Creating Math Connections for Concept Mastery With Derivita

In K-12 math courses throughout the United States, the goal for math teachers is to shepherd their students towards a profound understanding of mathematical concepts and becoming adept problem solvers. Online math courseware solutions like Derivita can help achieve this goal.

Derivita empowers students to decipher the intricate relationships between various mathematical representations and strategies, giving way to eventual concept mastery and better problem-solving skills outside the math classroom.

One of the key strengths of using a digital math courseware solution is the solution’s ability to push students to recognize and internalize the relationships between various representations and problem-solving strategies. Through interactive visuals, media components, simulations, and step-by-step solutions to individual problems, students can engage with mathematical problems in multidimensional ways. 

For instance, when tackling a complex algebraic equation, students can dynamically manipulate variables and observe real-time changes in both graphs and equations. This immediate experience solidifies their understanding of abstract concepts as they witness the direct impacts of the choices they make throughout their problem-solving process.

Digital platforms, like Derivita, can provide bridges to grasp challenging concepts with visual models and real-world contexts, such as utilizing images or shapes to introduce concepts around fractions or simulations for practice tasks in a Calculus course. These bridges allow students to effortlessly transition from concrete experiences to abstract thinking, connect visual representations to symbolic equations, and see how mathematical concepts translate into practical situations.

Additionally, Derivita can support teachers in creating these connecting bridges for their students to identify and master. Math teachers can leverage our K-12 math courseware's ready-made resources and the Derivita Math Item Bank, with interactive lessons, practice exercises, and pre-curated assessments, to easily guide students into becoming more adept problem solvers inside and outside the math classroom. By leveraging these existing digital resources and materials, teachers can not only streamline lesson planning, but also ensure a consistent and comprehensive learning experience for students.

In conclusion, by facilitating connections between representations and strategies through dynamic visualizations, simulations, and real-world contexts, Derivita can help foster students’ mastery of mathematical concepts and cultivate problem-solving proficiency. 

Want to delve more into connection- and bridge-building instructional practices for your math students? Check out NCTM article “Making Connections Explicit” by Kayla Chandler, Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi and Ron Preston.

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