Thesis. 1975. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Economics. / Vita. / Includes bibliographies. / by James D. Hess. / Ph.D.

Thesis. 1975. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / Includes bibliographical references. / M.Arch.A.S.

Nesta pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa, discutimos o uso da Resolução de Problemas como metodologia de ensino em Matemática numa Perspectiva Metodológica a alunos do Ensino Médio. Tendo por objetivo geral contribuir para a melhoria do ensino-aprendizagem em Matemática. Durante três bimestres foram desenvolvidas atividades em três turmas da 2° série de uma escola publica da Rede Estadual de Ensino no município de Tremembé-SP. Essas atividades focalizavam os seguintes tópicos: as habilidades em que os alunos apresentavam defasagem, os diferentes tipos de problemas matemáticos sugeridos por Smole e Diniz (2001), a relação entre a Matemática e a Língua Materna e os processos cognitivos e metacognitivos. A coleta de dados deu-se por meio do diário de campo da professora-pesquisadora e dos registros produzidos pelos alunos ao longo das aulas. A análise dos dados aponta que na prática pedagógica, trabalhar com diferentes tipos de problemas aproxima a Matemática e a Língua Materna, ampliando a compreensão dos alunos, como também formular problemas ou parte dele embora se constitua uma tarefa desafiadora, contribui positivamente com o processo de resolução além de propiciar o início de reflexões de ordem metacognitiva. / In this qualitative research, we discuss the use of problems solving as a methodology of mathematics teaching in a methodologic perspective to high school students. With the general goal of contributing to the improvement of teaching-learning in mathematics, were developed activities in three classes of the second grade of a Public School of the State Teaching Network in the municipality of Tremembé-SP during three bimester. These activities focused on the following topics: the abilities in which the students presented lags, the different types of mathematical problems suggested by Smole and Diniz (2001), the relation between Mathematics and the Mother Language and the cognitive and metacognitive processes. The data collection was done through the teacher-researcher\'s field diary and the records produced by the students throughout the classes. The analysis of the data points out that in pedagogical practice, working with different types of problems brings the Mathematics and Mother Language closer, broadening the students comprehension, and formulating problems or part of it, although it is a challenging task, positively contributes to the resolution process beyond of propitiating the beginning of reflections of metacognitive order.

This research investigates the responses of three individuals engaging with the Super Mario World (SMW) platform videogame glitches, and how they learned to solve the problem without formal help. This investigation was chosen because it explores connections between media literacy, critical thinking, and play in adults in the context of responding to unexpected technological errors. At the core of this study is the question of how encounters with arbitrary glitches can motivate and elicit critical thinking. Following a case study model, data were collected as the three subjects played SMW and encountered glitches. Questions regarding the (glitchy) game play experience were addressed in the first interview immediately following. The subjects were asked to create a visual essay and keep personal journals, which were gathered after 30 days, and a second interview at that time focused on the overall experience. Several results emerged from the data. Each of the subjects identified and solved for glitches in a way that suggested critical thinking processes. In addition, they all reflected in various ways on the challenges that glitches presented, making connections to larger issues and their everyday lives. The data also showed the importance of memory in these processes. The results suggest that while subjects approached and solved a technological glitch in SMW game play, they simultaneously acquired, developed, and—at least for the duration of the study—sustained new literacy skills and expanded their proficiency with critical thinking. This holds some potential implications for the value of incorporating glitch experiences both inside and outside the classroom, suggesting that videogame play—and particularly glitches in play—can be considered valuable opportunities for learners and teachers alike.

There is no research on the assessment or treatment of help-seeking behaviors for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). The current study evaluated the efficacy of a group treatment protocol, NICE (Noticing you have a problem, Identifying the information you need for help, Compensatory strategies, Evaluating progress), to train help-seeking for adults with ABI when lost. Theoretical and treatment components from two empirically validated interventions that target social problem solving and social competence were adapted to develop the NICE group treatment protocol. A single subject modified variant of a nonconcurrent and multiple probe multiple baseline across participant cohort design was used to examine sensitivity to treatment effects for seven persons with ABI. The overall findings suggest that the NICE group treatment has potential to improve help-seeking when wayfinding. This dissertation supports further investigation of the NICE group treatment to train help-seeking skills.

No description available.

This study compared two groups of students being instructed in various methods of problem solving over a two-week period. The control group was instructed using the standard Career and Technology Education (CTE) Introduction curriculum on using brainstorming to solve problems. The treatment group was instructed using a structured problem solving method developed to help focus problem solving on finding a solution that satisfies the conditions. Students were selected from 7th grade students at a suburban middle school in Utah. The independent variable in this study was the type of problem solving instruction received. The dependent variables of interest were the fluency of producing solutions (S), number of inventive solutions (I) produced while problem solving. Additional variables of interest include student's perceived competence (c) while problem solving and students perceived usefulness (u) of problem solving in their lives. A pre-test and a post-test consisting of open-ended problems were utilized to assess the fluency of solutions (S) and the number of inventive solutions (I). A modified Fennema-Sherman attitude questionnaire was utilized to assess student's perceived competence (c) and perceived usefulness (u). The findings indicated that students who are taught a structured problem solving method produce a statistically significant (p-value of .033) greater number of inventive solutions when compared to students not instructed in this method. These students also appear to focus their problem solving by producing less total solutions (s) but a greater portion of these solutions is inventive. Other findings include data that supports the idea that dedicated problem solving instruction increases students perceptions of their own abilities to problem solving. Both control and treatment groups experience a statistically significant increase in their perceived competence in problem solving (p-value of .430 and .382 respectively).

