building thinking classrooms Peter Liljedahl

Liljedahl, P. (2016). Building thinking classrooms: Conditions for problem solving. In P. Felmer, J. Kilpatrick, & E. Pekhonen (eds.), Posing and Solving Mathematical Problems: Advances and New Perspectives. (pp. 361-386). New York, NY: Springer. Liljedahl, P. (2014). The affordances of using visibly random groups in a mathematics classroom. In Y. Li, E. Silver, & S. Li (eds.), Transforming Mathematics Instruction: Multiple Approaches and Practices. (pp. 127-144). New York, NY: Springer. Liljedahl, P. (2016). Flow: A Framework for Discussing Teaching. Proceedings of the 40th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Szeged, Hungary. Liljedahl, P. (in press). On the edges of flow: Student problem solving behavior. In S. Carreira, N. Amado, & K. Jones (eds.), Broadening the scope of research on mathematical problem solving: A focus on technology, creativity and affect. New York, NY: Springer. Liljedahl, P. (in press). On the edges of flow: Student engagement in problem solving. Proceedings of the 10th Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education. Dublin, Ireland. Liljedahl, P. (in press). Building Thinking Classrooms: A Story of Teacher Professional Development. The 1st International Forum on Professional Development for Teachers. Seoul, Korea. Liljedahl, P. (under review). Building thinking classrooms. In A. Kajander, J. Holm, & E. Chernoff (eds.) Teaching and learning secondary school mathematics: Canadian perspectives in an international context. New York, NY: Springer. 

www.peterliljedahl.com/presentations liljedahl@sfu.ca @pgliljedahl

JANE’S CLASS – 13 YEARS AGO

If 6 cats can kill 6 rats in 6 minutes, how many cats are required to kill 100 rats in 50 minutes? - Lewis Carroll

If 6 cats can kill 6 rats in 6 minutes, how many cats are required to kill 100 rats in 50 minutes? - Lewis Carroll DISASTER!

REALIZATIONS At no point in the previous week had I seen students be asked to think. Jane was planning her teaching on the assumption that students either could not or would not think. If they are not thinking they are not learning!

THINGS THAT ARE COMMON There are desks/tables in the room Teachers give notes Teachers give students problems to do in class Students work at their desks/tables Students work in groups Teachers answer questions Teachers give hints and extensions Teachers go over the problems Teachers assess their students

THINGS THAT ARE NON-NEGOTIATED There are desks/tables in the room Teachers give notes Teachers give students problems to do in class Students work at their desks/tables Students work in groups Teachers answer questions Teachers give hints and extensions Teachers go over the problems Teachers assess their students

CAN WE RE-NEGOTIATE THESE? Is there a best way to organize the desks in the room? Is there a best way to give notes? Is there a best type of problems to use? Is there a best way to give problems? Is there a best work surface for students? Is there a best way to group students? Is there a best way to answer questions? Is there a best way to give hints and extensions? Is there a best way to go over problems? Is there a best way to assess students?

CAN WE RE-NEGOTIATE THESE? Is there a best way to organize the desks in the room? Is there a best way to give notes? Is there a best type of problems to use? Is there a best way to give problems? Is there a best work surface for students? Is there a best way to group students? Is there a best way to answer questions? Is there a best way to give hints and extensions? Is there a best way to go over problems? Is there a best way to assess students?

RE-NEGOTIATING THE NON-NEGOTIATED NORMS ACTION RESEARCH (n = 400+, t = 13 years+)

WE USED A CONTRARIAN APPROACH. OVER TIME WE BEGAN TO LEARN SOME THINGS.

IS THERE A BEST WORK SURFACE FOR STUDENTS? WE TRIED HAVING STUDENTS IN GROUPS AND WORKING: at their desks in their notebooks at their desks on big sheets of paper at their desks on big whiteboards on whiteboards on the walls on big paper on the walls

IS THERE A BEST WORK SURFACE FOR STUDENTS? CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT: some groups at their desks in their notebooks some groups at their desks on big sheets of paper some groups at their desks on big whiteboards some groups on whiteboards on the walls some groups on big paper on the walls

IS THERE A BEST WORK SURFACE FOR STUDENTS? PROXIES FOR ENGAGEMENT time to task time to first mathematical notation amount of discussion eagerness to start participation persistence knowledge mobility non-linearity of work 0 - 3

N (groups) 10 9 8 time to task 12.8 sec 13.2 sec 12.1 sec 14.1 sec vertical whiteboard horizontal whiteboard vertical paper horizontal paper notebook N (groups) 10 9 8 time to task 12.8 sec 13.2 sec 12.1 sec 14.1 sec 13.0 sec first notation 20.3 sec 23.5 sec 2.4 min 2.1 min 18.2 sec discussion 2.8 2.2 1.5 1.1 0.6 eagerness 3.0 2.3 1.2 1.0 0.9 participation 1.8 1.6 persistence 2.6 1.9 mobility 2.5 2.0 1.3 non-linearity 2.7 2.9 0.8

