A Learning Process: Old Strategies,New Tools

Abstract

In this paper we look at a study that examines how expert problem solving behavior changes when computer software, specifically the math software package Maple, is used to help in the problem solving process. We examine two theoretical frameworks, naturalistic decision making and distributed cognition, that help us draw out conclusions from our observations of the participants' behavior. Our study involved the observation and recording of problem solving sessions where the participants were sometimes provided with software to assist with the problem solving. We observed that the high level strategies that the participants used when the software was available were often the same as when the software was not available. This led us to the conclusion that encouraging new users of the software to continue to use their old problem solving strategies while learning the software is a valid way of managing cognitive load during the learning process while not impeding the new users from learning to use the software efficiently and effectively.