Geoff commentary

Critiquing the Common Core on its Merits and Demerits

Criticism of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) has sadly devolved into theater, when it and schools would benefit from critical analysis. CCSS criticism is all-too-often hyperbolic while CCSS defense delves in dismissal of concerns or even ridicule. That’s a shame because CCSS could use a critical eye: one that understands the standards as an … Continue reading Critiquing the Common Core on its Merits and Demerits

Geoff commentary

Getting Better: I can improve anything for students, but I can’t improve that

I can get better at almost everything. You can get better at your practice, regardless of your teaching style. I know I often come across as dogmatic with regards to Problem-Based Learning (see Fig. 1), but really, it's all about steady improvement, irregardless of your teaching style. My personal preference is inquiry and complex task oriented groupwork 100% … Continue reading Getting Better: I can improve anything for students, but I can’t improve that

Geoff commentary

Inheriting the wind; these are two of my favorite books about math

Baseball Prospectus I never liked baseball as a kid. Maybe it's because I wasn't any good at it. Maybe it's cause I never went to a professional game. Maybe it's because it is quite boring when you watch it on TV. Then in the late 90's the sabermetric revolution upended the stuck-in-the-50's baseball establishment by … Continue reading Inheriting the wind; these are two of my favorite books about math

Geoff commentary

The Problems have become self-aware: Introducing the Skynet line.

I had a great twitter conversation tonight with a bunch of people about the topic of "authenticity." That is, what's the relationship between pure mathematical investigations (like, say, this one - a problem I absolutely love), versus a more concrete, applicable problem (like, say, this one - a problem that I also love). It's a … Continue reading The Problems have become self-aware: Introducing the Skynet line.

Geoff commentary, inquiry based instruction, problem based learning

“Isn’t Problem Based Learning easier than Project Based Learning?” and 10 other myths about PrBL. (“Real or not real”)

About a year ago, I started advocating and pushing towards a Problem Based approach in mathematics, as opposed to a solely Project Based approach, which many/most of my peers currently employ. But before we go any further, let's better parse the differences between Project- (PBL) and Problem-Based Learning (PrBL). I realize that different people define and … Continue reading “Isn’t Problem Based Learning easier than Project Based Learning?” and 10 other myths about PrBL. (“Real or not real”)