1. Developing Student Problem Solving Skills in Introductory Physics:
Coaching Available 24/7 on the Internet
Qing Xu, Ken Heller, Leon Hsu, Anne Loyle-Langholz, Andrew Mason
University of Minnesota
4/30/2011 MAAPT Winona

2. When looking at your students’ solutions, what do you think they need help on ?
Picture
Diagram
Algebra
physics concepts
Don’t plug in numbers

3. Coaching
Provide feedback while student is stepping through the task (drill).
Provide feedback while student is practicing the task.
Student provides feedback to other students while practicing the task.
One of the things we can do to help students working on those things is coaching.
What we mean by coaching is: (the idea of coaching)
March people through all the steps.
Then you do them yourselves, don’t insist you do all the steps, maybe a little piece of it, maybe the whole thing, then the coaches give you feedbacks.

4. 3 types of computer coaches
1st: Computer coaches the student
computer decides, student implements, computer assesses
2nd: Student coaches the computer
Student decides, computer implements, student assesses
3rd: Student works more independently
Computer provides help as necessary

6. Thank you! Feel free to try them out !
Suggestions and feedback are welcome!
For more information, please visit our website at:

8. Cognitive apprenticeship (Collins et al. 1990)
An alternative model of instruction that is accessible within the framework of the typical classroom.
3 main elements:
Modeling (e.g. classroom lecture)
Coaching (e.g. instructor office hours)
Scaffolding (e.g. worksheets)
Fading (e.g. tests)