It is difficult to learn something new and challenging without ever putting it into words. This is just as true when learning math as it is when learning anything else. Thus, it is a good idea to make time for students to discuss their ideas with their classmates in pairs, groups, and as a whole… Continue reading Technical Writing
Tag: Teaching
Partitions
In this post, I will outline my approach to this partition problem:How many ways can you write a positive integer n as a sum of three or fewer positive integers? Partitions are a standard topic in number theory, but I will limit myself to this specific question. I started trying to figure it out after… Continue reading Partitions
Assessment Postscript
A few months ago, I wrote a series of posts on the subject of assessment. (It starts here.) Even though the series extended to eight posts, I didn't manage to include everything I had wanted to say. Here are a few thoughts that didn't make it into the series. 1. Obedience For some of us,… Continue reading Assessment Postscript
Fads and Memes
My defense of eclecticism in teaching generated a strong positive response from teachers, perhaps because I articulated a widely held resentment about the fads that blow through the educational landscape. But interesting questions were raised about what I wrote. In my last post, I tried to clarify my views on math education research. Today, I… Continue reading Fads and Memes
Math Education Research
In my last post, I argued in favor of eclecticism in teaching. The response I got was unusually enthusiastic in terms of numbers of visitors, retweets, and comments on Twitter. Unusually enthusiastic compared to what I'm accustomed to: I'm far from being an Internet celebrity. Still, it felt like I said something that resonated.However there… Continue reading Math Education Research
Eclectic
In between June 27 and August 4, 2016, I presented seven to ten workshops (depending on how you count) ranging from a couple of hours to four days. I share most of the handouts, resources, and slides on my Summer Workshops site. (See below my signature for more details on what's there.)The site will remain… Continue reading Eclectic
Math in the Long Period
In this post, I will expand on some of the ideas from a previous article about Teaching in the Long Period. (Read that article first!) I will also add some thoughts that were missing in the original, and try to answer some specific concerns often expressed by math teachers whose schools are adopting block schedules.Do… Continue reading Math in the Long Period
Forward Design
Earlier posts in this series: Legitimate Uses of Assessment Problematic Uses of Assessment The Meaning of Grades De-emphasizing Grades Grades: the Research The Perils of Backward Design Assessment Tools and Strategies The Assessment Trap, Part 8: Forward Design It's time to wrap up this series. Here is a summary of the main points: - From… Continue reading Forward Design
Assessment Tools and Strategies
Earlier posts in this series: Legitimate Uses of Assessment Problematic Uses of Assessment The Meaning of Grades De-emphasizing Grades Grades: the Research The Perils of Backward DesignThe Assessment Trap, Part 7: Assessment Tools and StrategiesIn previous posts, I discussed the ways in which an overemphasis on assessment undermines curriculum, pedagogy, and student learning. Of course,… Continue reading Assessment Tools and Strategies
The Perils of Backward Design
Earlier posts in this series: Legitimate Uses of Assessment Problematic Uses of Assessment The Meaning of Grades De-emphasizing Grades Grades: the ResearchThe Assessment Trap, Part 6: The Perils of Backward Design In previous posts, I addressed the true nature of grades and their corrosive impact on learning. Alas, over-emphasis on grades and summative assessment also… Continue reading The Perils of Backward Design
Henri's Math Education Blog 