Moving from Remembering to Constructing: The Power of Critical Thinking, Questioning, and Problem Solving in Mathematics Exploration
In today's complex world, students are no longer asked rhetorical questions, instead they are expected to be sophisticated problem solvers. Real world experiences can be solved in various ways, therefore, students must be prepared to critically solve problems without simply trying to keep numerous processes and procedures in order for the sake of applying a particular operation. Perseverance is key to success. Educators must inspire every student to become a critical thinker and problem solver by confidently providing mathematics exploration using the elements of critical thinking, higher-level questioning, guided student conversation, and visual models that set the stage for understanding. Teachers must be confident facilitators in engaging classrooms where students are actively involved as critical thinkers and problem solvers who will make a positive impact on the future.