opinion 4.2 and answer to the professor

Clinton Sutherland 

1 posts

Re:Module 4 DQ 2

Should the role of the mathematics instructor be the hands-off facilitator who guides students to discover knowledge without interjecting factual input or that of the subject matter expert who directly presents factual information to students? Why? Under what circumstances might the role that you did not select prevail? Why?

In view of learning style and problem-solving methods, each student has different learning style. Considering the difference in learning style and there is also the different in learning pace that one need to consider when teaching mathematics (Smith & Colby, 2007) Some students may use algorithmic problem solving and find it helpful for the instructor to present factual information to them that will help in their understanding of the subject matter. Students who are more of quick decision makers and use heuristic processing for problem solving, may have experience from other problems that is of help to them. They may become impatient with the time that an instructor takes to present factual information. Such students may prefer to have a hands-off facilitator who guides the students, because they may like to have a conceptual understanding and identify situations that apply to the subject. Considering the fact that people receive information then make an assessment of it, knowledge is being gained from experience in both methods of instruction (Piaget, 1968). If the instructor look to address the different learning styles of all students both hands-off facilitator and hands-on methods of instruction of mathematics is useful.

Reference

Piaget, J (1968) Genetic epistemology: Columbia University Press.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/fr/piaget.htm

 

Smith, W. T. & Colby, A. S. (2007) Teaching for Deep Learning. Clearinghouse; Vol. 80 Issue 5, p205-210, 6p

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