Problem-solving

The Science of Problem Solving : Summary: A review of the state of our knowledge regarding problem solving. How does it work? What is insight? How can we boost our creativity and improve problem solving performance? -  See more at:  http://rs.io/2014/02/21/problem-solving.html 'via Blog this'

Taken from  Computing in Northamptonshire: Gary Hill: solving problems : "Referencing within Code in Software Engineering Education! Computer Education 05/2012; 10(166):1. ABSTRACT Traditionally computer sciences courses will assess software code. It is common and accepted good practice (as in written reports) to reference other sources of appropriate material. However there appears to be no explicit method, recommendation or advice available to computer science tutors and students on a referencing approach! This paper aims to stimulate discussion from peers involved in software engineering education. By discussing the apparent lack of ‘referencing within code’ advice to students and proposing suggestions for appropriate solutions. This will be based on the authors’ experience of assessing code and the current advice given to their students." Is it Visual? The importance of a Problem Solving Module within a Computing course Computer Education 05/2012; 10(166):5...

Solve the right problem, not the given problem  A Lazy Approach To Problem Solving « Gödel’s Lost Letter and P=NP : 'via Blog this'

Two members of the Computing Division of the University of Northampton have contributed a chapter to the book   Software Industry-Oriented Education Practices and Curriculum Development: Experiences and Lessons   edited by  Drs. Matthew Hussey, Xiaofei Xu and Bing Wu.   ISBN:  978-1609607975   IGI Global  to be published later this year. Problems First Gary Hill and Scott Turner ABSTRACT This chapter considers the need to focus initial programming education on  problem-solving , in advance of programming syntax and software design methodology. The main vehicle for this approach is simple Lego based  robots  programmed in  Java , followed by the programming of a graphical representation/simulation to develop programming skills.  P roblem solving is not trivial (Beaumont & Fox, 2003) and is an important skill, central to computing and engineering. An approach wil...

Jonathan Adams, Phil Picton and Stefan Kaczmarczyk from the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton in collaboration with Peter Demian from Loughborough University have recently published a paper in the Journal   Enhancing the Learner Experience in Higher Education  entitled " Problem solving and creativity in Engineering: turning novices into professionals ". Abstract: Recent UK and European benchmarks for both undergraduate and professional engineers highlight the importance of problem solving skills. They additionally identify creativity as an important capacity alongside problem solving for both novices and professionals. But, how can we develop and encourage these important skills in undergraduate engineers? For many years researchers have explored how the differences between novices and experts might show educators techniques for improving the problem solving abilities of their students. Whilst it is often a...

Problem solving is not trivial (Beaumont and Fox, 2003).  In fact, if we think about Bloom’s Taxonomy’s (Bloom 1956) and the Cognitive Domain, problem-solving involves the high-level skills of synthesis, evaluation, analysis and applications, so perhaps it is not surprising that student’s often struggle in this area and with subjects based around problem-solving (such as programming). A much discussed and related area of Computational Thinking ( Wing, 2006) has raised the profile of areas such as problem-solving, by highlighting the importance of “ thinking like a computer scientist ” (Wing 2006). The thought processes involved in being a computer scientist are more complicated than just being able to program, “ Computational thinking is reformulating a seemingly difficult problem into one we know how to solve, perhaps by reduction, embedding, transformation, or simulation. ” (Wing, 2006). The skills of computer scientists are applicable to a much wider range of areas or as W...

The School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton have been working with local schools to create robots made from junk. This is an initiative by the University to introduce environmental sustainability, engineering and computing to students and has been been funded by  Northampton Enterprise Limited  and  east midlands development agency (emda ). This project sets out to engage pupils with a set of activities over four three-hour sessions that provides an insight into STEM subjects. The workshops will be structured in the following way: (a)Session 1: Introduction to waste management, its impact, recycling and reuse. An introduction to the idea of making robots from rubbish. (b)Two sessions involving guided exercises. · Session 2: Involves some problem-solving exercises (approx. ½ hour), then in groups investigate adding ‘junk’ with a new electrical components such as batteries and motors to use vibrations to move the robots. · S...

Scott Turner and Gary Hill from the Division of Computing of the University of Northampton UK,have been investigating teaching and developing problem solving skills as a first step developing programming skills through the use of LEGO-based robots and graphics based programming. Work on problem-solving has been on-going in the School of Science and Technology (was School of Applied Sciences) for the last four years looking at the concept of teaching and developing problem-solving first, then programming. The main vehicle for developing the problem-solving skills has been LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits and series of gradually more challenging robot-based tasks. Lawhead et al (2003) stated that robots “…provide entry level programming students with a physical model to visually demonstrate concepts” and “the most important benefit of using robots in teaching introductory courses is the focus provided on learning language independent, persistent truths about p...