Thing 7b – Math Reasoning and Practice Patient Problem Solving

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2010/07/08/phenomenal-math-curriculum-makeover-video-by-dan-meyer/

In this entry, our author has identified a teacher who examines the way we teach mathematics, and why students are not learning the concepts. Dan Meyer compares our textbooks that students use to sitcom shows like Two and a half men. He claims since students are so used to being entertained with three-minute commercials, and seven minute runs that they do not pay enough attention to learn what he’s teaching. I think this is very true.

Dan Meyer lists five symptoms that students have that demonstrates this need for instant gratification:

Lack of initiative
Lack of perseverance
Aversion to word problems
Extremely low retention
Eagerness for formulas

All of these are forces students bring with them to combat their own learning. Math requires two very important concepts to understand and learn the standards and objectives. In math it is about math reasoning, and patient problem solving. Meyer’s points out that this can be achieved through breaking apart the word problems into separate pieces. Then the math may serve the conversation, since the conversation does not serve the math. He suggests we give each problem to the students with a visual, and a question. Let them figure out the structure, and steps to answer the question. He forces them to think about what they need, instead of giving them all the information needed to solve the problem, which is not reality.

He also uses multimedia in his lessons to present a real situation for students. This allows them the real world-view, and gives them another perspective to see.

I found this presentation very interesting, and enjoyed the way Meyers presented his idea of pin pointing math reasoning, and patient problem solving to improve and combat all the experiences, and behaviors that students come into class with.