Problem-based instruction (PBI) is a research-based, student-centered instructional strategy that uses rich mathematical tasks to connect students' previously acquired math knowledge to new mathematical concepts. Unlike traditional teaching and learning strategies, PBI facilitates learning by making connections between mathematical concepts and real-world applications rather than through noncontextual, rote learning of skills, steps, and equations. This practical resource is an informative instructional tool for secondary mathematics teachers and teacher educators seeking to deepen their students' understanding of, and engagement with, mathematical learning. Highlighting both teacher and student perspectives, the text provides an overview of the PBI instructional strategy that includes best practices, guidance for implementation, and a companion website with more than 50 downloadable resources. In addition, readers will find 12 teacher-created sample lessons with prepared resources and detailed instructional guides. While written for novice PBI users, this book will enhance the instruction of teachers at all levels. Book Features: Provides 12 ready-to-use sample lesson plans aligned to the most common secondary mathematics topics written by experienced classroom teachers. Focuses on the practical implementation of problem-based instruction specifically for middle and high school mathematics instruction. Includes a template to guide readers step-by-step through creating their own problem-based lessons. Access to a companion website with more than 50 editable, online resources for easy classroom implementation.
Sarah Ferguson is an assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Cincinnati. Denise Polojac-Chenoweth is an instructional and curricular coach and mathematics specialist in the Hillsborough County Public Schools, Florida.
Contents Preface ?vii Introduction ?1 Part I: Understanding Problem-Based Instruction 1. ?What Is Problem-Based Instruction? ?9 2. ?PBI Teaching Strategies ?16 3. ?PBI Lesson Planning ?24 Part II: Sample Lessons 4. ?Designing a Gingerbread House ?35 Liza Bondurant 5. ?Creating Living Spaces for a Mars Exploration ?43 Julian Viera, Jr., Noe Guevara, Lilly Rader, and Olga Kosheleva 6. ?Redesigning Cereal Containers ?52 Sarah Ferguson 7. ?Playground Castles ?59 Jada Hastings and Sarah Ferguson 8. ?Quadratic Equations Explored Through Roller Coasters ?66 Sarah Ferguson, Thomas Johnston, Christopher Karhan, and Eric Lefebvre 9. ?Birds of Fury ?75 Mary E. S. Miller and Scott A. Courtney 10. ?My First Car ?89 Denise L. Polojac-Chenoweth 11. ?Mini-Golf Madness ?100 Denise L. Polojac-Chenoweth 12. ?Circles and Conclusions of Their Tangent Lines ?108 Mitchell Fricke 13. ?Listening to the Sound of Sine Waves ?120 Nicole Sebek 14. ?Statistics Explored Through the Principle of Airplane Flight ?128 Kuan-Chun Chen and Cheng-Yao Lin 15. ?The Pollster Project ?140 Heather Holcomb Appendix: PBI Lesson Planning Template ?156 References ?159 Index ?161 About the Authors and Contributors ?165
