The heuristic method is the practical part of the concept of heuristics, which is any approach to problem solving, learning or discovery that employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect, but sufficient for immediate objectives.
That is, in a colloquial way, it is a set of methods and different techniques that allow us to find and solve a problem. Where finding an optimal solution is impossible or impractical, heuristics can be used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution.
Heuristics could also be defined as a kind of mental shortcut that relieves the cognitive load of making a decision. As a scientific discipline, it can be applied to any science in order to conclude an efficient result to the problem posed.
The heuristic method
The heuristic method is built on the use of various empirical processes, that is, strategies based on experience, practice and observation of the facts, in order to arrive at the effective solution of a specific problem.
It was the Hungarian mathematician George Pólya (1887-1985) who popularized the term with the publication of one of his books called How to solve it (How to solve it).
During his youth, by studying and understanding different mathematical tests, he began to consider how he had come to solve those tests.
This concern led him to the argumentation of the same through different heuristic procedures that he later taught his students. Their strategies were:
- Draw an outline of the problem
- Reasoning in reverse of the problem to find its solution, devising a plan.
- In case of being an abstract problem, try to study a concrete example carrying out the plan. In principle, address the problem in general terms
- Check
On the first point, Pólya argues that this seems so obvious that it is often not even mentioned, yet students are sometimes hampered in their problem-solving efforts simply because they do not fully or even partially understand it.
Later, when referring to devising a plan in her second section, Pólya mentions that there are many reasonable ways to solve problems.
The ability to choose an appropriate strategy is best learned by solving many problems. In this way, choosing a strategy will become easier and easier.
The third step is generally easier than designing the plan. In general, all that is needed is care and patience, since you already have the necessary skills. Stick with the plan you have chosen. If it doesn't work, discard it and choose another.
On the fourth step, Pólya mentions that there is a lot to be gained by taking the time to reflect and look at what has been done, what has worked, and what has not. Doing this will allow you to predict which strategy to use to solve future problems.
The heuristic method in teaching
The heuristic method is a discovery method for understanding science independently of the teacher. The writings and teaching of HE. Armstrong, professor of chemistry at the City and Guilds Institute (London), have been very influential in promoting science teaching in schools.
He was a strong advocate for a special type of laboratory training (heuristic training). Here the student proceeds to discovery independently, therefore the teacher does not provide help or guidance in this method.
The teacher poses a problem for the students and then stands aside while they figure out the answer.
The method requires students to solve a series of experimental problems. Each student has to discover everything for himself and is told nothing. Students are led to discover facts with the help of experiments, gadgets, and books. In this method, children behave like an investigator.
In the stepwise managed heuristic method, a problem sheet with minimal instruction is given to the student and required to perform experiments related to the problem in question.
You must follow the instructions and enter in your notebook an account of what you have done and the results achieved. He must also put down his conclusion. In this way, it is led to research from observation.
This method of teaching science has the following merits:
- Develops the habit of posing and research among students.
- Develop the habit of self-learning and self-direction.
- It develops scientific attitudes among students, making them truthful and honest so that they learn how to arrive at decisions through real experimentation.
- It is a psychologically sound system of learning, as it is based on the maxim "learning by doing."
- Develop in students a habit of diligence.
- In this method most of the work is done at school and so the teacher does not have to worry about assigning homework.
- It provides the possibility of individual attention from the teacher and closer contacts.
- These contacts help to establish cordial relations between the teacher and the student.
As a disadvantage of the application of the heuristic method in the teaching of a certain science, we can highlight:
- The method expects from the teacher great efficiency and hard work, experience and training.
- There is a tendency on the part of the teacher to emphasize those branches and parts of the subject that lend themselves to heuristic treatment, ignoring important branches of the subject that do not imply measurement and quantitative work and therefore are not so adequate.
- It is not suitable for beginners. In the early stages, students need enough guidance that if it is not given, it can develop a dislike for the students.
- In this method too much emphasis is placed on practical work that may lead a student to form a wrong idea of the nature of science as a whole. They grow up believing that science is something that must be done in the laboratory.
References
- G Pólya: (1945) "How to solve it", translated into Spanish How to solve it (1965).
- Moustakas, Clark (1990). Heuristic Research: Design, Methodology and Applications.
- Heuristic method of teaching. studylecturenotes.com.
- "Heuristic Decision Making". Annual Review of Psychology. (2011).
- "Heuristics and Biases" - The Psychology of Intuitive Judgment Edited by Thomas Gilovich.
- Polya's Four-Step Problem-Solving Process. study.com.