Today’s math class is different.
Processes and curricula have changed, and so have the expectations of teachers and students. How has math learning in the classroom changed over the past decade? We asked four educators for their opinions.
Below are the top five changes.
1. Moving from teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning
Once upon a time: “Follow what I teach.”
Now: “What are your learning goals and what do you need to do next to reach them?”
Fifteen years ago, students could take a test and get results without much feedback from their teacher.
The teacher would be seen as the custodian of knowledge and the student as the vessel to be filled. One of the big changes in mathematics learning and teaching is the movement ahead.
Teachers today take the role of facilitator, guiding students to discover learning. It helps guide students to set goals for themselves, reflect on their learning, and become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
There is more feedback and collaboration between teachers and students. Students take a more active role in the learning process instead of being filled with knowledge.
For teachers, this means having strong content knowledge, but also having different strategies at their disposal so they can be used to meet the individual needs of different student groups.
This can be an uncomfortable process for some teachers, as it means letting go of “control” and letting students engage in productive struggles.
Thankfully, there are many resources available to help teachers accommodate different learning styles and needs. for example, Online Mathematics Resources Mathematics help plan for Differentiated learning.
2. Focus on the mathematical process rather than the content
Once upon a time: “Here’s a worksheet. Fill in your answers.”
Now: “Show me how you solved that problem. Table.”
Education is highly individualized.
It’s not just about what students are learning, but how they are learning. The emphasis is on process rather than answers. Did students use communication in their answers?
The emphasis is on whether the student has articulated his steps rather than on getting the answer.
Teachers should guide students to explain how they solved the problem and discuss different ways of solving the problem. This requires a lot of hands-on teacher involvement, including conversations, feedback, and having other students explain in class.
Need help finding problem-solving questions? 700 contextual real-world problem-solving and reasoning questions Mathematics allows students to write, draw, or record voice memos to demonstrate their thinking behind the solution. This makes it easy to see if students are communicating their solutions clearly.
Grading no longer just looks at the answers, teachers need to look at all parts of the student’s assignments and conversations. This has also affected the way teachers teach.
3. How teachers teach
Once upon a time: “Plan a lesson, stick to it, and follow it.”
Now: “Can you adapt the lesson on the fly?”
Previously, teachers planned lessons and carried them out. They were measured by how well they did the lesson and how well they stuck to it.
These days, it’s the other way around.
Teachers are expected to be flexible and adapt to what their students are doing at the moment. It’s not just about teaching, it’s about how students respond to teaching. This means that we need to rethink the setting of the actual content we are asking of our students.
“How can I teach my students to understand what they are thinking during the learning process?”
We are also thinking about ways to give feedback to students in different ways. This allows teachers to use them to find out what is going on.
4. More meaningful integration of technology
Long ago: Technology was a one-way street
Today: Live, Responsive, Two-Way Join
With the advent of videoconferencing platforms, online learning in the classroom has evolved from one-way instruction with little feedback from teachers to interactive learning spaces where students and teachers can collaborate.
Technology has also greatly expanded the range of information and resources available to teachers and students. There are many online learning resources for teachers and students, including online educational programs, apps, games, or video tutorials.
5. Increased Parental Involvement
Then: “I can’t help them with their homework because it wasn’t the way I was taught.”
Now: “Show me what you teach in class and how you can help them at home.”
There has been a shift in bringing parents and the wider family into children’s learning.
In 2020 and 2021, this trend accelerated as schools transitioned to full remote learning environments, requiring parents to homeschool and supervise their children.
Today there is a greater love triangle between students, parents and teachers. Schools are opening more classrooms to their homes, and teachers are encouraging parental involvement in their children’s education. education.
As the educational environment changes, so does the attitude of parents.
Parents are investing more in their child’s development in school. They understand the importance of relearning math. The way they learned may not match what children are taught today.
Direct access to teachers via email and the school’s online portal has increased parental participation as it makes it easier to contact teachers for support and feedback.
Related reading: The Importance of Parent-Teacher Communication
Looking Forward: The Next Decade
What do you hope to see in math learning in the next decade?
First, it focuses on continuous learning in developing skills such as critical thinking and life skills. We hope you will be able to persevere through difficult algebra questions or work together as a team to solve problems.
Second, by continuing on the path of students as problem solvers and teachers as facilitators, students experience more learning about how they learn rather than what they learn.
As the world of mathematics continues to evolve, so do teachers.
Teachers must be adaptable, lifelong learners who regularly review their teaching practices. It’s a challenging yet exciting time when technology creates new opportunities for learning and connection.
