Which of the following is most appropriate strategy for teaching students to…
2021
Which of the following is most appropriate strategy for teaching students to solve mathematical problems?
- A.
Guess and verify approach should be strictly discouraged.
- B.
The list of formulae required for solving the given set of problems should be provided in the beginning.
- C.
Teacher should begin by explaining the steps required for obtaining the solutions of the problems.
- D.
Students should be encouraged to view a problem from many perspectives.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: Effective mathematics-problem-solving instruction follows a heuristic, learner-centred model (as in Polya's problem-solving stages): students build flexible strategies by exploring a problem through multiple representations and approaches, rather than being handed a fixed procedure or a single permitted method.
Application: Among the four strategies offered, only encouraging students to examine a problem from many angles matches this heuristic model — it lets a learner test different representations (a diagram, a simpler analogous case, working backwards, trial values) and pick the one that fits, which is exactly how flexible mathematical thinking develops.
Contrast with the other three strategies:
Blanket discouragement of the guess-and-verify approach removes a legitimate heuristic (trial-and-improvement) instead of teaching students when and how to use it well.
Handing over the complete formula list at the outset shifts the task to formula-recall and substitution, short-circuiting the reasoning the problem is meant to build.
Explaining the solution steps before students attempt the problem converts an open problem into a worked example to copy, removing the exploration stage entirely.
Result: CTET's official Paper II (2021) answer key confirms encouraging multiple perspectives as the correct strategy — the only option consistent with heuristic, learner-driven problem-solving pedagogy.