This book is intended for use as a student guide. It is about human problem solving and provides information on how the mind works, placing a major emphasis on the role of computers as an aid in problem solving. The book is written with the underlying philosophy of discovery-based learning based on two premises: first, through the appropriate…

This study presents a formative evaluation of "The Intelligent Physics Tutor," an interactive software program designed to improve high school physics students' problem-solving skills. The purposes of this evaluation were to describe how the "Tutor" was used in the pilot high school class; to determine teacher and student…

Microcomputer-based laboratories (MBLs) are believed to have significant potential for improving laboratory experiences in science classrooms. A study funded through a grant project called STEPS to Better Science sought to broaden the knowledge base by examining MBL use by teachers and students in a variety of science classrooms in six high…

GUIDON is an intelligent computer-aided instruction (ICAI) program for teaching diagnosis, which has been tested using the infectious disease diagnosis rules of the MYCIN consultation system developed at the Stanford University School of Medicine. GUIDON engages a student in a dialogue about a patient suspected of having an infection and thus…

This report presents a summary of research being conducted at the University of Minnesota in which new technologies are being applied to development of cognition in hearing impaired learners. The study involved an application of concept analysis, information-processing theories, and group-based interactive technology in the teaching of…

The major perspectives on problem solving of the twentieth century are reviewed--associationism, Gestalt psychology, and cognitive science. The results of the review on teaching problem solving and the uses of computers to teach problem solving are included. Four major issues related to the teaching of problem solving are discussed: (1)…

In a workplace literacy program designed by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen and the International Masonry Institute, the basic skills of 615 participants were assessed in mathematics, reading, writing, presentation, listening-responding, and problem-solving at sites in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. Available data…

This final report presents a summary and second-year findings of a 2-year project designed to measure the effectiveness of microcomputer instruction on reading and mathematics skills, classroom behavior, general cognitive development, and problem-solving ability of 700 disabled students (ages 3-11) enrolled in four special education schools in New…

This study was conducted to determine whether young children, given the experience of Logo programming, would acquire problem-solving skills and be able to transfer those skills to other areas. The study also investigated Logo's effectiveness in teaching certain fundamental geometric concepts to children who were supposedly not developmentally…

The paper discusses the affective influences on students of problem solving instruction using computers, and the relationship of affective influences to student belief systems. It reviews affective issues and problem solving, and analyzes affect with particular reference to the work of G. Mandler. The paper considers types of congnitive processes,…

The verbal interaction and problem-solving behavior of groups of high and average ability learners were compared during computer-assisted cooperative problem-solving to determine the problem-solving behaviors that relate to success within this context. Thirty-six fourth grade students were assigned to groups of three to form 12 groups, six of high…

Designed to focus on student learning and to illustrate techniques that might be used with computers to facilitate that process, this paper discusses five types of computer use in educational settings: (1) learning ABOUT computers; (2) learning WITH computers; (3) learning FROM computers; (4) learning ABOUT THINKING with computers; and (5)…

Twelve research reports related to mathematics education are abstracted and analyzed. Three of the reports deal with aspects of learning theory, three with topics in mathematics instruction (fractions, problem solving, and application orientation), two with aspects of computer assisted instruction, and one each with advanced placement,…

This paper presents the concepts of a computer-directed system to improve human performance in structured learning situations. Attention is focused on finite-state systems in order to provide a systematic method for constructing training systems and to assist in analysis of problem solving and curriculum planning. The finite-state approach allows…

Design techniques for generative computer-assisted-instructional (CAI) systems are described in this report. These are systems capable of generating problems for students and of deriving and monitoring solutions; problem difficulty, instructional pace, and depth of monitoring are all individually tailored and parts of the solution algorithms can…