ERIC Number: EJ957053
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Dec
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1033-2170
EISSN: N/A
Students Discussing Their Mathematical Ideas: The Role of the Teacher
Pijls, Monique; Dekker, Rijkje
Mathematics Education Research Journal, v23 n4 p379-396 Dec 2011
This article adds to current research on enhancing student discourse in mathematics teaching specifically in secondary schools but with equal relevance to elementary schools. Three mathematics teachers in secondary education were confronted with the question of how to encourage students to discuss their work with each other in the daily practice of their mathematical lessons. In response to this question the teachers devised three different approaches to encourage student discourse. One of the teachers chose to experiment with another setting to perform mathematical tasks that involved students working together on a group test. The second teacher experimented with a new kind of help when students were working on their maths tasks and asked for assistance. The third created a new setting in which the teacher (temporarily) did not provide mathematical hints and the students had to solve their own problems. The three teachers were very motivated, but they all had difficulties in not giving explanations themselves when supporting their students in their collaborative mathematical learning. They found that temporarily diminishing their product help stimulated discussion between students. It also became clear that the process of teacher reflection and follow-up discussions with the researcher/observers promoted changes of practice. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Group Testing, Mathematics Teachers, Mathematics Instruction, Teaching Methods, Teacher Role, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Secondary School Mathematics, Cooperative Learning, Student Participation, Help Seeking, Problem Solving, Instructional Effectiveness
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A