Project Details

A one-year project to evaluate the impact of the regular use of puzzles, paradoxes and sophisms (PPS) as a pedagogical strategy for enhancing generic thinking skills of tertiary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students. A collaboration of Auckland University of Technology and University of Auckland.

Aims:

The aim of using PPS in teaching/learning is to:

  • engage tertiary STEM students' emotions, creativity and curiosity
  • improve general problem-solving skills of tertiary STEM students
  • enhance their critical and creative thinking skills and their lateral thinking ‘outside the box’.

Methodology:

The impact of the pedagogical strategy was evaluated qualitatively via comprehensive questionnaires, interviews and class observations involving 137 STEM students from four groups at AUT and the University of Auckland.

Team

AUT

Dr Sergiy Klymchuk

Project leader

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
the university of auckland

Honorary Professor Mike Thomas

The University of Auckland
AUT

Professor Sergei Gulyaev

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
the university of auckland

Dr Tanya Evans

The University of Auckland

Status

Completed

Funding

$36,250.00 (excl GST)

$10,000.00 Regional Hub Project Fund
$26,250.00 Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Key Findings

  • The vast majority of the participants reported that the regular use of PPS helped them to enhance their problem-solving skills (91%) and generic thinking skills (92%).
  • 82% of participants also commented that other various benefits resulted from using this pedagogical strategy.

Key Recommendations

Further research | The project recommends, after analysing the observed overwhelming positive students’ attitudes, that there is a need for further and more rigorous investigation of this suggested pedagogical strategy.

Report

Enhancing generic thinking skills of tertiary STEM students through puzzle-based learning

This report presents findings from a year-long project assessing the effectiveness of integrating puzzles, paradoxes, and sophisms (PPS) into the curriculum to improve critical thinking skills among STEM students at the tertiary level.

  • 20 November 2017
Read more

Tool

Selected puzzles, paradoxes and sophisms for Tertiary STEM students

This resource, prepared by Sergiy Klymchuk and Sergei Gulyaev, offers a curated collection of puzzles, paradoxes, and sophisms tailored to foster critical thinking among tertiary STEM students.

  • 20 November 2017
Read more