Teaching for understanding: Three key attributes

Abstract

Assumptions about teaching and learning play a vital role in any attempts to improve young students' mathematics and science performance. Despite the recent efforts of many educators and psychologists, "absorptionist" views of learning and "transmission" views of teaching continue to prevail. This paper draws on current research to argue for a more conceptually oriented approach to teaching. Such an approach, which highlights the role of three key attributes —focus, negotiation, and analysis—is more consistent with the emerging view that stresses the importance of developing networks of knowledge in learning mathematics and science.