In the article "Benny's Conception of Rules and Answers in IPI Mathematics" by S. H. Erlwanger a view of IPI Mathematics is portrayed. The view is a little bit negative as Erlwanger uses the article to show the disadvantages of IPI mathematics as a way of learning and understanding math. To emphasize this point, Erlwanger uses a young student, Benny, and his understanding of mathematics as an example. He show's first how wrong Benny's ideas of the rules of mathematics were. In attempts to understand the assignments and problems he was given, Benny made up his own rules for solving problems with fractions. To drive his main idea home, Erlwanger helped the reader understand why Benny did what he did. All he was learning from was an example and answers to problems. He knew he needed to get from one point to the other, so he created rules to do so, and in this process, he was allowed to teach himself a completely incorrect understanding of mathematics, which Erlwanger proved would be difficult to undo in this young man's mind, along with probably many others.
This study is not just relevant in showing that IPI mathematics is not the best way to teach children this subject. Rather, it shows the important role a teacher plays in a child's education.
From Benny's unfortunate experience, teachers now can see how much of an influence they really have. Not only do they have the responsibility of getting the information to the students, and even more, they must get the information to the students in a way that each student can understand it. Teacher's also have the responsibility and opportunity to make sure children learn concepts and rules correctly. This is because once something is learned, it is difficult to change what ever it may be in the mind of the one who learned it. This is why what Erlwanger emphasized is important to us today.
Paragraph 1 accurately captures many of the arguments that Erlwanger uses to discredit IPI. I think it also captures Erlwanger's main point, which is that IPI is a problematic instructional method. It is clear that you have read the paper and understood the main ideas.
ReplyDeleteI think this paragraph could be stronger if there was more clarity about the points being made. For example, although I get the sense that the main point was that IPI was problematic, there isn't really any one place in the article that this point is made. The closest is the statement that Erlwanger is "a little bit negative" in describing IPI. But I think he's much more than that. He wants to take IPI down! Also, I think that some of the descriptions of the arguments that Erlwanger uses are lacking detail. It would be hard for someone who has not carefully read this paper to understand Erlwanger's arguments based solely on the description in this paragraph.
I really appreciated the ideas in your second paragraph. I thought that your statement about teachers needing to teach the concepts and materials in ways to fit each student specifically was especially important. I think that this is what makes a great teacher so great. Their ability to recognize the differences in their students and adapt their teaching style accordingly is an incredibly difficult thing to do. However, it is also one of the best things a teacher can do.
ReplyDeleteI was a little thrown off by the connection between your two paragraphs. Only because you seemed to be way easy and nice to IPI in the first paragraph, and then you were much more passionate in your second paragraph about how important a student/teacher relationship is. I Erlwanger's and your view towards the IPI program are much more than just a little negative. I guess all I'm saying is that you didn't have to wait until the second paragraph to express your opinion strongly.