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Full-Text Articles in Science and Mathematics Education
Learning A New Physics Concept By Exploring Analogous Problems : An Instructional Intervention, Joanna Perry Weaver
Learning A New Physics Concept By Exploring Analogous Problems : An Instructional Intervention, Joanna Perry Weaver
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
This study tested the hypothesis that exploratory learning, with and without analogous problems, would improve students’ ability to make connections between conceptually-related topics. In this randomized experiment, undergraduates in introductory physics (N = 171) studied a new topic under three different instructional conditions. Order and type of instruction varied: Two experimental groups explored the concept before hearing a lecture; a control group followed the typical sequence of hearing a lecture before working with the concept. Within the experimental condition, students in the analogy-first group simultaneously explored analogous problems; students in the explore-first group explored only the new problem with a …
Decision Making In The Sciences: Understanding Heuristic Use By Students In Problem Solving, Elizabeth Csikar
Decision Making In The Sciences: Understanding Heuristic Use By Students In Problem Solving, Elizabeth Csikar
STEMPS Theses & Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine the use of heuristics by students and gain insight into the thought process behind their problem-solving skills. The study used an adaptive narrative as the information delivery medium. An adaptive narrative was chosen because it could be designed to simulate decision making processes encountered in real world situations. Students enrolled in an introductory biology major class were chosen for the study because their fields of interest all require complex problem solving and decision-making skills. It was of interest to investigate what decisions were made when heuristics were given and how that may …