The August 2009 Success magazine has an inspiring and uplifting article ("If You Don't Fall, You Aren't Getting Better") by publisher Darren Hardy.
Mistakes can be terrific learning opportunities. Math questions often have only one correct answer and can provide practice in admitting and correcting errors. Mr. Hardy expressed this very well -- "they were markers on the journey toward greatness and should be appreciated, even celebrated."
The next time I hear, "When are we ever going to use this Math?", my answer will incorporate Mr. Hardy's words: "Correcting Math mistakes builds more than Math knowledge and skills -- this improvement process instills character traits that help people break through to a new level of academic, professional and/or personal success."
Showing posts with label errors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label errors. Show all posts
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
'Fuzzy Errors' and Math Scores
Math scores often do not accurately reflect student knowledge and skills.
Test-taking skills and attention to detail are as important as the content.
Following directions and answering the exact question (sometimes they ask for x + 2 instead of x) is a key component of test-taking.
Studying multiple choice questions (with 'good wrong answers') increases self-awareness of the thinking process and alerts students to the potential for error. Viewing the studying and test-taking process through this lens enhances the learning process, reduces 'fuzzy errors' and helps students (and their families) to build resilience and persistence.
One of the best take aways from Engineering school (after multiple 7% test scores): Learning and Effort are more important than Test Scores!!
Test-taking skills and attention to detail are as important as the content.
Following directions and answering the exact question (sometimes they ask for x + 2 instead of x) is a key component of test-taking.
Studying multiple choice questions (with 'good wrong answers') increases self-awareness of the thinking process and alerts students to the potential for error. Viewing the studying and test-taking process through this lens enhances the learning process, reduces 'fuzzy errors' and helps students (and their families) to build resilience and persistence.
One of the best take aways from Engineering school (after multiple 7% test scores): Learning and Effort are more important than Test Scores!!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Study Groups Lead to Metacognition
In engineering school, Math is an assumed skill set. Strength in fractions, rounding, unit conversion, scientific notation, trig functions will help students in problem-solving. Conversely, it is easy to get the wrong answer by miscalculating or making an incorrect assumption.
Study group discussions (debates!!) helped refine the thinking process as you had to defend your answer in front of a crowd. This process was very effective and important in building metacognition skills as well as recognizing common errors and the potential for what could go wrong!!
The College Board has a very similar post:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/50432.html
Study group discussions (debates!!) helped refine the thinking process as you had to defend your answer in front of a crowd. This process was very effective and important in building metacognition skills as well as recognizing common errors and the potential for what could go wrong!!
The College Board has a very similar post:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/50432.html
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