"Impatient Problem Solvers" .... what are we to do?

Quote from a talk by Dan Meyer

This phrase describes many students of the 21st century. We are working with learners who are used to their questions being answered immediately. The world is full technology that supports quick, easy answers - found as simply as speaking into our hand-held devices. And, yet, we are asking our students to think creatively, and to spend time working on hard problems.To further complicate matters, the following are commonly held misconceptions about the nature of mathematics:

• There is only one approach to solve any problem -- often one recently taught.

• Some students can't understand mathematics; they simply need to memorize it, and apply what they have learned mechanically / without understanding.

• Students who are good at mathematics are able to solve any problem in less than five minutes.

• The mathematics taught in school is not relevant to the real world.

We must examine our own belief systems regarding learning mathematics, and challenge any such ideas and attitudes. As educators of mathematics, we have an opportunity to change these misconceptions. From Dr. Kulkarni, the author of Enjoying Math: Learning Problem Solving with KenKen® Puzzles 

"Everyone is capable of enjoying the process of mathematical thinking that involves thinking about mathematical problems, observing beautiful mathematical patterns, coming up with elegant insights, facing hard problems that you may or may not be able to solve, thrill of progressing on such problems and solving these, reflecting mathematical thinking and learning from your successes and failures."

We have the opportunity to engage our students in the quest of solutions, and in the enjoyment of the process of finding them. We can create a culture where students understand that it is through the process that we grow as learners.

The following is a list of suggestions to foster PATIENT problem solvers:

• Allow students to write their own problems for others to solve - inspire with the mathematical photograph of the week.

• Provide school-wide weekly challenges and a system for recognizing those that take the time to solve the problems.

• Engage families in math game nights, that include logical reasoning

• Model an enjoyment for patient problem solving by providing a problem of the month for FACULTY to solve

Which can you try today?