This is a basic presentation slide on problem solving in mathematics including the roles of both teacher and students

1. Problem solving in Maths

2. Why students should be involved in problem
solving.
 It contributes to students’ conceptual understanding of
mathematics (NCTM, 2010) and to work in groups,
cooperate with and interact with each other (Dendane,
2009).
 It draws the attention and interests of students.
 Problem solving enables teachers to assess the abilities of
students and where they are having challenges and faced
with difficulties which also provides an opportunity to solve
more and important problems and gives them(students)
the chance to solidify and extend what they know.

3. Why students should be involved in problem solving.
 A form of stimulus for students’ learning, also serve as a
vehicle for mathematical exploration (Cai).
 In learning through problem solving, students not only
have more opportunity to express their ideas and justify
their answers verbally, but they also have more
opportunities to engage in cognitively demanding
questions (Hiebert & Wearne, 1993; Lampert, 1990).
 Mathematical problem-solving may help students to
improve and develop the standard ability to solve real-life
problems (Reys et al. 2001).

4. Factors/features that promote problem-solving
• Discourse teaching
• Learning environment

5. Factors that hinder problem-solving
 strict procedures
 teacher being less persistent in probing the students
thinking
 the amount of time allocated to solving problems and
discussing solutions

6. Teachers’ role in problem solving
 Devote an appropriate amount of time to the discussion of
problems.
 Teachers must also decide what aspects of a task to highlight, how
to organize and orchestrate the work of the students, what
questions to ask to challenge those with varied levels of expertise.
 Support students without taking over the process of thinking for
them and thus eliminating the challenge” (NCTM, 2000, p. 19).
 The teachers will also need to be flexible in their assessment
of the students and provide many opportunities for discovery
and exploration.

7. How taking a problem-solving approach to
teaching elementary mathematics may address
issues of inequity in mathematics education
 Mathematics classrooms are more likely to engage
students in practices that focused on mathematical
problem solving, developing a variety of solution paths and
providing justification for their mathematics work, and that
those practices inherently provided more opportunities for
more students to participate in them.
 Students will get the opportunity to work in groups.
 Share their views on a given assignment despite the race or
background or abilities of these students.

8. How taking a problem-solving approach to
teaching elementary mathematics may address
issues of inequity in mathematics education
• Problem solving contributes to the conceptual
understanding of mathematics and provide intellectual
challenges hence when students are coupled with
mathematical problems, they will sort ideas and help
from their peers which in a way addresses the issue of
inequality in mathematics education.