Some subscribers to TIPS and TeachEdPsych might be interested in a recent post "Latest Doceamus against inquiry-based learning" [Hake (2010)]. The abstract reads:
******************************************** ABSTRACT: A recent thread "Latest Doceamus against inquiry-based learning" on the "Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education" (RUME) list has discussed an article by Sweller, Clark, & Kirschner (SCK) (2010) titled "Teaching General Problem-Solving Skills is Not a Substitute for, or a Viable Addition to, Teaching Mathematics" <http://bit.ly/i7wori> and published in the November 2010 issue of "Notices of the AMS." Math-problem guru Alan Schoenfeld wrote: "Sweller and colleagues set up a straw man, the notion of 'general problem solving' as a counterpoint to mathematical knowledge [but] there are techniques of mathematical problem solving, and there's plenty of evidence that students can learn them, so the opposition Sweller and colleagues use to frame their paper is nonsensical. . . . ." Sweller and colleagues have previously set up straw men - the title of their tract "Why Minimal Guidance During Instruction Does Not Work: An Analysis of the Failure of Constructivist, Discovery, Problem-Based, Experiential, and Inquiry-Based Teaching" <http://bit.ly/duJVG4> invokes the straw men "Minimal Guidance" and "Failure" but critics of Sweller et al. point out that these methods are generally neither: (a) "un-guided or minimally guided," nor (b) "failures." ****************************************** To access the complete 23 kB post please click on <http://bit.ly/etl0dc>. Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University Honorary Member, Curmudgeon Lodge of Deventer, The Netherlands President, PEdants for Definitive Academic References which Recognize the Invention of the Internet (PEDARRII) <[email protected]> <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake> <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~sdi> <http://HakesEdStuff.blogspot.com> <http://iub.academia.edu/RichardHake> REFERENCES [URL shortened by <http://bit.ly/> and accessed on 09 December 2010.] Hake, R.R. 2010. "Latest Doceamus against inquiry-based learning," online on the OPEN! AERA-L archives at <http://bit.ly/etl0dc>. Post of 8 Dec 2010 19:58:52-0800 to AERA-L and Net-Gold. The abstract and link to the complete post are being distributed to various discussion lists and are also on my blog "Hake'sEdStuff" at <http://bit.ly/fFzJn8> with a provision for comments. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=7088 or send a blank email to leave-7088-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
