There is a notion floating about in education land that teaching students multiple ways to solve particular mathematical problems builds flexible thinking, and reasoning skills. I have been looking for research studies that show this, but the closest I’ve found is a study by Rittle-Johnson et al (2016) conducted in algebra classes, that had students compare and discuss alternative methods. It does not address the effect of learning multiple methods for solving a problem. And it also does not definitively conclude that the comparison of methods increases flexible thinking and reasoning skills.
This is a refreshing approach to math, nicely explained. The idea the the easy way is a trick way, strikes me as a wry joke turned into a mantra to prove children stupid, or to rob them of their self-confidence.
It happens in reading and writing all the time in the schools.
This is a refreshing approach to math, nicely explained. The idea the the easy way is a trick way, strikes me as a wry joke turned into a mantra to prove children stupid, or to rob them of their self-confidence.
It happens in reading and writing all the time in the schools.
Again, you are spot on about everything. My additional 2 cents - frustration and confusion does not lead to confidence.