TY - JOUR
T1 - Computer-assisted learning for mathematical problem solving
AU - Chang, Kuo En
AU - Sung, Yao Ting
AU - Lin, Shiu Feng
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the National Science Council and the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, ROC, under the contracts NSC 90-2520-S-003-006 and 89-H-FA07-1-4.
PY - 2006/2
Y1 - 2006/2
N2 - Previous computer-assisted problem-solving systems have incorporated all the problem-solving steps within a single stage, making it difficult to diagnose stages at which errors occurred when a student encounters difficulties, and imposing a too-high cognitive load on students in their problem solving. This study proposes a computer-assisted system named MathCAL, whose design is based on four problem-solving stages: (1) understanding the problem, (2) making a plan, (3) executing the plan and (4) reviewing the solution. A sample of one hundred and thirty fifth-grade students (aged 11 years old) completed a range of elementary school mathematical problems and empirically demonstrated. The results showed MathCAL to be effective in improving the performance of students with lower problem solving ability. This evaluation allowed us to address the problem of whether the assistances in various stages help students with their problem solving. These assistances improve students' problem-solving skills in each stage.
AB - Previous computer-assisted problem-solving systems have incorporated all the problem-solving steps within a single stage, making it difficult to diagnose stages at which errors occurred when a student encounters difficulties, and imposing a too-high cognitive load on students in their problem solving. This study proposes a computer-assisted system named MathCAL, whose design is based on four problem-solving stages: (1) understanding the problem, (2) making a plan, (3) executing the plan and (4) reviewing the solution. A sample of one hundred and thirty fifth-grade students (aged 11 years old) completed a range of elementary school mathematical problems and empirically demonstrated. The results showed MathCAL to be effective in improving the performance of students with lower problem solving ability. This evaluation allowed us to address the problem of whether the assistances in various stages help students with their problem solving. These assistances improve students' problem-solving skills in each stage.
KW - Elementary education
KW - Interactive learning environment
KW - Teaching/learning strategies
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U2 - 10.1016/j.compedu.2004.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.compedu.2004.08.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:29144441520
SN - 0360-1315
VL - 46
SP - 140
EP - 151
JO - Computers and Education
JF - Computers and Education
IS - 2
ER -