Delayed guidance: A teaching-learning strategy to develop ill-structured problem solving skills in engineering

Aditi Kothiyal, Bipin Rajendran, Sahana Murthy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Problem solving is an important skill for engineering graduates to develop. However, in most traditional engineering classrooms, students practice solving well structured problems which is not sufficient because engineers need to be able to solve real world problems which are ill structured. Therefore it is important for engineering students to be trained in ill-structured problem solving. In this paper, we present a new teaching-learning strategy for ill-structured problem solving based on productive failure and instructor prompts. Students do unguided in-class exploration of engineering problems in groups, after which they receive instruction on problem solving strategies. We conducted a pilot study by incorporating our teaching-learning strategy in a senior electrical engineering course. We found that students developed several ill-structured problem solving skills and showed a range of problem solving behaviors and heuristics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2015 International Conference on Learning and Teaching in Computing and Engineering, LaTiCE 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages164-171
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781479999675
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 16 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event2015 3rd International Conference on Learning and Teaching in Computing and Engineering, LaTiCE 2015 - Taipei, Taiwan, Province of China
Duration: Apr 9 2015Apr 12 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2015 International Conference on Learning and Teaching in Computing and Engineering, LaTiCE 2015

Other

Other2015 3rd International Conference on Learning and Teaching in Computing and Engineering, LaTiCE 2015
Country/TerritoryTaiwan, Province of China
CityTaipei
Period4/9/154/12/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering
  • Education
  • Computer Science (miscellaneous)
  • Computer Science Applications

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