Advancing young adolescents' hypothesis-development performance in a computer-supported and problem-based learning environment Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Hypothesis development is a complex cognitive activity, but one that is critical as a means of reducing uncertainty during ill-structured problem solving. In this study, we examined the effect of metacognitive scaffolds in strengthening hypothesis development. We also examined the influence of hypothesis development on young adolescents' problem-solving performance. Data was collected from sixth-grade students (N = 172) using a computer-supported problem-based learning environment, Animal Investigator. The findings of the study indicated that participants using metacognitive scaffolds developed significantly better hypotheses and that hypothesis-development performance was predictive of solution-development performance. This article discusses further educational implications of the findings and future research. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • COMPUTERS & EDUCATION

author list (cited authors)

  • Kim, H. J., & Pedersen, S.

citation count

  • 38

complete list of authors

  • Kim, Hye Jeong||Pedersen, Susan

publication date

  • January 2011