MAT104 Blackboard Assignment 5
Sample Student Response:
Our group identified the following similarities and differences between statements presented on the readings and the beliefsof group # 3 members.
Similarities.
1.-During our group discussion, we concluded that our group agreed with Dr. Kathy Safforf’s report on the teachers shouldn’t ask students to perform tasks without understanding, because students become more proficient when they understand the underlying concepts.
2.- In cooperative learning, students working in small groups get motivated and engaged in solving mathematical problems.
3.- The use of calculator to perform complex arithmetical calculations, but students need to have a clear understanding of the problem. “Computational fluency is often essential in solving higher –order problems”.
4.- Students may grasp mathematical concepts and procedures if they use a combination of real life math problems and skill drill exercises.
5.- Personally I agree with the former Secretary of education Richard W. Riley and Professor Edward A. Silver in that U.S. student’s failure to perform better in math does not lie on the instructional method but rather on the lack of higher expectations for all our students.
Differences
As a group we, as parents or adult students, struggle with our beliefs on what is the right way to teach and learn math. Among our group were people who were faithful believers of the traditional methodology of teaching math and the reformists who strongly believe on the constructivist theory.
1.- Among the group of progressive educators we still believe in the limitation of calculators and technology in the math classroom especially in the early grades, but that rest of the group believes on no calculators and technology in the class at all in the elementary and intermediate school.
2.- The readings did not emphasize the need for homework but our group considered it an essential part in learning and teaching math. Homework should reflect what is learn in the class and is also the connection between home and school. Parents get the pulse of their children learning through the daily assignments.
3.- Personally I disagree in establishing one set of standards to fit all because there is no equity of resources across the country and the one’s holding accountable for the established standards are the least advantages students. I also do not believe in standardized test as the ultimate assessment tool to determine student knowledge.