New Insights and their Implications

I think that the most important thing that I learned during this first half of a semester is how to teach mathematics in a more reformed way by taking a constructivist approach. By looking that the TIMSS data, I learned that we do need to take a different approach in mathematical instruction in the United States. But knowing a change is necessary and knowing how to make that change are two different things. That is where the constructivist approach comes in. From what I have learned about constructivism during class and from the readings, I believe that this approach is a good step toward reformed mathematical instruction. By allowing students to construct their own knowledge we will be allowing them to again a deeper understanding of the concepts. Also, a classroom following the constructivist approach will have better focus and coherence. I feel that if I am able to implement a constructivist environment for my students to learn in, I will be doing my part in the reformation of mathematical instruction. I feel that the learning that takes place during a lesson built with a constructivist approach mirrors that type of learning we want our students to be having based on the results of the TIMSS study.