NDLI: Promoting Effective Student Problem Solving

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Bennett, J. C.
Copyright Year	2007
Abstract	If one were to ask most anyone what engineers do, they would say “solve problems.” And indeed, engineers do [but I would suggest that all people solve problems regardless of their chosen careers]. What are less obvious are [a] whether engineering students and graduates are effective problem solvers; [b] whether engineering education is facilitated effectively as a “problem to be solved” and [c] whether that engineering education intentionally facilitates the development by students of an effective problem solving approach. In this paper, it is argued that instructors use of effective problem solving in course development, preparation, and facilitation must include the explicit attention to the student development of effective problem solving procedures. In this paper, it is argued that students will become more effective problem solvers if instructors encourage them to use procedures that embrace ambiguity and if instructors more consistently expect them to apply the procedures to open-ended problems throughout the curriculum. As students move from well-defined problem solving to more complex problem solving, they will benefit from one general and effective problem-solving procedure that is sufficiently flexible to include the various and more specific procedures that students will encounter. With career paths continually evolving and with information generation growth ever expanding, such skills are absolutely critical to success, again regardless of career choice.
Starting Page	613
Ending Page	619
Page Count	7
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0791843017
DOI	10.1115/IMECE2007-41208
e-ISBN	0791838129
Volume Number	Volume 7: Engineering Education and Professional Development
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2007 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
Language	English
Publisher Date	2007-11-11
Publisher Place	Seattle, Washington, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Engineers Students Engineering education Engineering students Ambiguity
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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