Whole-class scaffolding for learning to solve mathematics problems together in a computer-supported environment

Abstract

We investigate teachers’ practices in a whole-class context when they scaffold students’ learning in situations where students use technologies that facilitate group learning to solve mathematical problems in small groups. We describe teachers’ practices in order to evaluate their contribution to Whole-Class Scaffolding in the context of a course that was meant to facilitate learning to solve mathematical problems in small groups. Sixteen and twenty four junior high students took part in two iterations of a design research correspondingly. We identify six teacher practices. These practices include: (1) Presenting strategy-oriented problems in order to familiarize students with mathematical problem solving strategies and heuristics; (2) Decomposing a problem into stages; (3) Modelling the use of the dedicated technologies; (4) Preliminary Learning to Learn Together (L2L2) talk; (5) Routine L2L2 talk; and (6) Summative L2L2 talk. We conclude that scaffolding learning to solve mathematical problem together in a whole-class context is feasible with suitable technologies. This study also provides insights on the Whole-Class Scaffolding theory and on the ways group learning could enhance students’ ability to solve mathematical problems individually.