Thesis (M.Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Technology education was introduced in the South African curriculum by the Department of Basic Education with the intention of developing learners’ design skills while using the design process. Since the introduction of technology education, the South African curriculum has undergone a series of curriculum changes. Teachers were introduced to Outcomes-Based Education (OBE), the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS), the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and now the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). These changes compelled South African teachers to shift from a teacher-centred approach to that of a learner-centred approach. In the RNCS, the design process was presented as a linear process, whereas in the CAPS document, the design process has been represented as non-linear. This change has led to uncertainties amongst technology teachers on how to teach the design process. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the teaching strategies that technology teachers apply when teaching the design process. The CAPS document for technology stipulates that technology should give learners an opportunity to develop and apply specific design skills to solve technological problems in real situations. To solve such problems, learners should be exposed to a problem and then engage in a systematic process that allows them to develop solutions to the problem. The theoretical framework used in this study was based on social constructivism. This theory was used based on the fact that it describes how learning occurs and puts emphasis on how learners construct their own understanding in a social context. This social constructivism was linked to the design process skills required to demonstrate the way in which the teaching and learning of the design process could be directed. The design process is seen as the backbone of technology and should be used to teach technology, it seems that teachers are struggling to use the design process in teaching technology. The literature revealed that teachers’ lack of knowledge in technology has an effect on how they use various teaching strategies to teach the design process. This is challenging and a reason for unease, therefore this study needed to explore this problem. The study engaged in qualitative research using a case study design. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants, who comprised technology teachers who obtained anAdvanced Certificate in Education majoring in technology with at least six years of experience in teaching technology. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and observations, and were analysed using Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge. The study revealed that only in exceptional cases were technology teachers using problem-solving to teach the design process. It was also revealed that technology teachers have difficulties with regard to PCK. The sampled teachers were also unable to support learners to acquire design skills such as investigation, designing, making, evaluation and communication. The observations indicated that the participants did not engage with the design process as set out in the CAPS document for technology. The implication of this study is that understanding the content and how to teach it is essential in teaching and learning situations. There should be ongoing professional development programmes to assist technology teachers. This study recommends that there should be repeated in-service training of technology teachers to address the issue of concern in teaching the design process. Teachers should be encouraged to attend such in-service training. The in-service training should also focus on teaching technology using the design process. Furthermore, technology teachers should encourage effective group-work in problem solving so that every member of the group has a role to play.

Older adults are faced with many complex and critical decisions regarding retirement, health care, finances, and living situation, and their ability to make such decisions successfully has a profound impact on the individual and society as a whole. Numerous neurologically and psychiatrically healthy older adults do not make advantageous decisions: they get swindled and make poor financial choices. The vulnerability of such older adults has been postulated to be the result of disproportionate aging of the frontal lobes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether decision-making performance among older adults can be improved as a result of pharmacological and/or psychoeducational intervention. Healthy community-dwelling persons were recruited to participate in four conditions: Lexapro, placebo, psychoeducational condition (Problem Solving Therapy [PST]), and waitlist control. Twenty-six elderly persons participated. Only six seniors participated in the pharmacological conditions due to unanticipated challenges with recruitment (e.g., lack of interest in drug studies, contraindications to study drug). Statistical comparisons were conducted to compare performance on several laboratory tasks of decision-making under conditions of ambiguity, risk, and deceptive advertising, between the PST group and Control group. The findings suggest that a psychosocial intervention can be effective in the enhancement of decision-making ability under ambiguity among healthy community-dwelling older adults and as such can provide a foundation for future investigations.

Schools in Florida used the multitiered system of support response to intervention framework to help students achieve the state and national standards but, in the national report card, 61% of the fourth-graders assessed in mathematics failed to achieve proficiency. Research indicated that the students lacked mathematical word problem-solving skills. The purpose of the qualitative study was to discover how fourth-grade special and general education teachers used the response to intervention framework evidence-based curriculum, instruction, intervention, assessment, and student data to teach math word problem-solving skills to children who have persistent and significant difficulties. Welner'€™s zone of mediation framework and Vygotsky'€™s sociocultural theory form the conceptual framework for the study. The teachers provided data through in-depth interviews, math intervention program, training document, teachers'€™ guides, assessment tools, and observation. All the data was uploaded to the latest version of NVivo and analyzed based on the research questions. The study findings showed that participants used all the features of the response to intervention framework to teach math word problem-solving skills and address the needs of at-risk students. Teachers should continuously reinforce math vocabulary, terminology, and math reading comprehension skills of students. Administrators and teachers should be able to use the findings of this study to improve the use of the response to intervention features to develop the math word problem-solving skills of students and influence teachers'€™ pedagogical practices.