Learning math problem-solving in online courses

Abstract

How can students learn problem-solving in online courses? Learning to problem-solve is critical to undergraduate college students' mastery of mathematics. In traditional face-to-face courses, the instructor can model problem-solving by working through problems on the chalk-board. However the dynamism, feedback and sequence of working problems is largely lost in most asynchronous Web-based documents. How can online instructors model the problem-solving process for students in their online classes? This study conducted a series of telephone and email interviews with instructors of web-based distance college-level mathematics courses. Instructors agreed on the value of students learning problem-solving and that such learning was more difficult in asynchronous e-learning. However suggested solutions for teaching problem-solving online were extremely varied.