Education, Summer 2010. Stacey Magnesio and Barbara H. Davis Stacey Magnesio is a 4th-grade teacher, Hays CISD, Kyle, Texas. Barbara H. Davis is Professor, Curriculum Instruction, Texas State University, San Marcos. To cite this article: Magnesio, S. B. Davis. A Teacher Fosters Social Competence With Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing. Kagan Online Magazine, Fall/Winter 2010. www.KaganOnline.com Read MoreElementary Methods : Teaching Mathematics5785 Words   |  24 Pages?new math.? However, students are not learning new concepts, just a new way of thinking about those concepts. In this unit, you will explore some effective instructional strategies and approaches to teaching students, way to get them to think mathematically, how to bridge the gap between concrete and abstract and incorporate technology to allow for more instructional time in the classroom. Course Objectives: By the end of this unit, learners will be able to explain the difference between doingRead MoreDifferent Methods of Teaching Essay1087 Words   |  5 Pages(*). Some teachers are now trying a new method that is slowly gaining popularity called the flipped classroom (Goodwin and Miller 78). The flipped classroom is one form of differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction individualizes education for each student (Bolin and Garcia). The flipped classroom model was created to accommodate the busy lives of students (Bergmann and Sams 2). The flipped classroom does not look the same in every classroom, but it is essentially the flipping of notesRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Adult Learning And Methods Of Delivery4068 Words   |  17 Pagesgrowing demand for accountability as they prepare students for a future that cannot be predicted. With this pressure for change and accountability, practicing educators seek effective and efficient ways to modify their curriculum and to improve instruction and assessment strategies that will allow their students to succeed now and in the future. Educators learn informally on a daily basis as they interact with their students and peers and formally through learning experiences initiated either internallyRead MoreResearch-Based Best Practices in L2 Literacy Developing Reading Comprehension Skills for English Language Learners5405 Words   |  22 PagesResearch-Based Best Practices in L2 Literacy Developing Reading Comprehension Skills for English Language Learners Infiernito Finca Escuela Honduras (2009) EDUC 5465 Introduction to ESL/Bilingual and Special Education Written by: Mia Ariela Allen May 2010 Research-Based Best Practices in L2 Literacy Developing Reading Comprehension Skills for English Language Learners Research guiding questions: * How should classroom reading instruction practices best meet the needs ofRead MoreThe Influence of Media Technology and Information and Communication Technology2068 Words   |  9 Pagesof an individual by using this new approach and new tools. Media Technology -Educational Media is defined as media for learning and teaching or learning software. -In terms of learning   Ã¢â‚¬Å"from† technology, it includes the instructional television, computer-based instruction, or integrated learning systems that have been implemented into classrooms -Within this framework, particular media formats (e.g., books and magazines, video media, computer software, and multimedia) -Educational Media inRead MoreConstructivist Theory8093 Words   |  33 Pagesfail, but by accommodating this new experience and reframing our model of the way the world works, we learn from the experience of failure, or others failure. It is important to note that constructivism is not a particular pedagogy. In fact, constructivism is a theory describing how learning happens, regardless of whether learners are using their experiences to understand a lecture or following the instructions for building a model airplane. In both cases, the theory of constructivism suggests thatRead MoreHomework As A Learning Experience858 Words   |  4 Pages So for the purposes of this discussion, only extension and practice are being referenced. Homework is designed to help the students enhance and practice skills learned in class. There is nothing wrong with this concept. Optional tools - both traditional and electronic - can and should be provided for students to use to accomplish this. The issue of concern is requiring students to perform these tasks under threat of negative penalties. In essence what is being implied in these cases is that theRead MoreLiterature Review : Multiple Intelligence Theory2723 Words   |  11 Pagesto labeling them with only one specific intelligence. Gardner labels each of these ways a distinct â€Å"intelligence.† In other words, it is a set of skills allowing individuals to find and resolve genuine problems they face. MIT is an effective way to reach students who do not learn from the traditional linguist and logical way of teaching. The eight categories of intelligences are verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, body/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, interpersonal, intrapersonal