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PROBLEM SOLVING
M. Vijayalakshmi
M.Sc., M.Phil. (Life Sciences), M.Ed., M.Phil. (Education), NET (Education), PGDBI
Assistant Professor (Former),
Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Education (Autonomous),
Coimbatore – 641020.
Problem Solving
(Current and Desire State)
•When there is a discrepancy between our current status
and some goal that we wish to achieve, with no obvious
ways to bridge the gap then a problem is said be
present.
Essential components of a problem
•Original state (OS)
•Goal state (GS)
•Rules and restrictions – govern movement from
original state to goal state
Stages of Problem Solving
•Representing the problem
•Generating possible solutions
•Evaluating the solution
Problem Solving Strategies
•Trial and error – Narrow range of solution
•Testing hypothesis – Systematic approach to solve problem
•Use of algorithms – Using all the formula’s until you get the
correct answer
•Heuristics – Rule of the thumb – means-ends analysis,
working backward
Factors affecting problem solving
•Characteristics of the problem –
Ill defined problems and complex problems are difficult
to be solved.
After M.Ed. ?
•Perceptual obstacles –
Mental set
Functional fixedness and
Confirmation bias.
Problem Solving