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| As a Professional Learning Coach with 28 years
of teaching experience in the public elementary school system, I have found
that the "problem-based learning approach" is the most effective method of
helping students acquire effective skills in the area of mathematics and
language arts, and indeed in most other subject areas as well. When this approach is used, the teacher acts as a
"facilitator" or "learning coach" , presenting you
with problems that you must work through. It requires the student to
become an active
participant in the learning process. The "learning coach" is
responsible for providing you with the information you need as well as for
creating an environment which is conducive to learning.
Regardless of the subject area in which your child is registered at the
Greater Sudbury Learning Clinic, the problem-based learning approach will
be the underlying philosophy that will be used by his/her Professional Learning
Coach. This approach will
guarantee the learning that takes place will have a long-term impact
on the future of your child.
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With problem-based learning, you are given opportunities to:
- examine and try out what you already know about a particular subject area;
- discover for yourself what you need to learn to improve in that area;
- develop your people skills for achieving higher performance;
- improve your communication skills;
- state and defend your positions with evidence and sound argument;
- become more flexible in processing information and meeting
obligations;
- practice skills that you will need in real life situations.
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The problem-solving model is one that can be used anywhere, at any
time, in any sort of situation.
- Understand the problem:
The first thing you learn to do when faced with a challenge is to
determine the exact nature of the problem. This investigative stage is
critical to the entire process. You can't even begin to consider a
solution until you know what the problem is in the first place.
- Collect all of the information:
In any problem-solving situation you are given some information or
details, and you also bring some knowledge of your own to the
situation. Therefore, once you understand the nature of the problem, and you are very
clear on the desired outcome you are seeking, you must make a list of all
of the information you have at hand that can be used to come up with a
solution. This is a discovery process that must be done before
proceeding further. It will also allow you to identify information that
is pertinent to the situation at hand and to disregard that which is
going to be of no use to you at this time.
- Consider the alternatives
You must then consider all of the possible alternatives that are
available and try to select the one that appears to be the best
option. This may mean that you need more information than what you were
originally given to solve the problem. If so, then you must do some
research to gather knowledge and data that is necessary for the
solution.
- Solve the problem
You should then be in a position where you can go ahead and come up
with the best solution possible based on the information you are given,
the resources available and your own skills.
- Communication
Once you have arrived at the solution to the original problem, you
must determine the best method for communicating your conclusion to your
target audience. Even if you do not have an outside audience at this
time, you still must record the conclusion for your own future
reference. In other words, you must communicate with yourself. You may have to defend your findings, so be sure to
draw upon any convincing evidence that may be needed.
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| The above five-step process can be used in any
situation in which you find yourself. It is all about understanding your
problem; becoming aware of all of the information with which you are
provided or you already know; considering all of your alternatives and
options and then selecting what you think is the best one; solving the
problem; and then communicating your findings or solution. Apply this to
every challenge which comes your way and life will be a whole lot more
pleasant.
This is the mathematical process which many young children are missing
out on and which is needed in order to help them make sense out of the world
in which they find themselves. |
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