The Mathematics of Estimation: Possibilities for Interdisciplinary Pedagogy and Social Consciousness

The purpose of this article is to report on the importance of providing pre-service and in-service teachers with experience and specific training in critical thinking skills. The essential concepts in elementary mathematics curricula can be augmented to include and cultivate critical thinking skills that have tremendous ramifications for future leaders and for those who move on to more technical training. A sample problem, along with pre-service teacher responses, is used here to show the necessity and importance of this kind of training as the responses show clear evidence of a certain naivete on the part of these college level students. The responses do show evidence of budding social conscience in the students, but the level of expertise in critical thinking is not at all sophisticated. We discuss and explore the implications of our approach.