Author Question: Mick has always done very well in math. Through elementary school, he was one of the first to answer ... (Read 68 times)

asd123 · **on:** Jun 20, 2018

Mick has always done very well in math. Through elementary school, he was one of the first to answer the teacher's questions, solve the new types of problems, and turn in assignments. Now he's in seventh grade and is having trouble with math. He recognizes that the concepts are more complex, but feels certain he is capable of understanding and performing better. He believes he has identified the problem. He doesn't approach his homework with the same focus he did in the past. He has a habit of multitasking when he does his homework.

Based on Mick's identification of the problem, describe the steps he might take to use a general problem-solving strategy to solve the problem.

Explain specifically what he needs to do at each step.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Based on what you know about critical thinking, which of the following students seems to be thinking critically?

a. Grace presented her dogmatic opinion about the value of the research and the conclusions of the study.
b. After the tennis match, Reid asked the line judge why she called the ball out when it was in.
c. Emma evaluated the writer's argument and recognized the false assumption the writer was making.
d. In chemistry class, Gil drew conclusions before finishing his experiment with the two substances.

johnharpe · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Suggested Response: Mick might use the general problem-solving strategy that involves identifying the problem, setting goals, exploring solutions/consequences, acting, and evaluating the outcome.
Mick has identified the problem. He multitasks, and multitasking keeps him from focusing on his math homework.
Based on the problem he identified, Mick's goal is to improve his focus when he does his homework.
Now he needs to explore solutions and consequences. He needs to try stopping his multitasking during math homework time. If his multitasking involves chatting with others, then he should try turning off his phone and his iPad/computer when he works on his math homework. If his multitasking involves watching TV or listening to favorite music, he should try turning off these distractors. Consequences might include being left out of the loop with friends during math homework time or getting behind on TV shows.
Now Mick needs to act. Is he willing to take the steps of turning off his phone or the TV and other distractors? If he is motivated enough, he will take these steps.
After trying a more focused approach that involves no multitasking, Mick needs to evaluate the outcome. Does he understand the math concepts better? Is his performance in math improving? If so, he probably identified the problem accurately and solved it effectively. Now he needs to continue to follow his new and improved homework plan. If not, he should go back to the first step of identifying the actual problem.
Text Reference: Problem Solving

Answer to Question 2

c