J. Michael Spector - Learning, Problem Solving, and Mindtools: Essays in Honor of David H. Jonassen

Learning, Problem Solving, and Mindtools is inspired by the substantial body of learning research by David H. Jonassen in the areas of mindtools and problem solving. The focus of the volume is on educational technology, especially with regard to how new technologies have facilitated and supported problem solving and critical thinking. Each chapter focuses on a particular aspect of learning with technology and elaborates the implications for the design and implementation of learning environments and activities aimed at improving the conceptualization of problems, reasoning and higher-order thinking, and solving challenging problems.

This collection of scholarly essays provides a highly engaging treatment of using tools and technologies to improve problem solving; multiple perspectives on integrating educational technology to support learning in complex and challenging problem-solving domains; guidance for the design of instruction to support problem solving; a systemic account of the relationships between mental models, instructional models, and assessment models; and a look into the future of educational technology research and practice.

J. Michael Spector is Professor and Chair of the Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas, USA.

Barbara B. Lockee is Professor of Education and Associate Director of the School of Education at Virginia Polytechnic and State University, USA.

Sharon E. Smaldino is the L.D. and Ruth Morgridge Endowed Chair for Teacher Education at Northern Illinois University, USA.

Mary C. Herring is the Associate Dean of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa, USA.

All four co-editors of this volume are Past Presidents of the Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT; see http://www.aect.org.), which has supported and facilitated this effort.

First published 2013

by Routledge

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Simultaneously published in the UK

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Learning, problem solving, and mindtools: essays in honor of David H. Jonassen / edited by J. Michael Spector, Barbara B. Lockee, Sharon E. Smaldino, and Mary C. Herring.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Problem solvingStudy and teaching. I. Jonassen, David H., 1947- II. Spector, J. Michael, editor of compilation. III. Lockee, Barbara B., editor of compilation. IV. Smaldino, Sharon E., editor of compilation. V. Herring, Mary C., editor of compilation. VI. Spector, J. Michael. Introducing mindtools and problem solving.

LB1590.3.L44 2013

370.1524dc23 2012034711

ISBN: 978-0-415-52435-3 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-0-203-11106-2 (ebk)

Typeset in Sabon

by Cenveo Publisher Services

This volume is inspired by the works of David H. Jonassen. As a consequence, we dedicate this volume to those whom have been directly infl uenced by David namely, his students and colleagues, several of whom have contributed chapters.

J. Michael Spector, Barbara B. Lockee, Sharon E. Smaldino, and Mary C. Herring

Summer 2012

In Memoriam

David H. Jonassen passed away December 2nd 2012 prior to the publication of this book. During the last two years of his life, while struggling with cancer, Dave not only contributed to this volume by recommending authors and writing the fi nal chapter, but he was also named a Fellow to the American Educational Research Association based on a lifetime of substantial contributions, and he earned the 2012 Outstanding Reviewer Award for the Development Section of Educational Technology Review & Development based on both quality and quantity of reviews while serving on the ETR&D Research Sections Editorial Board. The Monday before he passed away, he participated in a dissertation defense. For these and so many other remarkable achievements, Dave was named the fi rst recipient of the David H. Jonassen AECT Excellence in Research Award. His family, friends, and colleagues will remember his many contributions over the years as well as the superb quality of his intellect and character.

J. M. SPECTOR, B. B. LOCKEE, S. E. SMALDINO, AND M. C. HERRING

N. M. SEEL, D. IFENTHALER, AND P. PIRNAY-DUMMER

B. G. WILSON

T. C. REEVES, P. M. REEVES, AND S. E. McKENNEY

S. J. WARREN AND J. S. WAKEFIELD

P. A. KIRSCHNER AND I. G. J. H. WOPEREIS

J. M. LAFFEY, M. SCHMIDT, AND K. GALYEN

K. WIJEKUMAR AND B. J. F. MEYER

S-C. TAN

M. J. HANNAFIN

W. HUNG

C. B. LEE AND K. MURCIA

S. M. LAND, B. K. SMITH, AND H. T. ZIMMERMAN

B. R. BELLAND

A. TRISTAN

R. MARRA

D. H. JONASSEN

We wish to thank the authors and reviewers who have made this book possible. While the idea for the volume arose about six years ago, we only began in earnest to develop this volume in the summer of 2011. We had the support of Lane Akers, senior editor at Routledge, and the ongoing support and encouragement from the Routledge editor for this volume, Alex Masulis. We talked with many persons while formulating the volume and asked for advice on particular aspects of the contents, and we are most grateful for the great counsel provided by so many interested persons.

J. Michael Spector, Barbara B. Lockee,
Sharon E. Smaldino, and Mary C. Herring
Summer 2012

This collection of scholarly essays is inspired by the substantial body of learning research by David H. Jonassen in the areas of mindtools and problem solving; see, for example, Jonassens Modeling with technology: Mindtools for conceptual change (2006) and Learning to solve problems: A handbook for designing problem-solving learning environments (2011). Jonassens work has inspired educational development, instructional design, and learning research in many areas and in many different contexts. Educational research and development in the following areas, among others, have been significantly influenced by Jonassens research: case-based learning, constructivist designs and paradigms, hypermedia, individual differences, problem solving, simulation-based learning, task analysis, virtual reality and so much more.

The co-editors contributed equally to this effort and are all past presidents of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) in which Jonassen has been active for many years. We initiate the volume with a unifying rationale and description of the contents. This is followed by contributions from some 20 researchers who write about an aspect of Jonassens published work and elaborate the subsequent educational research and development that has evolved. The volume concludes with a forward-looking reflective piece by Jonassen entitled First Principles of Learning that considers where educational technology should be headed.