How do we chemist-types help students when we simply provide the answers and not the thinking behind them?

Question

It seems that a lot of the Yahoo Chemistry Section questions deal with balancing equations, looking up data and other things one must be able to do to become proficient at chemisty. Too often, in my opinion, we with knowledge simply provide answers rather that take the opportunity to teach the asker how to do something. Learning chemisty is a matter of learning the principles and how to apply them. Balancing equations is a good place to start.

In my perfect world no one here would ever balance another equation for an asker but would offer hints about doing it and let the asker struggle until he gets it. This is how learning happens. Why are we helping to undercut this process? Your thoughts????

Answer 1

I would not agree that we are helping to undercut the process with all students. Some kids do take the easy way out and post problems without having attempted them, however many do evidence the frustration that comes from struggling and failing to understand.

The reason I usually write a full solution plus answer has to do with what is happening in the kid's head. A novice problem solver DOES NOT solve problems the way an expert does and, quite frankly, hints often only serve to confuse the kid more.

What the kid needs is a mental model of how the steps in a given problem flow and the only real pathway to that is to see a full sequence of steps. That is because the novice literally does not know what the next step is, they must be told.

A full solution (or sufficient explanation of the steps) should suffice for those who are serious. The others, who only look for someone else to solve their problems, will always be with us. I will not allow their presence to stop me from helping those who are serious in their study.

I'll shut up now!!! Thanks for letting me bloviate.

Answer 2

I agree. The joy of chemistry is partly achieved by learning the process of problem solving. Whatever the problem may be.

We can provide the answer or we can teach how to obtain the answer.

Most of the time, people who ask for the answer may be taking the easy way out.

Perhaps tutoring or only offering a way to think is the solution. But don't count on it making the difference for the person that doesn't want to learn.

People who want to learn will find a way to accomplish that goal. I wouldn't want to under cut the process.

Answer 3

That's true that it is not Yahoo Learning. I agree with your philosophy though because you want to help the askers to understand the problem and solve it accordingly. The questions are obviously homework or textbook questions, but I try to answer the ones that have a so-called "opportunity for learning", not the fill-in-the-blank or "circle the right answer" kinds of questions.

Answer 4

Ya i think so too. I myself enjoy chemistry a lot. But only then when i understand each step and process clearly. I think hinting must be encouraged because it helps understand the theory. what you think u never forget. u always remember it. chemistry is not just learning some theory and applying it somewhere. In chemistry a theory can work somewhere but in another same situation it may not. there are a wide range of possibilities. its all about understanding not mugging up or knowing the answer.

Answer 5

I agree with you and I'm all for leraning, but sometimes you just need an answer. I know I've been there in chemistry, math, etc. where it would have been great to figure out the given problem, but I just really needed an answer. Most times, though, I would actually go back and try and figure it out when I had more time.

Answer 6

I don't know the answer - although I agree with your philosophy.

But, this is call Yahoo Answers - not Yahoo Learning I guess that's why I do it. Unless someone specifically asks in the question to help explain how to solve it without actually solving it - then I will do that.

Answer 7

You're probably hurting them more than helping. When I see questions like that, I usually answer with a hint or the statement that I'm not doing their homework. Inadvertently, someone usually supplies the answer. It may be an ego thing with them or something.