What are open-ended maths tasks?

An open ended math question (which is known as an open ended math problem or open ended math task) is a real world math situation presented to students in a word problem format where there is more than one solution, approach, and representation.

How do you do open-ended math questions?

Usually, in order to create open-ended questions or problems, the teacher has to work backwards:

  1. Indentify a mathematical topic or concept.
  2. Think of a closed question and write down the answer.
  3. Make up a new question that includes (or addresses) the answer.

What is open-ended problem solving?

Open-ended problems are those which have many solutions or no solutions for the problem as defined. The solutions to these problems usually involves the use of all the skills discussed in Bloom’s Taxonomy.

What are open questions in mathematics?

In science and mathematics, an open problem or an open question is a known problem which can be accurately stated, and which is assumed to have an objective and verifiable solution, but which has not yet been solved (i.e., no solution for it is known).

What is an example of an open-ended problem?

An example of an open-ended question would be ‘Where do you want to be in five years?’ The answer to this questions varies from person to person, and can only be answered with a unique perspective that usually prompts a longer conversation.

Why use open-ended math questions?

As shown in Figure 1, open-ended math questions are designed to uncover student understanding and misunderstandings. The responses are used to inform instruction rather than to make evaluative decisions (Rose & Arline, 2009). Teachers analyze students’ responses to questions in order to learn how they think.

What are open-ended and closed-ended questions in mathematics?

If a question has only one correct answer or the number of answers is fixed and determined, this question is considered as a closed-ended, and if it has more than one correct answer and the answer shows variability, it is considered as an open-ended question.

How do you ask open-ended questions?

Open-ended questions begin with the following words: why, how, what, describe, tell me about…, or what do you think about… 3. Use open-ended questions as follow ups for other questions. These follow ups can be asked after open or closed-ended questions.

What do you mean by open-ended?

: not rigorously fixed: such as. a : adaptable to the developing needs of a situation. b : permitting or designed to permit spontaneous and unguided responses.