Learn at a Distance

A problem well-defined is a problem half solved. ― John Dewey

Problem Solving – an ongoing activity in which learners take what they know to discover what they don’t know. It involves overcoming obstacles by generating hypotheses, testing those predictions, and arriving at satisfactory solutions.

According to Mayer and Wittrock (2006), problem solving is “cognitive processing directed at achieving a goal when no solution method is obvious to the problem solver.”

This definition consists of four parts:

1. problem solving is cognitive, that is, problem solving occurs within the problem solver’s cognitive system and can only be inferred from the problem solver’s behavior
2. problem solving is a process, that is, problem solving involves applying cognitive processes to cognitive representations in the problem solver’s cognitive system
3. problem solving is directed, that is, problem solving is guided by the problem solver’s goals
4. problem solving is personal, that is, problem solving depends on the knowledge and skill of the problem solver.

Krulik and Rudnick (1980) in Problem Solving: A Handbook for Teachers define problem solving as

the means by which an individual uses previously acquired knowledge, skills, and understanding to satisfy the demands of an unfamiliar situation. The student must synthesize what he or she has learned, and apply it to a new and different situation. (p. 4)

Problem solving is believed to connect theory with practice, provide opportunities for student creativity and help students build a complete and organized knowledge base.

The four steps in helping students implement problem solving include:

• Understanding the problem
• Developing a solution plan
• Implementing the solution plan
• Verifying and reflecting

Further Reading

Krulik, S., & Rudnick, J. A. (1987). Problem solving: A handbook for teachers (2nd  ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Mayer, R. E., & Wittrock, R. C. (2006). Problem solving. In P. A. Alexander & P. H. Winne (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (2nd ed., pp. 287–304). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.