WEEK 4: Reflective Journal

Discuss and reflect on how the working mathematically proficiencies integrate with use of an inquiry-based approach in mathematics education.

I have always wondered before studying mathematics at university on how can students learn in varies ways, math to me before is just a plain subject with one correct answer. I was challenged on how to engage different learners in a classroom in a way that will be beneficial and engaging.

Through the week 4 lecture we explored a variety of math problems and the different types of approaches, for example, 4 x 6 is a plain and simple answer. However, to expand from that and to allow students to learn different techniques using one example such as a rectangle has a length of 6cm and a width of 4cm what is its area. This is an example of a guided inquiry that illustrates a pedagogical approach, which uses an open question problems in mathematic classes (Artigue & Blomhoj, 2013, para. 1 ). I benefited from this activity as it increased my skills on how to approach a math problem from a variety of ways to expand to students learning.

When students do not see how mathematics is useful in their everyday life, many students will not engage in classes and will be discouraged from pursuing further mathematic study (McPhan et al. 2008. Page. 5). Therefore, it is my duty as a future teacher to involve students in mathematical learning and help them see the relevance and importance math has in our everyday life from a variety of approaches such as through different activities in classes, doing a mental warm-up at the start of each lesson and doing more hands on work rather than overpowering them with theory content.

References:

Artigue, M., & Blomhoj, M. (2013). Conceptualizing inquiry-based education in mathematics. ZDM, 45(6), 797-810

McPhan, G., Morony, W., Pegg, J., Cooksey, R., Lynch, T. (2008). Final Report prepared for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers inc. ISBN: 192120818X