CH8 Learning in problem- Based Learning Environments Meeting

Outline Story Problems Laboratory Problems Investigation Problems :  The astronomy village  Exploring the nardoo  Sailing on the MIMI Conclusions

Story Problems

May not be the most interesting kind of problem solving, they are the most prominent. In math and science course from 1st grade through graduate school These problems embed algorithmic problems in some shallow story context Typically found at the back of textbook chapters Students are required to disembed the information from the story, select the relevant values, and insert them into some formula. Research shows that students are not very successful in transfer their abilities to solve problems to other problems.

There are numerous problem-based learning environments that employ different instructional approaches to support learning how to solve story problems.

Tutorial is the most common type. Typically present information in text or graphics on how to solve problems Ask the learners to perform part or all of the problem- solving activity Students respond, system will compare the correct answer stored in the computer’s memory - correct : reward - incorrect : presentation of remedial instruction Remediation strategies: - fairly sophisticate( 複雜 ) - geared to the nature of the student’s error - presents the problem again Tutorials consist of sequences of these presentation- response-feedback cycles followed by quizzes that assess students’ abilities.

Tips (Tutorials in Problem Solving) is another problem-based learning environment Provides students with a set of diagrammatic tools that represent these different problem structures Requires students to utilize the tools to diagrammatically analyze story problems Contains a tutor that assesses students’ responses and provides feedback The curriculum consists of a series of lessons that use worked example - Worked examples: illustrate how an expert solves the problem for learner to study and emulate

Problem-Solving Process Story problems are well-structured problems that are neither the most interesting nor complicated Most story problems have an accepted solution and method, so the primary process is deciding witch method to use There is little need to search for information, all necessary information is normally provided TiPS environment adds to the story problem- solving process is conceptual modeling of task, which is essential for understanding and the ability to transfer that problem-solving ability

Laboratory Problems

In sciences, this is a prevalent activity Laboratory activities normally require following a set of procedures - observing the results - taking measures of the processes - inferring what happened Because of inherent dangers, many teachers are choosing to use these virtual experiments. - Except the smells.

Problem-Solving Processes Slightly more ill-structured and complex problems than story problems Experimenter can try new procedures Require decision making The environment itself allows the learners to construct simulated physical models of the experimental process

Investigation Problems : the astronomy( 天文學 ) village

Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the astronomy village (AV) provides rich multimedia resources and exploration tools in a virtual observatory community. To support exploration and scientific inquiry, data and image analysis, and learning of important concepts and methods of astronomy. AV requires student to select an investigation, develop a plan, and carry it out. - Students develop a plan using the Research Path Diagram, which provides a path to guide them through their investigation - include background research that is needed, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, and presentation.

Problem-Solving Processes in the background research, students collected relevant information by reading articles in AV library Data Collection phase, the students observe images in the AV observatory Data Analysis and Data Interpretation Finally, each student team presented its procedures and results to the class These activity consisted of information searching, a lot of decision making, and some designing

Investigation Problems : Exploring the nardoo

Nardoo is an imaginary river in Australia that provides a rich context for ecological investigations to support biology, geography, social science, and language and media studies. The Nardoo’s more general purpose is to engage skills in problem solving, measuring, collating, and communicating It is an active learning environment in which students participate in teams, investigate issues, and communicate their result Students may access a rich variety of information sources about the investigation, including the water pollution the river television reports, radio reports, and newspaper articles To identify the sources of pollution along the river, as well as to predict the effects of those pollutants on the river animals and plants

Students use their PDA that provides access to information, navigation, and exploration tools, permitting students to take measurements, manipulate data and text, research multimedia information, and plan activities The Nardoo program provides - a number of simulators, in order to learn about water usage that family usage per day. - A problem-solving environment that enable students to actively manipulate a complex environment, seek information, and conduct investigation of ecological issues The teacher’s guide provides a number of activities for both individual and collaborative use

Investigation Problems : Sailing on the MIMI

One of the best known and most revered of educational program The Voyages of the Mimi (Voyage and Second Voyage of the Mimi), combines video, software, and print materials, along with a real sailboat, into an interdisciplinary science and math curriculum for middle grades (4-8). Like anchored instruction, students conduct open-ended and interdisciplinary investigations and scientific explorations In the first series, a video tells a series of adventure stories about a scientific expedition to study whales on the Mimi

The second series of stories tells of archaeologists in search of a lost Mayan city Each adventure is supplemented with a wealth of print materials (lesson plans, activities, and project) that help to integrate the video programs into science, math, social studies, language arts, music, and art classrooms. The software provides students with problem- solving games and simulations to enable them to practice the skills and concepts

Problem-Solving Processes The Nardoo River and the Voyages of the Mimi are both great environments that engage and support problem solving in students Students get to make decisions, solving design complex problems Designing investigations requires a great deal of information searching within and outside these environments Significant decision making in order to determine appropriate methods PBLEs represent one of the most complete and compelling kind of activities that students can engage in ─ simulations.

Conclusions

These PBLEs are examples of a kind of problem-based software that is becoming more available to schools.