Join Michael Pershan and Christopher Such as they explore self-explanation in education, discussing its role in studying examples, problem-solving, and comprehension. They touch on the challenges and benefits of applying self-explanation in various subjects, highlighting the importance of fostering deep thinking and meaningful learning. The episode also delves into discovery learning, incorporating specific prompts and examples in math teaching, and navigating the introduction of self-explanation in education.
Prompt students with 'what if' questions to encourage deep conceptual understanding in self-explanation.
Scaffold prompts like multiple choice questions aid students in articulating explanations effectively.
Emphasize precision in articulation to enhance mathematical literacy and critical thinking skills.
Find balance between scaffolding and independence to empower students in self-explanation.
Leverage collaborative learning for enriched self-explanation skills and deeper conceptual understanding.
Deep dives
Encouraging Self-Explanation through 'What If' Questions
Prompting students to engage in self-explanation by using 'what if' questions has been a successful strategy introduced by the speaker. By challenging students to consider alternative scenarios, such as changing numbers or operations in a mathematical problem, they are encouraged to think deeply about the concepts at hand. This approach not only stimulates critical thinking but also fosters a habit of careful analysis and conceptual understanding in students.
Scaffolding Self-Explanation for Student Success
The speaker emphasizes the significance of scaffolding self-explanation prompts for students who may not be ready to independently generate explanations. By providing specific prompts geared towards supporting their understanding, such as multiple choice questions or fill-in-the-blank exercises, students are guided through the process of articulating their thoughts effectively. This scaffolding approach ensures that students receive the necessary support to engage meaningfully in self-explanation.
Promoting Detailed Articulation and Conceptual Understanding
Encouraging students to be detail-oriented and thorough in their explanations is highlighted as a crucial aspect of effective self-explanation. By focusing on the specifics and not allowing students to skim over symbols or concepts, teachers can enhance students' mathematical reading habits and deepen their conceptual understanding. Moving beyond surface-level explanations, this approach cultivates a culture of precision and clarity in students' articulations.
Balancing Between Scaffolded Support and Independent Exploration
The delicate balance between providing scaffolded support and fostering independent exploration in self-explanation is a key consideration for educators. While scaffolding prompts and guided questions are essential for initiating the process, the ultimate goal is for students to gradually transition towards generating their own explanations autonomously. By striking this balance, teachers can empower students to develop critical thinking skills and deepen their understanding of complex concepts.
Emphasizing the Social and Collaborative Aspect of Explanation
Recognizing the interplay between self-explanation in individual and group settings, the importance of collaborative learning and social interaction in fostering effective explanations is underscored. Creating a classroom environment where students engage in sophisticated discussions and articulate their thoughts with peers enriches their self-explanation skills. By integrating social dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, teachers can enhance students' articulation abilities and promote a deeper conceptual understanding.
Starting with 'What If' Questions and Guided Exploration
For educators keen to introduce self-explanation into their teaching practices, beginning with 'what if' questions can serve as a simple yet effective starting point. By prompting students to consider alternative scenarios and analyze the implications of changes in problems, teachers can initiate guided exploration of concepts. This approach provides a low-stakes entry into self-explanation and encourages students to think critically about mathematical problems.
Navigating the Continuum of Support and Independence in Self-Explanation
Navigating the spectrum between providing support and fostering independence in self-explanation is highlighted as a nuanced process. While initial scaffolding and guided prompts offer valuable assistance to students, the ultimate aim is to gradually transition towards independent articulation. Striking a balance between scaffolded support and autonomy enables students to develop their problem-solving skills and articulate their thoughts effectively.
Encouraging Precision and Attention to Detail in Explanation
Highlighting the importance of precision and attention to detail in student explanations, the speaker emphasizes the need for thorough articulation of concepts. By prompting students to delve into the specifics and avoid glossing over symbols or components, educators can instill a culture of meticulous explanation and deep conceptual understanding. This focus on precise articulation fosters critical thinking and enhances students' mathematical literacy.
Promoting Collaborative and Social Interaction in Explanation
Emphasizing the role of collaborative and social interaction in fostering effective explanations, the speaker advocates for creating a classroom environment that encourages peer discussion and dialogue. By engaging students in sophisticated conversations and promoting interactive problem-solving, educators can enhance students' abilities to articulate their thoughts cohesively. Integrating social dialogue and collaborative exploration enriches students' self-explanation skills and deepens their conceptual grasp.
Navigating Support and Autonomy in Self-Explanation Practices
Navigating the dynamic interplay between providing support and fostering autonomy in self-explanation practices, the speaker underscores the importance of gradually transitioning students towards independent articulation. By offering scaffolded prompts and guided exploration initially, educators can empower students to autonomously articulate their thoughts over time. Striking a delicate balance between support and autonomy enables students to develop robust problem-solving skills and articulate their ideas effectively.
Episode 79: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I'm joined by Christopher Such and Michael Pershan for an exploration of self-explanation: theory, opinion and practice. An expert teacher who wears his intellect lightly, there are few who can rival Michael's passion and enthusiasm for teaching, learning and research informed practice so, it goes without saying, you won't want to miss this one.
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