Problem Solving 173228, 3 cu

Notice 1: Pictures of the thinking hats can be found here.

Content

• creating problem solving methods and their practical applications in groups
• introduction to problem solving software
• mathematical problem solving and a soft introduction to hermeneutics.

Goal of the Course

• students are able to apply modern problem solving methods and techniques in novel situation
• introduce open problem solving

Lectures in Fall 2002

• Lecturer:Erkki Sutinen
• Schedule: starting 27th of January
• Time and place: Monday, Tuesday 14-16, T/2D106
• No Lectures: week 8, week 10, week 11, week 15
• Notice 1: April 14, time 14-18
• Notice 2: some of the lectures are mandatory, more information during the course
• Notice 3: Improvisation group Joo will visit the course on March 11, time: 14-17

Assistants

• Jarkko Suhonen
  • responsibilities: electornic portfolio, problem solving task, general arrangements, grading
• Jussi Nuutinen
• responsibility: Software Tool Assignment
• Mikko Vesisenaho
• responsibilities: problem solving task

Consulting Hours

• time: Friday 11-12
• Place: 2D309 (third floor)
• Please reserve the counceling time beforehand

Rooms Reserved for Group Sessions

Following rooms are reserved for group sessions during the course (February 2 - March 31)

How to pass?

• participating to lectures; some of the lectures are mandatory, if you can not participate, there will be extra assignments
• individual tasks
  • analysis of one problem solving software tool
  • writing an electronic learning portfolio (see instructions below)
• collaborative problem solving task
• groups of 3 people (see detailed instructions below)
• No Exam or Demo Sessions

Grading criteria

The final course grade will be formed according to following criterias

Task	Weight
Collaborative Problem Solving Task	35 %
Learning Portfolio	35 %
Analysis of Problem Solving Tool/Software	30 %
Development Ideas for Electronic Portfolio Tool	10%

Course Schedule & Deadlines

Instructions

• Instructions for Problem Solving Task
• groups of 3 students
• groups should arrange at least 2 long + 5 short sessions during the problem solving task
• short sessions last minimum of 2 hours
• long sessions last minimum of 4 hours
• instructors can join some of the sessions
• 2 sessions should be arranged at the campus area and 2 sessions outside the campus area (e.g in helicopter ride over the Joensuu), 3 other sessions can be in any place
• groups should also arrange two (2) meetings with Mikko Vesisenaho
  • week 7
  • March 10, time: 16-18, place: T/B212
  • schedule for the meeting
• during the first lectures groups will construct a plan for the problem solving task
• plan includes:
• time and place for sessions (place can be determined later)
• preliminary plans about the progress of the problem solving taks
• problem solving goal
• plan should be approved by the instructors
• if there are any changes for the time and place of the sessions or radical change for the goal, a new study plan should be posted to Jarkko Suhonen
• each group will make a record of the sessions and at the end of the course write a 5-10 pages report about the progress of the task
  • deadline: April 11
• Instructions for Software Tool Assignemnt
  • deadline: March 21
  • Jussi's instructions can be found here.
• Instructions for Learning Portfolio
• electronic portfolio (called PPA) can be found at:
• if you come up with ides how to develop PPA-tool further on, you can get maximum of 10% extra points
• both ideas for the functionality and usability of the tool are welcome, but new ideas on functionality will have more weight
• instructions for filling the portfolio can be found here.
• portfolio will be closed at: April 11

Course Books

• Fogler, S.H. & Leblanc, S.E.: Strategies for Creative Problem-Solving, Prentice Hall, 1994.
• Guzman de, M.: Matemaattisia seikkailuja, 1990.
• Michalewicz, Z. & Fogel, B.D.: How to Solve It: Modern Heuristics, Springer-Verlag, 2000.
• Siler, T.: Think Like A Genius, Bantam Books, 1996.

Links and Literature

• Idea Generation Tools
• Creativity Web

Further information