N (groups) 10 9 8 time to task 12.8 sec 13.2 sec 12.1 sec 14.1 sec vertical whiteboard horizontal whiteboard vertical paper horizontal paper notebook N (groups) 10 9 8 time to task 12.8 sec 13.2 sec 12.1 sec 14.1 sec 13.0 sec first notation 20.3 sec 23.5 sec 2.4 min 2.1 min 18.2 sec discussion 2.8 2.2 1.5 1.1 0.6 eagerness 3.0 2.3 1.2 1.0 0.9 participation 1.8 1.6 persistence 2.6 1.9 mobility 2.5 2.0 1.3 non-linearity 2.7 2.9 0.8

N (groups) 10 9 8 time to task 12.8 sec 13.2 sec 12.1 sec 14.1 sec vertical whiteboard horizontal whiteboard vertical paper horizontal paper notebook N (groups) 10 9 8 time to task 12.8 sec 13.2 sec 12.1 sec 14.1 sec 13.0 sec first notation 20.3 sec 23.5 sec 2.4 min 2.1 min 18.2 sec discussion 2.8 2.2 1.5 1.1 0.6 eagerness 3.0 2.3 1.2 1.0 0.9 participation 1.8 1.6 persistence 2.6 1.9 mobility 2.5 2.0 1.3 non-linearity 2.7 2.9 0.8

VERTICAL NON-PERMANENT SURFACES

#VNPS

ONE MARKER PER GROUP

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GROUP STUDENTS? WE TRIED GROUPING STUDENTS: strategically for productivity strategically for socialization strategically for classroom management by letting students self-group randomly

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GROUP STUDENTS? WE TRIED GROUPING STUDENTS: strategically for productivity strategically for socialization strategically for classroom management by letting students self-group visibly random groups of three

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GROUP STUDENTS? focused change study grade 10 (15-16 years old) racially bifurcated 50% Asian 50% Caucasian socially stratified jocks nerds facionistas gang bangers drama queens

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GROUP STUDENTS? AFTER 3 WEEKS students become agreeable to work in any group they are placed in there is an elimination of social barriers within the classroom mobility of knowledge between students increases reliance on co-constructed intra- and inter-group answers increases reliance on the teacher for answers decreases engagement in classroom tasks increase students become more enthusiastic about mathematics class

VISIBLY RANDOM GROUPS

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS? Teachers in Canada answer ~600 questions/day. CONTRARIAN APPROACH DON’T ANSWER ANY QUATIONS This did not work with young students.

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS? STUDENTS ONLY ASK 3 TYPES OF QUESTIONS: proximity questions stop thinking questions keep thinking questions ONLY ANSWER

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO ORGANIZE THE DESKS IN THE ROOM? WE TRIED ORGANIZING THE ROOM WITH: desks in single rows desks in a circle desks in pairs in rows square tables desks in threes in rows rectangular tables desks in twos scattered circular tables desks in threes scattered lily pad tables desks in a U-shape no furniture DEFRONTED GROUPS OF THREE

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GIVE NOTES? don’t keep up n=16 yes n=3 don’t use notes n=27 USE NOTES TO STUDY

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GIVE NOTES? WE TRIED: notes for less time uploaded notes photocopied notes fill in the blank notes no notes

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GIVE NOTES? WE TRIED: notes for x minutes uploaded notes photocopied notes fill in the blank notes no notes thoughtful notes (notes to my future dumber self)

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GIVE PROBLEMS? WE TRIED: textbook worksheet printed on paper projected on wall written on board orally

IS THERE A BEST WAY TO GIVE PROBLEMS? orally projected on wall written on board printed on paper worksheet textbook

IS THERE A BEST TYPE OF PROBLEMS TO USE? WE TRIED: rich problems word problems numeracy problems advanced problems review problems 

IS THERE A BEST TYPE OF PROBLEMS TO USE? WE TRIED: rich problems word problems numeracy problems advanced problems review problems  PROBLEMS MUST HAVE SOMETHING LEFT TO THINK ABOUT AND THEY MUST BE EXTENDABLE

IS THERE A BEST TYPE OF PROBLEMS TO USE? FIRST SIX PROBLEMS (non-curricular tasks) REST OF PROBLEMS (curricular tasks)

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

begin with good problems use vertical non-permanent surfaces form visibly random groups

use oral instructions defront the classroom answer only keep thinking questions build autonomy

level to the bottom use hints and extensions to manage flow use mindful notes use 4 purposes of assessment

building thinking classrooms

LESSON STRUCTURE Levelling to the bottom (summarizing) VRG, VNPS, (short lesson), Task #1 Levelling to the bottom (summarizing) Thoughtful notes 3 – 6 tasks to check understanding WORKING ON PROBLEMS

THANK YOU! liljedahl@sfu.ca www.peterliljedahl.com/presentations @pgliljedahl | #vnps | #thinkingclassroom Global Math Department