Introduction
Going beyond memory, how do we think? How do we solve problems? How do we create ideas?
If storage and retrieval were the only processes we used to handle information, human beings would be little more than glorified cameras and VCRs. Yet we are capable of doing things with information that make the most complex computers seem simple by comparison. These processes-thinking and problem solving- are most impressive when they show originality or creativity. The same could also be said of language.
Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Describe how organisms think and solve problems, including processes involved in accurate thinking
- Identify the role of mental images and verbal symbols in the thought process
- Explain how concepts are formed
- Differentiate between algorithms and heuristics
- Analyze different types of heuristics to determine effects on problem solving.
The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Psychology: Objective: 9.
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