Problem Solving

Instructional Design

Problem-Solving

Summary

Problem-solving is a process that involves discovering the correct sequence of alternatives leading to a goal or to an ideal solution.

Problem-solving requires the selection and combination of multiple principles in order to solve a problem.

Problem-solving is simpler when fewer principles must be considered.

Example

Students will problem solve to identify controls needed to prevent shrinkage of asset accounts.

Introduction

Gain attention—“Today we’re going to work on a problem like you will encounter on the CPA exam.”
State purpose—“You will be able combine principles to solve problems.”
Stimulate interest—“You will need to think like an auditor, so get ready to take notes.”
Provide overview— Point out that listeners will need to pay attention as the problem is read because the problem is very detailed and complex.

Body

Stimulate recall—after the audit problem is read, review relevant prior knowledge that relates to the problem.
Process information—Provide think-alouds and break problem into subgoals.
Focus attention—Isolate the relevant attributes in their present state and in their goal state.
Learning strategy—ask guiding questions and provide hints, generate networks and analogies.
Practice—practice identifying and clarifying given and goal states.
Evaluate feedback—give hints or ask questions, provide information on efficiency as well as effectiveness of solution.

Conclusion

Summarize and review—Restate critical attributes of problem class, summarize effective strategies.
Transfer knowledge—explicitly state when strategies may transfer to other problem types.
Re-motivate and close—“Review the importance and breadth of what has been learned.

Assessment

Assess performance—Test ability to solve similar but novel problems, test ability to isolate goal state and given state.
Feedback—Identify whether problems are in pattern recognition, decomposition, explaining solution, etc.