Implications of Organizational Strategies in Problem Solving
Presentation by: Vanessa Radzimski
Session C | 10:05 – 10:25 | Room 203
Abstract:
Through a problem solving case study with a nine year old student, Ashley, I investigate how Ashley’s organizational strategies prompted discoveries and conversely, how the discoveries she made throughout the interview influences new organizational strategies. The study takes place during an interview with the child while investigating the problem “How Many Towers?” published in Teaching Children Mathematics (TCM). If our goal as mathematics educators is to assist in the development of independent mathematical thinkers, being open to children’s’ own mathematical strategies, will help us reach this goal. Allowing students the space to explore their own strategies and unique representations, I argue, promotes teacher-child conversations that assist both participants to learn from each other.
