The document describes a study that observed students' problem solving strategies. It aimed to see if students used the problem solving model taught in class and examine successful and unsuccessful behaviors. The study found that students did not use the model, and there was a general lack of evaluation and planning across all students. Other research agrees with these findings, and experts are known to emphasize control, decision making, and self-monitoring during problem solving.

1. Observing the Problem Solving Strategies of Students Marsali Wallace Ross Galloway

5. Think Aloud http://www.livescribe.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?sid=4dNdFjpNtrV6

6. The Questions Drawbridge Question A man is trying to push a large stone block across a uniform drawbridge which has a mass of m = 200kg. The mass of the large stone block and the man combined is M = 300kg. The drawbridge is of length L = 5.00m and is held up by a wire. The wire can withstand a maximum tension of 5000N. The vertical distance between the drawbridge and the point where the wire is attached to the wall is h = 4.00m. How far along from the wall can the man push the stone block before the bridge collapses? Assume g = 10 ms -2 Army Cadet Question An Army cadet uses a rope swing to cross a river. He starts on a high platform with his centre of mass 7.16 metres from the ground and grabs onto the rope which is 6m long, to swing. He lets go when the rope is vertical and his centre of mass is 1m off the ground. He needs to travel 5m horizontally to clear the river after letting go of the rope. If he successfully clears the river what is the tension in the rope just before he releases? The cadet’s weight is 80kg.

8. Results: Timeline of problem solving strategies Student 1. Drawbridge Question. Non-Major, Female Minnesota Model Time (Minutes) Code 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Focus on the problem Describing the physics Planning Execution Evaluation Silence and no writing

9. Results: Successful Student Student 6 FDPEE Model Focus on problem Describe Physics Plan Execute Evaluate Silence and no writing Percentage of time on Each Activity

10. Results: Unsuccessful Student Student 4 FDPEE Model Focus on problem Describe Physics Plan Execute Evaluate Silence and no writing Percentage of time on Each Activity

13. Kohl and Finkelstein, 2008 Kohl, P.B. and Finkelstein, N.D. (2008) “Patterns of multiple representation use by experts and novices during physics problem solving”, Physical Review Special Topics – Physics Education Research 4(1) 010111