Generative Design Environments: A Teacher's Perspective

• In Event: 34.034 - Teacher Instructional Characteristics and Approaches and Their Impacts on Learning Environments

Abstract

This study examines the generative design environment from the perspective of the mathematics teacher. Generative design is a pedagogical theory in which students generate a “space” or a collection of artifacts, which share some property, and this collection should enlighten the students to some structure in mathematics (Stroup, Ares, Hurford; 2004). Two teachers were interviewed about their experiences with generative teaching and learning. Participants reported improvements in student participation, confidence, student access, creativity, a change in the role of the teacher, and deep understanding of mathematical concepts. The scholarly significance is that generative teaching and learning provides a potential additional student-active alternative to direct instruction with benefits to student learning.

Author

• Karen Duseau, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth