When I started out as a math teacher, I naively believed that my job was to make understanding the subject as smooth and easy as possible for my students. This is obviously a part of my role, but I now know that if my students are not allowed to struggle they will never realise their true potential in the subject. Now when I teach a topic, in the first few sessions I will hover around the class to ensure that everyone is setting out the work in an acceptable fashion and that they have grasped the content delivered. However as we delve more deeply into the topic and students are in the realm of problem solving I am more reserved with my hands on help. It is at this juncture that students need to embrace the struggle.
There are three main reasons why embracing the struggle is essential:
Students own the knowledge
When students work at something without the teacher’s help, they learn techniques for solving problems. When they discover these techniques for themselves they will never forget them. It’s like driving a car, someone can actually tell you all you need to know about sinking the clutch, putting the car in gear, easing the clutch and slightly engaging the gas to move. However until you get your hands dirty and try it yourself, you will never be able to ‘own the knowledge’ of driving a car. Struggling through problems causes students to discover and own techniques that they will have with them for life.
Students are equipped to solve unfamiliar problems
In a previous article (see the big picture ) I mentioned the fact that there is a prevailing myth in math education that extensive practice of mathematics is what is necessary for a student to be successful in the subject. However this is only partially true. If a student only practices ‘cookie cutter’ exercises they will not be sufficiently prepared to solve novel problems. Conversely, if they are given sufficient time to struggle with problems of different types, over a period of time they will build up their own problem solving toolkit so to speak, where they can apply the knowledge gained from struggling on their own to unfamiliar contexts. If students call on their teacher every time they get stuck, they will not develop the resolve to tackle challenging questions that will inevitably appear on exam papers.
Students build their confidence
I can remember years ago when I was in high school, there was a CSEC past paper mathematics question that no one in my class could answer. I decided that I would struggle with the question and that I would not ask my teacher for help. I literally struggled for days and could not answer the question. However I kept at it and approached it from different angles. Funnily enough one night after struggling with the question for hours, I went to bed and when I woke up the following morning the solution simply ‘came to me’. I saw first hand how struggling with a problem can lead to its solution whether at the conscious level or subconscious. But more importantly, I built confidence in myself that if I pursued long enough I would be able to eventually solve problems. From that day forward I resolved to figure out problems on my own. It caused me to have a self-concept that I can figure out any problem that I put my mind to. If students don’t struggle with questions, they will never develop the confidence needed to solve challenging problems. Without this confidence they will not be able to succeed in math at the more advanced levels of the subject.
As a student of mathematics it is important to develop a level of independence when it comes to solving problems. When you encounter an obstacle, be reluctant to ask for help immediately. Struggle with the problem a bit. The struggle will cause you to own the knowledge you gain, equip you to solve unfamiliar problems and build the confidence needed to be successful in math.
Unleashing your true academic potential 