"What was a food that you like now, but did not like before?"
"What was a food that you like now, but did not like before?"
Regarding a students' agency and metacognition, it can be quite helpful to stop and think about the time that they did not like a food, that they currently like. They can observe how their own tastes have changed overtime and realize that mathematics is likely a subject that will need more work to enjoy, but they can enjoy it sooner, rather than later, if they employ a good study strategy and regularity in their practice.
This activity should be done early in the semester, during the initial community building process.
There is no text for this activity. Regarding materials, students would just need to have paper in the size of a 4" x 6" index card, as well as a pen of some kind to write their name and their food of choice on this paper. Then the instructor would also need to have a poster board that can be titled: "What was a food that you like now, but did not like before?"
This activity supports metacognitive work, by allowing students to consider why they feel the way they do about mathematics. If students value mathematics, and how and why they feel about mathematics, then will likely be able to determine a helpful mindset for them to learn mathematics.
Assisting in creating "community" among the students, early in the course, is one of the most important tasks that an instructor can work on. One way that an instructor can do this is to have non-serious, yet personal, "whip-around" questions that are asked of all the students. Upon hearing the answers to these questions, many students will often learn much about each other and see how many others will share their opinions on many non-mathematics subjects. This knowledge will bring the students closer together as a community, and in turn, this community will allow for the students to assist each other and to feel a responsibility that they all do what they can to succeed.
On one of the early "whip-around" questions, students can be asked: "What was a food that you like now, but did not like before?". Then, depending on which is more accessible for the students, they can be assigned to either draw the food they selected, or to print out an image of the food they selected. This image should fit on a 4" x 6" index card, and should also include their name and the name of the food that they selected written out.
All these food images can then be put on a poster with the title: "What was a food that you like now, but did not like before?".
After this poster is completed and hung in the classroom, students can be informed as to the significance of this poster.
The main message from this poster is that 'tastes can change'. Hopefully the application to a math course can be easily understood, namely that, students may not, at one time, have enjoyed mathematics, however, this can change, much like our taste in food can very well change.
Anytime time a student expresses some dislike for mathematics, they can be reminded of the food that they did not like before, but now like. The same be said of mathematics.
As an example, there was a time when I did not like bell peppers, now I appreciate them in many dishes. So the next time that I indicate dislike for mathematics, I can be told: "Mr. Murillo, do you remember when you did not like bell peppers? Now you like them, and you can enjoy mathematics also!"
After the previously disliked food poster is put on the wall, and students are asked to reflect on it when feeling dislike for mathematics, their reaction to looking over the poster will give some indication as to whether this activity has been useful.
