Information Problem-Solving “ We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle

From the Maine Learning Results Common Core of Learning Reasoning and Problem Solving Knowledge is power. We must help students want to gain knowledge, show them how to get it, and encourage them to use it to reach a new understanding or to create a new product. We must help students learn to reflect on their processes of learning, regardless of their field of study.

Reasoning and Problem Solving

Knowledge is power. We must help students want to gain knowledge, show them how to get it, and encourage them to use it to reach a new understanding or to create a new product.

Learning Is Problem-Solving Is finding and using information to solve problems important to our students? Can we teach a problem-solving methodology that will work for everyone? Shouldn’t we all be using the same language with our students to teach “Information Problem-Solving?”

Is finding and using information to solve problems important to our students?

Can we teach a problem-solving methodology that will work for everyone?

Shouldn’t we all be using the same language with our students to teach “Information Problem-Solving?”

Problem: Making Ribs 1. Task Definition 1.1 What do I want to know or do? 1.2 What information will I need? How to cook delicious ribs Where to buy ribs? What type of ribs? Is there a good recipe? What seasonings will I need?

1. Task Definition

1.1 What do I want to know or do?

1.2 What information will I need?

How to cook delicious ribs

Where to buy ribs? What type of ribs? Is there a good recipe? What seasonings will I need?

Problem: Making Ribs 2. Information Seeking Strategies 2.1 Determine all possible sources 2.2 Select the best sources Cookbooks, Internet, friends, myself, restaurants Read cookbooks and call Ralph

2. Information Seeking Strategies

2.1 Determine all possible sources

2.2 Select the best sources

Cookbooks, Internet, friends, myself, restaurants

Read cookbooks and call Ralph

Problem: Making Ribs 3. Location and Access 3.1 Locate sources 3.2 Find information within sources Look on the shelf with cookbooks; remember old information Use the cookbook index

3. Location and Access

3.1 Locate sources

3.2 Find information within sources

Look on the shelf with cookbooks; remember old information

Use the cookbook index

Problem: Making Ribs 4. Use of Information 4.1 Engage - read, hear, view, touch 4.2 Extract relevant information Read cookbooks and talk to Ralph; my memory Take notes from Ralph; highlight best recipes

4. Use of Information

4.1 Engage - read, hear, view, touch

4.2 Extract relevant information

Read cookbooks and talk to Ralph; my memory

Take notes from Ralph; highlight best recipes

Problem: Making Ribs 5. Synthesis 5.1 Organize info from multiple sources 5.2 Present the information - produce Decide which information from which source will be best Make the ribs!

5. Synthesis

5.1 Organize info from multiple sources

5.2 Present the information - produce

Decide which information from which source will be best

Make the ribs!

Problem: Making Ribs 6. Evaluation 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency) Eat and decide if I like the ribs Decide what worked best and what I would do differently next time

6. Evaluation

6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)

6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)

Eat and decide if I like the ribs

Decide what worked best and what I would do differently next time

Shorthand: D PLUS E D efine the task/problem P lan which sources to try L ocate the best sources and find information U se the best sources to gather information S ynthesize the information by presenting it in some fashion E valuate the product and the process

D efine the task/problem

P lan which sources to try

L ocate the best sources and find information

U se the best sources to gather information

S ynthesize the information by presenting it in some fashion

E valuate the product and the process