Learning to Solve Problems: A Handbook for Designing Problem-Solving Learning Environments

466 Pages·2011·4.11 MB·English

by  David H. Jonassen

Learning to Solve Problems
This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date look at problem-solving
research and practice over the last fifteen years. The first chapter describes
differences in types of problems, individual differences among problem
solvers, as well as the domain and context within which a problem is being
solved. Part I describes six kinds of problems and the methods required to
solve them. Part II goes beyond traditional discussions of case design and
introduces seven different purposes or functions of cases, the building blocks
of problem-solving learning environments. It also describes methods for con-
structing cases to support problem solving. Part III introduces a number of
cognitive skills required for studying cases and solving problems. Finally, Part
IV describes several methods for assessing problem solving. Key features
include the following:
Teaching Focus—The book is not merely a review of research. It also provides
specific research-based advice on how to design problem-solving learning
environments.
Illustrative Cases—A rich array of cases illustrates how to build problem-
solving learning environments. Part II introduces seven different functions of
cases and also describes the parameters of a case.
Chapter Integration—Key theories and concepts are addressed across chap-
ters and links to other chapters are made explicit. The idea is to show how
different kinds of problems, cases, skills, and assessments are integrated.
Author Expertise—A prolific researcher and writer, the author has been
researching and publishing books and articles on learning to solve problems
for the past fifteen years.
David H. Jonassen is Curators’ Professor of Educational Psychology and
Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri.

Learning to Solve Problems
A Handbook for Designing
Problem-Solving Learning Environments
David H. Jonassen
First published 2011
by Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2010.
To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The right of David H. Jonassen to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Jonassen, David H., 1947–
Learning to solve problems : a handbook for designing problem-solving learning environments /
David H. Jonassen.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Problem solving—Study and teaching—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title.
BF449.J66 2010
153.4′3—dc22
2010005132
ISBN 0-203-84752-0 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN13: 978–0–415–87193–8 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978–0–415–87194–5 (pbk)
ISBN13: 978–0–203–84752–7 (ebk)
To my father, who always claimed that I was a late bloomer. Would that
he were here to witness the blossom.

CONTENTS
List of Illustrations ix
Read Me First xiii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xxvi
List of Abbreviations xxvii
Chapter1 How Does Problem Solving Vary? 1
PartI Problem-Specific Design Models 25
Chapter2 Story Problems 27
Chapter3 Decision-Making Problems 48
Chapter4 Troubleshooting and Diagnosis Problems 77
Chapter5 Strategic-Performance Problems 106
Chapter6 Policy-Analysis Problems 121
Chapter7 Design Problem Solving 138
PartII Cases: The Building Blocks of
Problem-Solving Learning Environments 149
Chapter8 Cases as Problems to Solve 153
vii
viii (cid:127) Contents
Chapter9 Cases as Worked Examples of
Well-Structured Problems 169
Chapter10 Case Studies: Examples of
Ill-Structured Problems 179
Chapter11 Cases as Analogies 189
Chapter12 Cases as Prior Experiences 194
Chapter13 Cases as Alternative Perspectives 208
Chapter14 Cases as Simulations 223
Part III Cognitive Skills in Problem Solving 239
Chapter15 Defining the Problem: Problem Schemas 241
Chapter16 Analogically Comparing Problems 257
Chapter17 Understanding Causal Relationships
in Problems 267
Chapter18 Question Strategies for Supporting
Problem Solving 285
Chapter19 Modeling Problems 306
Chapter20 Arguing to Learn to Solve Problems 321
Chapter21 Metacognitive Regulation of Problem Solving 340
PartIV Assessing Problem Solving 351
Chapter22 Assessing Problem Solving 353
References 381
Index 423
ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURES
1.1 Typology of problems 12
2.1 Story problem-solving process 30
2.2 (a) Situationally similar, structurally dissimilar problems;
(b) Situationally dissimilar, structurally similar problems 33
2.3 Problem schema representation in SPS (Marshall, 1995) 35
2.4 Representation of animation and problem structure in
ANIMATE (Nathan, Kintsch, & Young, 1992) 36
2.5 Solution trees from HERON (Reusser, 1993) 37
2.6 TiPS interface for representing and solving simple
mathematics problems 38
2.7 Model for story problem learning environments 43
2.8 Example of story problem architecture selecting
structural model 44
2.9 Example of story problem architecture with
structural model 44
3.1 Taxonomic (prerequisite/corequisite) relationship
among problems 51
3.2 Force field analysis of decision 61
3.3 Matching causal models of evidence to solution options
(Pennington & Hastie, 1993) 68
3.4 Causal map of policy decision 69
3.5 Domino model of decision making 72
3.6 Optional instructional approaches for decision making 74
3.7 Representation of a complex decision-making problem 76
4.1 Causal (diagnostic) model of medical diagnosis 83
ix