Week 2 Information Processing Theory and Problem Solving Methods

Week 2 – Life Lesson

First I learned an important life lesson this week; I heard a horrible ruckus in my backyard and went to check on what was happening.  My cat was hanging by his hind legs stuck between fence panels.  Without thinking I rushed to help him.  The cat immediately grabbed hold of my wrist with his teeth.  I freed the cat, got my grandkids together and made it to the doctor in time to stop the bleeding.  In spite of the antibiotics I am working with an infected arm.  Life lesson:  Before coming to the aid of an animal have a plan and remember the teeth and claws.

Week 2 – Evaluating Online Resources:  Information Processing Theory and

                Problem Solving Methods

Teaching children with special needs has been my passion for over twenty years.  To find the method or theory that works best for a child provides such a feeling of satisfaction and pride in the child.  I have spent my years of teaching reading and researching different teaching methods.  During these years there has been a great deal of research and theories put into practice, many of which were later found to be invalid.

The web site Wikipedia should be used for research with caution, but I still like Wikipedia to get a snap shot of information on the topic I am searching.  I always look at the references to check on who provided information.  “Humans process the information they receive, rather than merely responding to stimuli” (Wikipedia, May 2011); this statement is a good explanation of the Information Processing theory.  Another statement from Wikipedia is “information processing defines intelligence a processor – the better the processor the smarter the person” (2011).  Also in Wikipedia I found a link to Buzzle.com Intelligent Life on the Web.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_processing_theory

Ishani Chatterjee Shukla published paper “Information Processing Model” appears on this site.  This paper gives a snapshot of the Information Processing Model providing the beliefs that the model is based.  Shukla also relates Information Processing Theory to the Cognitive development theory.   The four pillars of the Information Processing Model, Thinking, Analysis of Stimuli, Situational Modification, and Obstacle Evaluation are briefly explained (Shukla, 2010).

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/information-processing-model.html                             

Just as in the Information Processing Theory and in cognitive psychology is how people solve problems.  There are three different things involved in problem solving: encoding the problem into long-term memory, retrieving information in long-term memory relevant to the problem being solved and metacognitively making sure that everything is gets where you want it to get the results you want (Laureate Education, Inc. no date given).  Problem solving does not come naturally it has to be learned and in Instructional Design knowing how to teach problem solving skills to adults will be very important.

Jim Jozwiak’s paper “Teaching Problem-Solving Skills to Adults” is well worth the time to read and if you are like me reread. Mr. Jozwiak conducted a study to first of all determine the importance of teaching problem solving methods to adult students.  Secondly to summarize available literature on problem solving methods, and lastly to compile methods for teaching problem solving.  It is a rather lengthy paper broken down in three parts.  Part I defines problem solving and explains the importance of teaching it.  Part II summarizes selected problem solving methods. Part III offers recommendations for teaching problem solving skills in vocational/technical classes at the college level (Jozwiak, 2004). 

The study was at the adult level in vocational/technical classes but I think that the information could be used in any teaching situation.

References:

- Laureate Education, Inc. (no date given).  Information processing and problem solving. Baltimore MD: Ormrod, J.

- Jozwiak, J. (2004). Teaching problem solving skills to adults. Journal of Adult Education, 33(9), 19-34. Retrieved from Walden University Library.  Database:  ERIC

- Shukla, I. C. (2010, November 11).  Information processing model. Retrieved from Buzzle.com website: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/information-processing-model.html.                             

- Wikipedia, (May11, 2011).  Information processing theory. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_processing_theory.