EDUO 9546: Mathematical Practice #5: Use Appropriate Tools Strategically

Course Overview

This course guides the teacher towards information that will help in the successful preparation, implementation and evaluation of a classroom lesson that fulfills mathematical practice #5 (Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.)

Course Objectives:

Relating to the Common Core Mathematical Practice Standard #5, the teacher will be able to:

1. explain the standard to people of varying abilities, ages & education
2. use different materials to teach the standard
3. develop an effective time line within a teaching plan
4. create assessment processes that evaluates the ability of the students to grasp the standard
5. analyze this class experience as to how well it helped prepare to teach the mathematical standard

Course Relation to CCS or other Professional Standards

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP5 Use appropriate tools strategically.

Mathematically proficient students consider the available tools when solving a mathematical problem. These tools might include pencil and paper, concrete models, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a spreadsheet, a computer algebra system, a statistical package, or dynamic geometry software. Proficient students are sufficiently familiar with tools appropriate for their grade or course to make sound decisions about when each of these tools might be helpful, recognizing both the insight to be gained and their limitations. For example, mathematically proficient high school students analyze graphs of functions and solutions generated using a graphing calculator. They detect possible errors by strategically using estimation and other mathematical knowledge. When making mathematical models, they know that technology can enable them to visualize the results of varying assumptions, explore consequences, and compare predictions with data. Mathematically proficient students at various grade levels are able to identify relevant external mathematical resources, such as digital content located on a website, and use them to pose or solve problems. They are able to use technological tools to explore and deepen their understanding of concepts.