Instructor: Dr. Herman Gordon
Course Description: This is a lab and discussion course whose purpose is to develop your skills in solving problems encountered in scientific research. You will be challenged with difficult puzzles that each teach principles in scientific problem solving. You will also study by example from the history of scientific discoveries. Topics include observation and discovery from patterns, organizational problems, overcoming challenges, generalization, synthesis, slippery logic, and heuristic reasoning.
Homework assignments will use a web app to record and share thinking during problem solving. You will learn a widely useful structured approach to problem solving, and reflective activities will encourage metacognitive development.
More information about the course is available at ScientificProblemSolving.com.
Class meetings: 2-3:15pm Tuesdays & Thursdays during the Fall semester in Life Sciences NORTH 452.
Credit hours: 3
Semester Offered: Fall
Note: this course is also cross-listed under ECOL and MCB 479/579.