Today we learned about differentiated learning and how it looks in a math classroom. For those of you who may not know what differentiated learning is, in short, its providing many different ways for students to understand and explore the same concept, in the same classroom. Most people may not believe this is a good idea for math, or that it should only be done in an applied or college course, as academic and university courses just need to learn content to move up in the world. This is not true at all ! It is so valuable, in all courses and levels ! Even in our class today, many teacher candidates went straight to the numerical and algebraic versions of equations, as after university math, that is what they are most comfortable with. To me, this shows how much more important it is for us to explore concepts in visual ways, as it makes our understanding of concepts so much more concrete and gives us a deeper understanding of the number math we are doing. Sure we can get the correct answer to numerical problems, but do we actually understand why those answers are right ? Or are we just really good at following formulas and inputting values?
This actually leads me to my next thought, and something that really stuck with me in class. By using differentiated learning, we can challenge all students at the same time. For those who understand the numerical equations, they can start with those and then move onto the picture equations, and those who understand the picture equations can use those to assist them in getting the numerical equation. Those students who believe they are too good for picture equations, probably just aren't comfortable with them, and should try them at least a few times before throwing in the towel. As well, if its group work, those who are good at one version can work with those who are good at a different version, and hopefully help each-other in a student based, cooperative learning environment.
What you said ("Sure we can get the correct answer to numerical problems, but do we actually understand why those answers are right ? Or are we just really good at following formulas and inputting values?") is probably true of a lot of people. I know it's true of me. Even yesterday, when we were doing the SolveMe Mobile activity, I realized that I don't actually think about the algebraic equations that way. I don't think about them in a concrete way at all, only abstractly - because I know how to solve them in that way.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea for us to get comfortable with differentiated instruction such as mathematical manipulatives and technology that enhances mathematical learning, as it will help us learn more about math itself...and help us teach our students about real math, not just memorization.