The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design

The tasks that mathematics teachers are invited to use in their classrooms have profound effects not just on the learners who do them but also on the teachers themselves. This paper introduces the Convergent–Divergent Model (CDM) for the design of mathematical tasks. The CDM consists of two distinct...

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Main Author: Foster, Colin
Format: Article
Published: International Society for Design and Development in Education 2015
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32214/
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author Foster, Colin
author_facet Foster, Colin
author_sort Foster, Colin
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
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description The tasks that mathematics teachers are invited to use in their classrooms have profound effects not just on the learners who do them but also on the teachers themselves. This paper introduces the Convergent–Divergent Model (CDM) for the design of mathematical tasks. The CDM consists of two distinct phases: the first, a convergent problem-­solving episode, and the second, a more divergent, open-­ended, exploratory part. The two-­phase design is built on twin intentions both for the mathematical growth of the learner and for the pedagogical development of the teacher. The principles of design employed in this model are elucidated through descriptions of the construction of several examples of such tasks in published mathematics teacher resource books written by the author.
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spelling nottingham-322142020-05-04T20:06:53Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32214/ The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design Foster, Colin The tasks that mathematics teachers are invited to use in their classrooms have profound effects not just on the learners who do them but also on the teachers themselves. This paper introduces the Convergent–Divergent Model (CDM) for the design of mathematical tasks. The CDM consists of two distinct phases: the first, a convergent problem-­solving episode, and the second, a more divergent, open-­ended, exploratory part. The two-­phase design is built on twin intentions both for the mathematical growth of the learner and for the pedagogical development of the teacher. The principles of design employed in this model are elucidated through descriptions of the construction of several examples of such tasks in published mathematics teacher resource books written by the author. International Society for Design and Development in Education 2015-10 Article NonPeerReviewed Foster, Colin (2015) The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design. Educational Designer, 2 (8). pp. 1-25. ISSN 1759-1325 http://www.educationaldesigner.org/ed/volume2/issue8/article28/
spellingShingle Foster, Colin
The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
title The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
title_full The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
title_fullStr The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
title_full_unstemmed The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
title_short The Convergent–Divergent Model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
title_sort convergent–divergent model: an opportunity for teacher–learner development through principled task design
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32214/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32214/