After watching a video about students' abilities to problem solve (Dan Meyer – Math Class Needs a Makeover ), here are a few keys points of interest:
- problems worth solving are not simple. We often create an environment where students expect to solve problems quickly, making students impatient problem solvers.
- textbooks give students all of the information that they need. Students don't need to filter information or seek out new information - they only need to follow procedures.
- "What matters here?" - a very under-represented question in many math programs. Students are told what matters and do not often need to determine important information for themselves.
- Dan Meyer reduces the information given when introducing a problem to drive conversation, engagement, and perseverance in his students.
