Ever sit in Math class and wonder, "Why do I have to learn this?" or "When will I ever use this in real life?"
Math class, for some, seemed like an endless pit of boredom. Copy the equation. Memorize the equation. Solve it on the test. Forget the equation when the unit is over. Repeat.
Current research into Math skills indicates that people need to develope their critical thinking skills in order to use Math to solve a variety of real life problems. Sure, you still need to know how to add and strong mulitplication skills will help when figuring out how many 8 packs of buns you need when you have 2 twelve packs of weiners (or does it wokr the other way around?). However, strong basic Math skills only give us one tool with which to approach the problems of the world. What we need are critical thinking skills to pull apart the parts of a problem and inquiry skills to research the answers and decide upon the best course of action.
For example, consider this problem:
Your grandmother's 90th birthday is coming up and she wants to turn the celebration into a family reunion. You and a few others are tasked with planning it (yes, even if it wasn't your idea - no one says no to Grandma).
Can you see yourself sitting at the table, gut tightening, agreeing to something you know will take up every weekend for the next month? What you need is a plan- one born from discussion, critical thinking skills and research or inquiry into what's possible.
The premise here is that Math can and should be taught using guided inquiry principals that foster critical thinking, creative solutions and practice of skills. Doing so makes for more motivated students and better prepared, Mathematically literate citizens. This Wiki will serve as a pathfinder for information related to the questions, "How can teachers use guided inquiry to teach critical thinking skills in Math, so that students can propose solutions to complex, real world problems?" and "How can we acknowledge student's negative feelings in Math and provide opportunties that promote motivation and decrease boredom, frustration and defeatism."
