Fostering Computational Problem-Solving Skills in Introductory Sciences: An Interactive Multimedia Curriculum

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To assist students to acquire the basic quantitative problem- solving skills they need to succeed in science, Howard Community College, MD, working collaboratively with Cumberland County College, NJ, and other community colleges, is creating an interactive multimedia program to teach scientific computational fundamentals. The program will diagnose and teach at three levels (based on Gagne's cognitive skills hierarchy) of scientific computational skills--reviewing specific science- related math skills, applying math to specific science-related tasks and performing scientific problem-solving.The program, draws upon all the graphic, sound, computer-branching, and video capabilities of multimedia instruction, will include a test instrument that will be used to assess students prior knowledge, devise an individualized learning plan, and evaluate knowledge gained. The instructional components will be "generic"--not specific to any one science discipline--but separate problem sets will be developed for biology, chemistry, and physics thereby customizing the program to each discipline.The innovative curriculum, including adaptation of classroom instruction, will be evaluated at the project colleges, as well as several other two-year colleges serving as independent peer review sites.