Question

A task assigned to the class VIII student is as follows :

An open box is to be made out of a metallic sheet of 50 cm × 65 cm. The length and breadth of the box is 30 cm and 15 cm respectively. What is the possible height of the box? Also, find the volume of this box.

This task refers to

1. lower level cognitive demand as it requires the knowledge of formulae of volume of cuboid.
2. lower level of cognitive demand as there is no connection between concepts involved and procedure required
3. higher level of cognitive demand as the problem can be solved by making diagrams and connections between many possible situations.
4. higher level of cognitive demand as it requires the use of conceptual understanding that underline the procedure to complete the task

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : higher level of cognitive demand as it requires the use of conceptual understanding that underline the procedure to complete the task

This task refers to the need for a higher level of cognitive demand, required to think abstractly to solve mathematical problems.

The above question asked to students of Class IV refers to higher-level demand tasks as the problem can be solved by making diagrams and connections between many possible situations. Higher-level demand tasks required deep knowledge about facts and concepts. Here, solving the problem requires a deep understanding of how to find height when the length and breadth of the box are given. Higher-level cognitive demands:

Higher-level demands (procedures with connections): 

• use procedure for deeper understanding of concepts
• broad procedures connected to ideas instead narrow algorithms
• usually represented in different ways
• require some degree of cognitive effort; procedures may be used but not mindlessly 

Higher-level demands (procedures without connections):

• require complex non-algorithmic thinking
• require students to explore and understand the mathematics
• demand self-monitoring of one’s cognitive process
• require considerable cognitive effort and may involve some level of anxiety b/c solution path isn’t clear

Thus it is clear that this task refers to a higher level of cognitive demand as it requires the use of conceptual understanding that underline the procedure to complete the task.