Journey into Problem Solving: A Gift from Polya

Abstract

In How to Solve It, accomplished mathematician and skilled communicator George Polya describes a four-step universal solving technique designed to help students develop mathematical problem-solving skills. By providing a glimpse at the grace with which experts solve problems, Polya provides definable methods that are not exclusive to mathematicians but of interest to cognitive psychologists and problem solvers in all fields. I had the good fortune to be introduced to Polya's ideas in my first undergraduate class in physics.

Large-scale studies on the transferability of general problem-solving skills and the pedagogic potential of physics

“…With regard to problem solving in sciences, general cognitive skills would include the following [9,10,12,[14][15][16].…”

Strategie řešení úloh ve výuce fyziky na středních školách

“…Several studies (e.g. Van Heuvelen, 1993;Bagno, Eylon, 1997;Lederman, 2009) claim that it is possible to mitigate the limiting strategies by using special approaches and students can be taught more appropriate techniques how to solve physics tasks.…”

A Problem-Solving Template for Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Physics Instruction

“…Th ere is a danger that Polya's techniques could be misapplied as linear models of problem solving adhering to a series of rigid steps, which is inconsistent with genuine problem solving (Lederman, 2009). Lederman prescribes requiring multiple approaches to the problem solution, to bridge the gap between conceptual physics and problem-solving methods.…”

“…However, perfect performance is incompatible with problem solving (Lederman, 2009). Th at is to say, all errors are seen as mistakes in this paradigm, and the approach used in obtaining the numeric result is either all wrong or all right.…”