The Construction of a Pedagogy to Promote Meaningful Learning of Strategies and Tactics for Solving Problems of Elementary Combinatorics.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to construct a new methodology for teaching combinatorics based on Doctor Ausubel's theory about meaningful learning. The key idea Ausubel's theory is that if learning has to be meaningful, then the learner has to have subsuming or anchoring concepts in his cognitive structure. Combinatorics has typically been one of those subjects the students have more difficulty in understanding. This phenomenon happens because previous presentations of combinatorics leave a great deal to be desired pedagogically, and do not place enough emphasis on visualization. As a result, students use to learn course materials in a rote manner, and find little motivation for such learning activities. A prescription has been found to remedy such pathology. A conceptual map, rather than typically organized hierarchy of concepts, has been developed. The conceptual map interrelates the main and subordinate concepts in a cyclical manner, in a repetitive way, in a gradual and smooth progress, to enable the reader to assimilate ideas meaningfully.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA187928
Entities
People
- Pedro Rodriguez-pascual
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology