ED6639 Technology and the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Winter 2008 with Margo Kondratieva.

 

Please use the following criteria for critical reading and analysis of the articles.

Please have your answers ready for the in-class discussion. You can adjust them after the discussion takes place and submit a day or two after the class.

Please submit up to 4 double-spaces pages of your response to each of the four articles.

 

 

Template for analyzing the logic of an article.

 

1.     The title of the article is

2.     The main purpose of the article is

3.     The key question that the author is addressing is

4.     The most important information in this article is

(facts, experiences, data the author is using to support conclusions)

5.     The main inferences/conclusions in this article are

6.     The key concepts/ideas we need to understand in order to follow the author’s line of reasoning are

7.     The main assumptions underlying the author’s thinking  is

8.     If we take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are

9.     If we fail  take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are

10.  The main point of view presented in the article is

(What is the author looking at, and how is s/he seeing it?)

 

 

Criteria for evaluating reasoning.

 

  1. Purpose: Is the purpose clearly stated? Is it justifiable?
  2. Question: Is the question at issue well-stated? Are the question and purpose directly relevant to each other?
  3. Information: Does the author cite relevant evidence, experiences, and information, essential to the issue? Is the information accurate?
  4. Concepts: Does the author clarify the concepts when necessary?
  5. Assumptions: Does the author shows a sensitivity to what s/he is taking for granted or assuming?
  6. Inferences: Does the writer develop a line of reasoning explaining well how s/he is arriving at her main conclution?
  7. Point of view: Does the author shows a sensitivity to alternative points of view or lines of reasoning?
  8. Implication: Does the author shows a sensitivity to the consequences of the position s/he is taking?

 

 

Adopted from “The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking. Concepts and Tools” by

R.Paul and L.Elder (www.criticalthinking.org)