How to promote learning in problem-solving?

Abstract

This article is based on my plenary talk at the joint conference of ProMath and the GDM working group on problem-solving in 2018. The aim of this article is to consider teaching and learning problem-solving from different perspectives taking into account the connection between 1) teacher’s actions and pupils’ solutions and 2) teacher’s actions and pupils’ affective reactions. Safe and supportive emotional atmosphere is base for students’ learning and attitudes towards mathematics. Teacher has a central role both in constructing emotional atmosphere and in offering cognitive support that pupils need in order to reach higher-level solutions. Teachers need to use activating guidance, i.e., ask good questions based on pupils’ solutions. Balancing between too much and too little guidance is not easy.