Other effective strategies include accepting multiple attempts of solutions for an assignment, assigning personal journals in which students describe their problem-solving strategies, and allowing students to rework homework and exams for credit. Different learning styles as well as gender-specific differences in thinking can be addressed by employing a variety of activities and approaches in teaching. The traditional instructional mode of lecturing and explaining is effective for only one learning style. To address other learning styles, you might use graphics to illustrate concepts, provide opportunities for practice in class, ask for student interpretations of data, and require students to work on problems in groups. Making students aware of their learning styles and preferences can also be helpful.
Students appreciate algorithms because they are easily applied.
Heuristic methods, general schemes used to derive solutions to problems, are more useful than algorithms. There are a variety of heuristics that can be useful to students. I dentify the problem. D efine and represent the problem. E xplore possible solution strategies.