Problem Solving and Learning

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges students face in physics problem solving due to cognitive load and fragmented knowledge, and introduces interactive tutorials designed to improve learning and problem-solving skills.

Contribution

Development and evaluation of self-paced interactive tutorials aimed at enhancing physics problem-solving strategies for students.

Findings

Tutorials provide effective guidance for diverse problem-solving techniques

Students show improved understanding of physics concepts after using tutorials

Tutorials help reduce cognitive load during problem solving

Abstract

One finding of cognitive research is that people do not automatically acquire usable knowledge by spending lots of time on task. Because students' knowledge hierarchy is more fragmented, "knowledge chunks" are smaller than those of experts. The limited capacity of short term memory makes the cognitive load high during problem solving tasks, leaving few cognitive resources available for metacognition. The abstract nature of the laws of physics and the chain of reasoning required to draw meaningful inferences makes these issues critical. In order to help students, it is crucial to consider the difficulty of a problem from the perspective of students. We are developing and evaluating interactive problem-solving tutorials to help students in the introductory physics courses learn effective problem-solving strategies while solidifying physics concepts. The self-paced tutorials can provide guidance and support for a variety of problem solving techniques, and opportunity for knowledge and skill acquisition.