• Anticipating, Acting and Looking back…
– After representing the problem & exploring possible
solutions, the next step is to:
• Select a solution
• Anticipate the consequences
• Importance of flexibility
• Look back to see if it worked
• Factors that Hinder Problem Solving
– Problem solving is seeing things in a new way
• Fixation functional fixednessinability to function and use
tools in a different way
• Response setrigidityrespond the most familiar way
• Problems With heuristics
– Availability Heuristicsmaybe you forgot how to solve a
similar problem
– Belief perseverancetendency to hold in own belief even if
proof is different
– Confirmation Biasseeking information only that confirms
your ideas
• Expert Knowledge and Problem Solving
– Insightsuddenly realization to a solution
– Memory for Patternsrecognition of what fits together
– Procedural Knowledgewhat actions to take under certain
conditions
– Organizationelaboration and practice help organize information
– Monitoringto plan and check if what is planned occurs
Creativity and Creative Problems Solving
• Defining creativity
–
–
–
–
–
Birth
Intertwined with Negative Qualitiesnonconforming
Fuzzyfocused and organized or nonconforming
Enhanced within groupbrainstorming
Sources:
• Domain relevant skillscompetencies in the subject area
• Creativity relevant processeswork habits and personality
traits
• Intrinsic task motivationfascination for the subject area
• Need for incubationtime to think
– Assessing creativity
• Restructuring conceiving of in a different way
– Divergent thinking testsmany different ideas & answers
– Convergent thinking testsnarrowing possibilities to one
answer
– Originality and flexibilitydetermined statistically few
people answer the same way
– Creativity in the classroom
• Brainstorming
– Defer judgment/encourage wild ideas
– Avoid ownership
– Hitchhike on other ideas
– The Big C: Revolutionary innovation
• Not necessarily creativity
– Avoid pushing intrinsic passion for task
– Avoid freezing the child into a safe place
– Be aware of psychological wounds
What I am
doing with this
class
Critical Thinking
• Definition
– Evaluating conclusions by logically and systematically
examining the problem, the evidence and the solution
• Developing Critical Thinking
– Stand alone thinking skills (programs just to teach critical
thinking
– Examples:
• Defining and clarifying the problem
• Judging information related to the problem
• The Language of Thinkinghow many ways can you
describe XXX
• Critical Thinking is Specific Subjects
– Sourcinglooking at the source of information
– Corroborationmaking connections between different
types of information
– Contextualizationimagine the time, place, people and
culture where this is happening
Teaching for Transfer
• Definition of transfer
– Influence of previously learned material
– The productive (not reproductive) uses of
cognitive tools and motivations.
– Types:
• Hi road = application of abstract knowledge
• Low road = spontaneous and automatic transfer of
highly practiced skills
– Teaching for positive transfer
• What is worth learning?
• How can teachers help?
– Environmentsupport constructive thinking = self
regulation
– Interaction and collaboration
– Deal with problems that have personal meaning
– A culture to develop transfer in other subject areas
• Stages of Transfer
– Acquisitionhow to use the strategy
– Retentionoverlearning
– Transferuse strategy in a new situation