Activity 6.1

Why is problem solving analogous to learning?

Once a person has determined the solution to a problem in the future that person is able to apply that solution to a similar problem. When an individual has learned the process of problem solving that individual is more able to problem solve in the future.

Is all learning problem solving or do we learn without solving problems?

Because a problem can be almost anything from having to use the bathroom to passing an exam almost all learning can be framed within a problem solving context.

An Important Problem

A problem I recently encountered is one dealing with my health. I’ve been lucky enough to not really be allergic to anything. However, I do have one pretty serious Achilles’ heel: poison ivy. This past week I’ve been camping in Wisconsin. As with anyone who has an allergy, I have quite a bit of knowledge about my allergen. I know what poison ivy looks like and I know what my symptoms look like. That being said, sometimes it is impossible to avoid. This Saturday, I was swimming at my family lake with my family. I rowed the boat out to our dock and began swimming. I began to notice my right hand was turning red- I also noticed the tell-tale bumpy rash. I gave attention to cues in the environment, what I had been touching and the reaction occurring on my hands. As Pretz et al. (2003) indicated, when “we approach a new situation, our knowledge based on prior experiences will influence our ability to define and represent a problem correctly” (p. 26). I have had poison ivy many times in the past and know the signs and symptoms- but did I ever really stop and think what else the rash could have arisen from. Despite this, I immediately washed my hands with camp soap and then washed the rest of my body. When we got back to our cabin I took a Zyrtec and applied hydrocortisone to the offending areas. Before bed I took a Bendaryl. I performed these behaviors because of my knowledge of past analogous problems, i.e. when I’ve experienced rashes in the past. When I woke up the next morning my hands had erupted in a rash covering almost every part of my fingers. I also noticed a suspicious red spot growing near my eyes and behind my leg. Typically, I am able to fight off an allergic reaction with antihistamines and hydrocortisone. However, I knew my goal was to travel back to Kentucky on Monday and it would be more of a constraint to find a doctor under my parent’s insurance there. In the end, I solved my problem by seeking expert help at an Urgent care center near my parent’s hometown. I am now prescribed a steroid and hope to see my rash diminish in severity. As Pretz et al. (2003) point out the earliest stages of problem solving process involve “Recognizing that a problem exists, defining the scope and goals of the problem, and representing information about that problem in a way that helps establish a viable path to solution” (p. 25-26). And importantly, Pretz et al. (2003) also discusses how when one problem is solved often another new problem will erupt, in my case the possibility of my rash reoccurring with a vengeance and not being able to find a doctor to prescribe new medication. 

The horror!!