Concepedia

Abstract

IN MANY CLASSROOMS, MATHEMATICS IS TAUGHT by using examples to show students how to solve problems, then having the students complete large numbers of similar problems (Battista 1999). This process, called “parrot math” by O'Brien (1999), overlooks research showing that students (1) develop knowledge through interaction between the student and the knowledge, (2) do not think like adults, and (3) learn well through social interaction. Disregarding current research on how students learn mathematics and continuing the use of “parrot math” can be harmful to students' broader understanding of mathematical relationships (O'Brien 1999; Battista 1999).