Neuroscience & the Classroom: Making Connections
Perspective Shifting in Math
Middle school math students develop and present many different approaches to a single set of concepts, creating the potential for greater understanding.
Teachers transform an idea presented by researchers into new approaches to teaching math. While the traditional way of teaching math relies on learning one solution to a particular type of problem, perspective shifting offers many ways of seeing and approaching one problem, as these middle school math students learn. Multiple perspectives create the potential for greater conceptual understanding, increase the likelihood that more students will find a way into a problem, and teach a valuable problem-solving skill.