John Mason on questioning in math class

John Mason on questioning in math class 

I found Mason’s ideas interesting and applicable to inquiry-based learning. In particular, I think they provide useful insights in conducting p4c-style method of teaching that I’m especially interested in. The role of the facilitator in community of inquiry is to help the learners to ask themselves questions that lead them to the solution to the problem, rather to lead them to solutions by asking them questions that lead to answer. I found the distinction between “asking as telling” and “asking as asking” which is based on the distinction between “listening-for an expected response and listening-to what students are saying (and watching what students are doing)(p. 515)” insightful. This idea can help the facilitator in community of inquiry to find ways to engage the learners in such a manner that they lead to ask useful questions and in the course of answering those questions learn the subject that they are supposed to learn. Another interesting idea discussed in Mason’s paper is asking students “to construct examples of mathematical objects meeting various constraints. By carefully choosing the constraints so as to force students to think beyond the first (usually rather simple) example that comes to mind”(p. 516). I will try to come up with ways to use the method of formulating questions by students and constructing examples when I plan my lesson for the long practicum.