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Top-down approach to teaching problem solving heuristics in mathematics
Citation
Paper presented at the Mathematics Education Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand, 2005
Author
Tiong, John Yeun Siew
Abstract
Singapore mathematics syllabuses identified eleven heuristics which are applicable to
problem solving at the upper primary level (MOE, 2001a), and thirteen heuristics at lower
secondary level (MOE, 2001b). According to the different characteristics of these thirteen
heuristics, how and when they can be used in the process of mathematical problem solving,
they can be classified into four categories: “representation heuristics”, “simplification
heuristics”, “pathway heuristics”, and “generic heuristics”. Together they form a model of
problem solving in mathematics (Tiong, Hedberg, & Lioe, 2005). Using this model as a
structure for teaching heuristics, this paper proposes a top-down approach to teaching
heuristics.
Date Issued
August 2005
Project
CRP 1/04 JH