Mechanics of the Self: The Use of Problem Solving Simulations to Short-Circuit Stereotype Threat

Professor Minjuan Wang
co-author: Professor Daniel Novak
Shanghai International Studies University
San Diego State University
E-mail: mwang@mail.sdsu.edu
 

Abstract: At present, policy makers, business leaders, and educators are engaged in the important work of reorienting American educational system towards science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. Touted as �jobs of the future," a degree of inequity has emerged in STEM-related workforce, as a homogenous group of students advances into these fields, while some minorities and female students do not. It is possible that this achievement discrepancy could be partially attributed to students' self-perceptions and their math anxiety.
One possible strategy for helping to abridge the effects of stereotype threat and math anxiety for young female learners involves the use of simulation systems that encourage the growth of confidence in problem-solving skills in a low-risk environment for situated problem solving. These types of solutions may include the use of games for focused, directed skill acquisition. Games such as Go (Chinese: Weixi) may also provide substantial opportunities for young math learners of both genders to develop balanced affective and adaptive problem-solving skills, by setting up conditions for �positive psychological' learning states such as Flow.
In this presentation, we will focus on the �Mechanics of the Self" by exploring the possibility of synthesizing game play mechanics with problem solving, so as to improve self-regulation and self-efficacy. We will also introduce the �Flow" Framework and discuss how to use it to design problem-solving simulations, which represent a new opportunity for dispelling stereotype threat and math anxiety.

Short biography: Dr. Minjuan Wang (Professor of San Diego State University; Distinguished Research Professor of Shanghai International Studies University)
Homepage: http://tinyurl.com/eminjuan
Minjuan is Professor of Learning Design and Technology at San Diego State University (California, USA), program manager at the Chancellor�s Office of California State University, and distinguished professor of Shanghai International Studies University (Shanghai, China).
Minjuan�s work has been highly interdisciplinary, covering the field of education, technology, computer science, geography, and communication. In her 15 years at SDSU, she teaches Designing and Developing Learning for the Global Audience, Mobile Learning Development, Technologies for Course Delivery, and Methods of Inquiry. Her research specialties focus on Smart Education, mobile cloud learning, and intelligent learning, and the development of Interactive Open Educational Resources (iOERS). Minjuan is the Editor-in-Chief of a newly established journal-- EAI Transactions on Future Intelligent Educational Environments. She also serves on the editorial boards for four indexed journals: Open Education Research, International Journal on E-Learning (IJEL), the Open Education Journal, and Journal of Information Technology Application in Education.
As a winner of several research awards and large grants, Minjuan is recognized as one of the high impact authors in blended and mobile learning. She has numerous peer-reviewed articles published in indexed journals, such as Educational Technology Research and Development, IEEE Transactions on Education, British Journal of Educational Technology, and Educational Technology and Society. She was a keynote and invited speaker to 12 international conferences. In addition, she is also an accomplished creative writer and an amateur flamenco dancer. Her recent book--Walking in this Beautiful World�has inspired many young people around the world.