INTRODUCTION TO MODULE 1

This introductory module aims to familiarize you, on the one hand, with the dual goal of (a) selecting and using mathematically challenging tasks in your mathematics lessons, and (b) on the other hand, immersing all your students—as far as possible—in such tasks that have the potential to improve students’ mathematical thinking and reasoning. Scholarly work (Research) over the past decades has documented the importance of providing students with opportunities to engage in such tasks, since they were found to improve both the quantity and the quality of student learning. However, research has also shown that these tasks are not utilized that often and also not with all students—possibly because of the complexity of this work. This module will engage you in activities that will help you to begin to think more deeply around issues and challenges surrounding this dual goal. You will first have the opportunity to identify mathematically challenging tasks and determine their characteristics. Next, you will be exposed to different ideas related to differentiating your instruction to meet the needs and the readiness/ability levels of all your students. Finally, you will have the opportunity to consider the collaborative relationship between the two goals. You should bear in mind that, as an introductory module, Module 1, will expose you to several of the issues and challenges surrounding the dual goal of working with mathematically challenging tasks and ensuring that all students are productively engaged in such tasks. You will have the opportunity to delve deeper in each of these issues and challenges in the remaining four modules.


Symbols used throughout the course materials

Course Curriculum

INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTORY SCENARIO Unlimited
ENGAGING ALL STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICALLY CHALLENGING TASKS Unlimited
CASE OF PRACTICE 1
Focusing on Mathematically Challenging Tasks Unlimited
MT1-C1-Opening Activity Unlimited
MT1-C1-Activity 1 – Focusing on Task Selection Unlimited
MT1-C1- Activity 2 – Focusing on Task Implementation 00:00:00
MT1-C1-Connections to (my) Practice Unlimited
MT1-C1-Closing Activity Unlimited
CASE OF PRACTICE 2
Differentiating Instruction to Meet Students of Different Levels Unlimited
MT1 – C2- Opening Activity Unlimited
MT1-C2-Activity 1 – Considering Task Implementation Unlimited
MT1-C2-Activity 2 – Teacher Beliefs and Perceptions about Differentiation Unlimited
MT1-C2-Activity 3 – Planning for Differentiation Unlimited
MT1-C2-Activity 4 – Scaffolding Students during Autonomous Work Unlimited
MT1-C2-Activity 5 – Holding a Productive Whole-Class Discussion Unlimited
MT1-C2 – Connections to (my) Practice Unlimited
MT1-C2-Closing Activity Unlimited
CASE OF PRACTICE 3
Concurrently Attending to the Work around Mathematically Challenging Tasks and Issues of Differentiation Unlimited
MT1-C3-Opening Activity Unlimited
MT1-C3-Activity 1 – Working on Mathematically Challenging Tasks and Differentiation Unlimited
MT1-C3-Activity 2 – Teachers’ Challenges and Difficulties When Trying to Engage All Students in Mathematically Challenging Work Unlimited
MT1-C3-Activity 3 – Using Questioning to Scaffold Students’ Work Unlimited
MT1-C2 – Connections to (my) Practice Unlimited
MT1-C3 – Closing Activity Unlimited
EXTRA MATERIALS
Evidence of Success Unlimited
Bringing it All Together Unlimited
Supplementary Material Unlimited
APPENDIX
Comparing Class and Grade Levels across Countries Unlimited
ASSESMENT QUESTIONS
Final Assignment Questions – Module 1 Unlimited
47 STUDENTS ENROLLED
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