Providing Solutions to Exercises in Math Courses at LTH: Pros and Cons

Abstract

Trying to solve exercises individually is an essential part of learning concepts in mathematics. While it is a widespread problem that students get stuck in the process of finding solutions, it is also an issue that the students are insecure about whether their produced solution is correct. Complete solution manuals can provide quick, anonymous, and easily available feedback. While it seems convenient for the students, teachers are commonly skeptical as they fear that students will be less persistent to find solutions themselves. This again can lead to a rather superficial instead of a deep approach to learning. Based on interviews conducted with teachers and students at the Center of Mathematical Sciences at Lund University, we analyze the advantages and disadvantages of providing solutions to math exercises to students. Furthermore, we include suggestions on how to provide support and feedback for students in the context of solving exercises.