CMP vs. Inquiry Based Model research

The Connected Math Project (CMP) emphasizes inquiry and investigation which forces students to be more engaged in the curriculum. This models shows that there is more to mathematics than calculating answers and memorizing definitions or processes. The goal is to be able to solve a variety of problems, and therefore students needs to spend time solving problems that require "thinking, planning, reasoning, computing, and evaluating". Students will be able to make sense of what they are learning and will be able to retrieve the information better at a later time than if they were simply memorizing a definition or process. Information is also connected to prior knowledge so that students can better retrieve information.

"Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand." The last part is what inquiry based learning is about. Students become involved in questioning to gather information as they seek understanding. It involves developing experimental and analytical skills more than accumulating and memorizing facts and knowledge.

The CMP model is far from the traditional "chalk and talk" methods of teaching. In the traditional methods, the teacher answers most of the questions and tells students what they should know as they stand in front of the class and preach. The CMP model is more closely tied to the inquiry based model in that the teacher asks more thought-provoking questions and the students come up with answers. In essence, the teacher becomes more of a facilitator of discussions rather than the one doing the discussing. The class as a whole may agree or disagree as part of the learning process, which engages the students. Teachers have to learn to be comfortable with long wait times as students are thinking about what to say. This is important because if the teachers intervene too early, then the learning opportunity for the students is lost. Students are much more engaged and involved in the learning process in this environment than in traditional teaching methods.