problem solving

[Guest guest]

I was organizing some papers to prepare a syllabus and I found a handout

from my last faculty meeting. the dean asked us if we were using standard

problem solving methodologies in our case study classes and clinical

internships. I was thinking about this handout when the issue came up

recently about learning to think as part of the educational process. Our

case based methodology at PCOM now centers on teaching students to think,

not just shoveling data at them. Adult learning theory suggest the

following problem solving methodology:

 

1. clarify the problem

2. clarify the goal, including criteria to know when the goal is reached

3. search for relevant prior knowledge that will aid in solution

4. Decompose problem into sub-problems

5. Prioritize sub-problems to attack

6. select solution path and apply knowledge in correct order to achieve

the solution

7. evaluate to determine if the goal is achieved

 

It strikes me that this is the same process that is used in TCM and all

forms of logical thought I am familiar with, irrespective of culture.

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

Excellent post

 

This is procedure is similar to what I am attempting to employ regarding

language requirements rather than driving the process via opinion.

 

Will

 

> 1. clarify the problem 2. clarify the goal, including criteria to know when

the goal is reached 3. search for relevant prior knowledge that will aid in

solution 4. Decompose problem into sub-problems 5. Prioritize sub-problems to

attack 6. select solution path and apply knowledge in correct order to achieve

the solution 7. evaluate to determine if the goal is

> achieved

[Guest guest]

When approaching a case:

 

1. clarify the problem - what is the conditon to be treated?

2. clarify the goal, including criteria to know when the goal is reached -

relief

of symptoms and/or remission of illness, as determined by 4 exams and lab

tests

3. search for relevant prior knowledge that will aid in solution-TCM training,

other training,classic texts, case studies (this is where one may become

limited based upon depth of training and access to sources)

4. Decompose problem into sub-problems-multiple underlying patterns

5. Prioritize sub-problems to attack-weighted simultaneously or sequentially

6. select solution path and apply knowledge in correct order to achieve the

solution-herbs, acupuncture, etc. to address patterns; it may be necessary to

peel the onion or treat mutually engendering patterns at the same time or

some combination of the two

7. evaluate to determine if the goal is achieved-using 4 exams, lab tests,

questionnaires

[Guest guest]

 

 

A few questions about this.

 

1. How do you see it fitting in with the

established patterns of thinking that

describe the approach of traditional

Chinese diagnostics?

 

2. For example of what I mean by " established

patterns of thinking, " how does what you've

proposed here as an approach to problem

solving in clinic relate to yin1 yang2

theory?

 

3. Should we be concerned with yin1 yang2

theory in terms of problem solving in

the clinic?

 

Ken

 

, " " <@i...> wrote:

> When approaching a case:

>

> 1. clarify the problem - what is the conditon to be treated?

> 2. clarify the goal, including criteria to know when the goal is

reached - relief

> of symptoms and/or remission of illness, as determined by 4 exams

and lab

> tests

> 3. search for relevant prior knowledge that will aid in solution-

TCM training,

> other training,classic texts, case studies (this is where one may

become

> limited based upon depth of training and access to sources)

> 4. Decompose problem into sub-problems-multiple underlying patterns

> 5. Prioritize sub-problems to attack-weighted simultaneously or

sequentially

> 6. select solution path and apply knowledge in correct order to

achieve the

> solution-herbs, acupuncture, etc. to address patterns; it may be

necessary to

> peel the onion or treat mutually engendering patterns at the same

time or

> some combination of the two

> 7. evaluate to determine if the goal is achieved-using 4 exams,

lab tests,

> questionnaires