PBA2

How to Be Responsive if…

· A student solves it one way and can’t think of any other way:

· Ask if they can draw a picture that shows the answer.

· Ask if they can invent a new way to solve it.

· Show them a method that they haven’t used and ask if they can figure out how it works and why.

· A student solves the problem multiple ways easily:

· Ask why they did what they did. Why do their methods work? Be specific about what you want to know.

· See if they can come up with another method that isn’t as easy to find.

· Ask the interviewee how their methods are similar and different. Be as specific as possible.

· A student solves the problem incorrectly:

· Remain neutral.

· Ask the interviewee why they did what they did. Why do their methods work?

· See if they can solve it a different way. Compare solutions.

· Say, “I saw someone else solve it like this….and they got 90.” What would you say to that person?

General Strategies for Being Responsive

· Ask, “Why?” Why did they do …(be specific about what you want to know)? How do they know it’s mathematically correct?

· Be patient. Use lots of wait time, and don’t answer your own questions.

· Focus on understanding what they are thinking.

· Ask them to make connections.

· How is this the same as what you did in the first solution?

· How is this different then what you did in the standard algorithm?

· Ask them to generalize their strategy.

· Will it always work to …?

· What if it was … instead?