Think Critically, Think Mathematically
Dr. Shalini Sharma,
Associate Professor, Area- Chair: Communication and Development & CRCGNIOT Institute of Management Studies
Mathematics is not merely a subject; it’s an art to resolve problems critically and conceptually
Mathematics has always been a quest for the students, learners and even many educators. It has been commonly believed that to excel in the subject one needs to be quick, adept in multiplication tables, able to recall immediately and don’t think much. Mathematics, as subject focuses on the resolution of a problem through given concept, procedure and pattern. The same pattern of thinking may apply to different problems or vice-versa. Problem solving is at the core of Mathematics, but it also involves many skills and processes. Some could be the one who are good at it while most need some scaffolding to support and help them think mathematically.
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) theory has widely been accepted in the 21st century as the organizations now need people who have solutions to problems. The whistle-blowers may have also proved to be useful at a certain point of time but the trouble shooters have always been in demand back then. And now with the rapid speed of the decision making their demand has surged. We need to prepare the future workforce to reason out, think critically and derive the solutions thereof. Therefore, thinking mathematically is the key to success today.
The foremost to this thinking process comes valuing mistakes. Because the research says that we learn by committing mistakes. The cognitive science says that the learner who observes their mistakes learns quickly compared to the one who ignores or fears committing mistakes. Therefore, the educators should be valuing the mistakes of the learners to make them learn from them and not repeat in future. This in a way helps them boost their confidence, nurture risk taking, build new strategies and think harder.
Secondly, we have working in teams. When the learners work in a team they share ideas while communicating with the team members, learn different strategies and accept different viewpoints. Churning the minds together in a team leads to evolving new strategies, new ways and even newer concepts.
Finally, teaching conceptually rather procedurally which helps the learners understand and remember more. Giving them one task at a time and not providing the solution, so that the learners can contemplate on diverse solutions. This does not confine the learner to stick to one solution to one problem rather ideate and evolve multiple solutions to one problem.
The learners learn in a noisy set up and not disciplined and controlled environment. To make them evolve the teachers should set them free and discuss and disagree to finally come on consensus. Simply confining them to their cocoon may not lead to the development of a Problem-solver. Thinking mathematically is directly related with thinking critically which focuses on the 4W:1H who, what, where, when, why and how of the problem.
Who – gets people discuss, consult and recognise the key elements of the problem.
What – makes understand the best and worst case scenario and the way to positive action.
Where – seeks for information, ideation, and areas of improvement.
When – focuses on plan of action. When to take the action and its feasibility and effectiveness
Why – Evaluates the decisions taken and the seriousness of the problem
How – evaluates the effectiveness of the decision.
This process in whole relates to the eight “Thinking and Working Mathematically” postulates which intrigue the introspecting, conjecturing, critiquing, generalizing, solution seeking, pattern exploring and formulating the conjectures of any problem.
GNIOT Institute of Management Studies (GIMS), Greater Noida always focuses on conjecturing, solution seeking, analysing and designing capability of its Management aspirants who join the institution with a thought of achieving big in their life and are trained with the How, why, when, where of their goals. GIMS, Greater Noida always emphasizes on Thinking Differently, Thinking Mathematically.
