9 June: Spiraling Deeper with Activity Based Learning in Mathematics
presented by Alex Overwijk
In my classes, activities are no longer just for introducing concepts or summarizing units. We spiral through the curriculum with activity-based learning, repeating the big ideas to allow students multiple opportunities to extend their learning and demonstrate understanding.
Students make connections between the topics and understand the mathematics in context. Activities often connect two or more strands. Using images, video and manipulatives, we develop students’ abilities to ask good questions and make reasonable guesses. Hands-on activities allow the students to develop mathematical concepts while they ‘play’ with manipulatives. Students work collaboratively in visible random groupings on vertical non-permanent surfaces during the problem solving phase of the activities.This innovative approach has significantly increased student engagement and reduced failure and dropout rates.
