#communitybasedlearning

Killer #cbl class workshop yesterday! #communitybasedlearning #culturallyrelevantteaching #portlandcommunitycollege #teaching #FillingOpportunityGaps (at PCC Cascade Campus) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrIeibkFLYRCcW2a1YArc6qrOQ_UtaXw3LesUk0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wfvczmd247ru

"One fairly common difficulty experienced by people with math problems is the inability to easily connect the abstract or conceptual aspects of math with reality." Using math problems that model issues in the community helps students see the connections between the abstract model and the real situation. It is especially beneficial to use issues in the community because it builds relevance between the subject and the student. The math problem then becomes their problem, and they get to work toward a solution. As they work toward feasible solutions using math, the students can see how they can make a difference in the world around them using the information they are learning right now! I love the idea of having a bulletin board in my classroom where students can post questions they have or issues they see that they would be interested in finding solutions for. This would encourage students to actively seek problems around them and troubleshoot for solutions. This must be scaffolded and modeled by the teacher, but I think that if students see a model that works and can help them find a solution to a real problem, they will be more motivated to see the extent of the problems they are able to solve. This is 21st-century learning!!