Title:

IMMEX: Solving Real Life Problems 

Presenter:

Lucinda Sanders 

Short Description:

Review the free, Web-based interactive multimedia exercises (IMMEX) problems sets Kentucky teachers are designing to teach critical thinking skills under the auspices of a NSF grant.  

Category:

Lab 

Length:

2 hour(s)

Skill Level:

Novice 

Long Description:

Participants will learn how using IMMEX teaches critical thinking skills as defined by the Foundation for Critical Thinking. Participants will review existing IMMEX problem sets and learn how to analyze search paths for improving students' problem-solving skills.Participants will be presented with information and handouts about: • How IMMEX can be used to teach critical thinking skills as defined by the Foundation for Critical Thinking Institute (www.criticalthinking.org) including: 1) elements of reasoning 2) intellectual standards Participants will work through a variety of IMMEX problem sets in order to see how they engage students in: • scientific inquiry • distinguishing relevant information • planning search strategies • gathering information • reaching decisions that demonstrate understanding (At the computers, in pairs — 90 minutes) Participants will examine IMMEX search paths to: • evaluate student work • use data to understand individual and group progress over time • track student responses to improve investigative and analytical skills (Analysis of search paths; small and large group discussion — 30 minutes)  

ISTE Standards:

Student Standard 6: Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.  

Research:

IMMEX problem solving follows a model of scientific inquiry (Olson & Loucks-Horsley, 2000) and case-based reasoning (Kolodner, 1993) where students are expected to frame a problem from a descriptive scenario, judge what information is relevant, plan a search strategy, gather information, and eventually reach a decision that demonstrates understanding. Given problem spaces of a sufficient size and scope, problem solving in this environment requires an integration of domain knowledge and cognitive process skill, and evaluations have shown that the IMMEX approach provides a rich cognitive environment for problem solving. Additonally, presenters Lucinda Sanders and Suzanne Weaver will present results of a gender-based IMMEX study they did during the 2003-2004 school year.