ABSTRACT
From the literature, we know that young children engage in inquiry as an organized activity aimed either at confirming or refuting the relevance of certain ideas. The current study provides a characterization of changes in inquiry using a multiple case study of four 5-year old children. Three computer-based tasks were presented to the children as multivariable problem solving situations concerning moving objects. A description of the temporal unfolding of real-time action on a short-term time scale and long-term time scale of learning and development is provided. The results indicated that the development of inquiry did not follow linear growth but included advances and relapses, exploratory states and transitions. The data were compatible with the view that the child's thinking and acting form a complex dynamic system.
ABSTRACT
Se describieron las verbalizaciones de seis estudiantes universitarios que resolvieron colaborativamente un problema poco estructurado. Partiendo de que aportaban información sobre la regulación metacognitiva y la solución de problemas, las verbalizaciones fueron categorizadas en niveles. Se utilizaron matrices espacio estado para interpretar los niveles de verbalización y los procesos de resolución de problemas poco estructurados. Se evidenció el predominio de verbalizaciones no reguladas, la ausencia de verbalizaciones relacionadas a la elaboración de justificaciones y la superficialidad del monitoreo y la evaluación. La evidencia apoya la idea de que la interacción entre pares no mejora por sí misma la solución de problemas. Los resultados invitan al diseño de situaciones de resolución de problemas que efectivamente promuevan la regulación metacognitiva entre pares.
Verbalizations of six undergraduate students that collaboratively solved an ill-structured problem were described. It was assumed that verbalizations provided information about metacognitive regulation and problem solving. The verbalizations were categorized into levels to identify verbal expressions that demonstrate both metacognitive regulation and ill-structured problem solving processes. State space grids were used to represent and interpret verbalization levels and ill-structured problem solving processes. Results showed predominance of unregulated verbalizations, absence of utterances related to justification generation and superficial monitoring and evaluation. The evidence supports the idea that peer interaction itself does not improve problem solving. The results invite to design problem solving situations that effectively promote metacognitive regulation.
