Modeling applied to problem solving
Author(s)
Pawl, Andrew; Barrantes, Analia; Pritchard, David E.
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We describe a modeling approach to help students learn expert problem solving. Models are used to present and hierarchically organize the syllabus content and apply it to problem solving, but students do not develop and validate their own Models through guided discovery. Instead, students classify problems under the appropriate instructor‐generated Model by selecting a system to consider and describing the interactions that are relevant to that system. We believe that this explicit System, Interactions and Model (S.I.M.) problem modeling strategy represents a key simplification and clarification of the widely disseminated modeling approach originated by Hestenes and collaborators. Our narrower focus allows modeling physics to be integrated into (as opposed to replacing) a typical introductory college mechanics course, while preserving the emphasis on understanding systems and interactions that is the essence of modeling. We have employed the approach in a three‐week review course for MIT freshmen who received a D in the fall mechanics course with very encouraging results.
Date issued
2009-07Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics; MIT Experimental Study GroupJournal
AIP Conference Proceedings
Publisher
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Citation
Pawl, Andrew, Analia Barrantes, and David E. Pritchard. “Modeling Applied to Problem Solving.” AIP Conf. Proc. 1179 (2009): 51–54.
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISBN
978-0-7354-0720-6
ISSN
0094-243X
1551-7616