Characteristics of Expert Problem Solvers

1. Attitude Characteristics

• Optimistic: you believe "I can do it"
• Confident: the problem really does have a reasonable, but perhaps difficult, solution
• Willing to persevere: you aim for a complete and well reasoned solution, not an immediate or superficial one
• Concern for accuracy in reading: you concentrate, re-read and paraphrase to increase understanding, and translate unfamiliar words or terms
• Concern for accuracy in thinking: you work at a moderate to slow pace initially, perform operations carefully, check answers periodically, and draw conclusions at the end not part way through.

2. Skill Characteristics

• Systematic approach: you have a plan to follow, which
  1. reduces the panic
  2. allows you to monitor your thought processes
  3. helps isolate errors in logic or computation
• Sound knowledge of basic concepts, which you mentally organize so you can recall and apply them
• Computational skill, at a good speed
• Habit of vocalizing or "thinking aloud": you talk yourself through all thoughts
  1. how to start the problem
  2. steps to break problems into parts
  3. decisions
  4. analysis
  5. conclusions
• Awareness of your own thought processes: What did I do or learn? How did I do or learn this? How effective was my process?

 

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