Introduction to the Problem Solving Maps 

and how it can transform classroom teaching

VIDEO Recording NOW available for all those who registered.

Please write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain the link to the recording. 

Professor Dr Danilo Sirias

 The simple, fast and effective approach to teaching and learning mathematics

For Australian Mathematic Teachers and Leaders.

Dr. Danilo Sirias, currently a professor at Saginaw Valley State University, is the developer of the Problem Solving Maps (PSM) methodology. Starting in 2002 while teaching a statistics class, Dr. Sirias embarked on a quest to create and refine a method to help students acquire quantitative thinking skills.

In this webinar, you will hear how the Problem Solving Maps (PSM) can help your students become better problem solvers in mathematics.

Dr Sirias will outline some challenges that are commonly encountered with current approaches to problem solving in mathematics classes all over the world. He will present the PSM methodology as a way for teachers to quickly help their students become powerful, flexible problem solvers. 

You will be also introduced to the individual PSM tools and learn:

• How they help to quickly develop students quantitative skills
• How they encourage and enhance cooperative learning
• How quick they are to learn and apply
• How they enable teachers to provide more differentiated tuition
• How the PSM is applicable for teaching the curriculum at all levels
• How they bring fun to the classroom and build confidence in the students
• ....and much more!

The PSM makes thinking visible by depicting the fundamental thinking processes of:

• inductive thinking, 
• deductive thinking, 
• and analysis (with abductive thinking)

All the above are relevant skills needed to solve math problems. The generic structure of the PSM ensures that they can be used to learn mathematics across multiple topics and all grade levels.

Some comments by Webinar attendees

“The different ways you can use the PSM tools is very flexible and what I like a lot is the collaborative learning aspect - this will help build students confidence in solving maths problems”

 

“This will appeal to all students who are visual learners - this is fantastic”

 

“I really like how the PSM simplifies the problem by logically stepping it out into smaller chunks, it gets their input mapped out clearly and provides feedback - you can see immediately whether they get it or don’t get and a teacher can pinpoint the problem quickly”

 

"The graphic organisers are very effective for primary students to work step-by-step through a word problem - it helps with comprehending the language in the problem. It scaffolds their thinking - great support. Yes and definitely would help with collaborative work and talking about the maths by the students."

 

“Students in my class have to do deductive and inductive thinking and having something like the maps for those purposes is just great. I also like how the maps break the problems into manageable parts. This works for small groups and the idea of collaboration fits in beautifully with the way the three maps are structured."

 

“I like the pattern map - I would say that learning about finding patterns is usually not done particularly well in primary school (elementary). Having the children discuss the 3 examples and come up with their thinking about their conclusion would be very valuable. Creating their own example allows them to apply their thinking. Love the kindergarten example”

The PSM are now being taught in many schools in many countries including the USA, Japan, Poland, Mexico, Canada, Phillipines, South Korea, Brazil, Peru and Colombia.

Some recent stories from the world of PSM

Students at one school in Brazil at the end of their first lesson with the PSM, gave a standing ovation to the teacher saying this was the best lesson in math ever. “Students applauded me at the end of the class and wanted to take a picture with the new methodology.” That was the message we received from Mario Zapata Bustamante after using Problem Solving Maps to teach a trigonometry problem to his 10th graders at the Colegio Pureza de María in Managua. “I was able to apply PSM immediately just after the training and students even asked me if they can use the tools to solve the exercises in the exam. Of course, I said yes! Thanks for giving me a tool to motivate my students to study mathematics and to raise the level of my teaching.”

In January this year, students at a school in Poland invited their friends from other schools in their district to their next maths class. The teacher was so surprised to find his class had swelled to almost double in size. The visiting students went back to their schools to tell of their experience. This rapidly led to a presentation  of the PSM in April to over 200 teachers, leaders and education officials.

 Currently 300 teachers from dozens of schools in Manila, Phillipines are enthusiastically applying the PSM to their classes. Training was conducted in September this year. 

"As I am currently serving as the Interim Superintendent in the Saginaw Township Community Schools, I am thrilled to report the increase of math scores at White Pine which now places the school above state and county average. From a STEM outreach at SVSU, this work could be incredibly beneficial to many local school districts."

Interim Superintendent, Saginaw Township Community Schools. Oct 1, 2018.

A maths teacher at White Pines, Saginaw, USA, was so enthusiatic about the PSM he created a maths work book for grade six meeting the US core curriculum requirements. 

Time to learn: A few minutes for each tool.

Time to learn how to apply them: Approximatley six hours .

Which Grades? From Year 4 to Year 12 (and beyond)

Facebook PSM User Groups

Learn about the vibrant community of maths teachers sharing knowledge, experiences, ideas and support.

Join a group and see hundreds of posts, photos and discussions.