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Teaching Problem Solving and Design

Teaching Problem Solving and Design. Chris Stephenson Computer Science Teachers Association. The Goal. A primary goal of curriculum reform is to create classrooms in which students: are challenged to think critically learn how to discover, understand, and analyze

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Teaching Problem Solving and Design

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  1. Teaching Problem Solving and Design Chris Stephenson Computer Science Teachers Association

  2. The Goal A primary goal of curriculum reform is to create classrooms in which students: • are challenged to think critically • learn how to discover, understand, and analyze • apply skills and knowledge in new situations

  3. Computer Programming • Problem solving skills are absolutely key to program development • The most fundamental obstacles to learning to program are related to problem solving BUT!!! • Most courses still focus on syntax!

  4. Early Models of Problem Solving The first problem solving models broke down into two distinct approaches: • the traditional scientific method • an introspective creative method Scientists often report using both methods to enable discovery

  5. The Scientific Process Dewey (1910): • define the problem • suggest possible solutions and identify alternative • reason about the solutions • implement • test and prove

  6. The Creative Process Wallas (1926): • problem formulation and information gathering • incubation - allowing the unconscious to work on it • illumination - working to gain insight • verification - testing for accuracy

  7. Classroom Model Polya (1945 and 1962) was the first to describe a problem solving model based on classroom experience: • understand the problem • devise a plan • carry out plan • look back

  8. Students Need to Know • What programming is • The importance of style • How computers solve problems • How programmers develop software • Software development over time

  9. Programming is... • Analyzing a problem to be solved. • Preparing a design for the steps in a set of instructions (an algorithm) • Expressing the algorithm in a language that the computer can ultimately execute • Providing adequate documentation • Testing and validating the program • Maintaining the program over time

  10. How Computers Solve Problems Memory Processing Input Output

  11. Software Development Specification Analysis Architecture Design Untested Software Implementation Testing Product The Waterfall Model Maintenance

  12. Iterative Model Release Marketing Product Requirements (Repeat) Analysis Testing Specification Software Implementation Design Architecture

  13. Methodology The most common methods used for teaching problem solving and critical thinking skills are: • hands-on experience • real world problems • cooperative learning

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