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.
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