Development of Interactive Problem Solving Tutorials

这个项目的目的是证明使用计算机帮助学生学习有效的解决问题的技能来解决物理问题的可行性。这是通过构建一套计算机教程来帮助学生提高他们的问题解决能力来实现的。该教程的设计借鉴了先前的研究，即教授学生有效的问题解决技能，并使用计算机为学生提供个性化的指导和反馈。这些教程：(1)互动性强，(2)明确有效解决问题所需的思维过程，(3)使用改进的互惠教学策略，让学生练习有效解决问题所必需的基本认知功能(即，决定一个行动，实施该行动，并评估结果)，(4)基于仔细的教学设计，为学生提供个性化的指导和反馈(5)足够灵活，以适应不同学生可能选择的多种解决问题的途径。本项目展示了如何通过向学生提供(1)更具互动性和个性化的指导，来利用技术来改进教育，(2)在课堂外接受有效教学的机会；(3)获得其他教学形式的机会。这对那些标准指导不足的学生来说尤其重要。

The goal of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using computers to help students learn effective problem solving skills for solving physics problems. This is accomplished by constructing a set of computer tutorials to help students improve their problem solving performance. The tutorial design draws on prior research on teaching students effective problem solving skills and using computers to provide students with individualized guidance and feedback. These tutorials:(1) are highly interactive,(2) make explicit the thought processes necessary for effective problem solving,(3) use a modified reciprocal-teaching strategy to give students practice in the basic cognitive functions necessary for effective problem solving (i.e., deciding on an action, implementing that action, and assessing the result),(4) provide students with individualized guidance and feedback based on careful instructional design(5) be flexible enough to accommodate the multiple solutions paths different students might choose for solving a problem.This project demonstrates how technology can be used to improve education by providing students with (1) more interactive and individualized instruction, (2) opportunities to receive effective instruction outside the classroom, and (3) access to alternative forms of instruction. This can be especially important to students for whom standard instruction is insufficient.