Heuristic beliefs about problem solving in technology courses and their impact on success on problem solving exams

In this paper, we describe a study of the students´ heuristic beliefs about problem solving and learning and their related habits of learning in an engineering technology environment. For this study, a survey instrument was developed by the authors to assess student beliefs about learning and their habits of learning in a problem solving environment. We compare and contrast their responses with the best practice recommendations of the instructors of the two courses in which the surveys were administered. Implications for teaching and coaching are also discussed. This study also investigates the relationship between a student´s responses and his/her performance on problem solving exams.