When looking at the various ID models out there I came across the Algo-Heuristic Theory by Lev Landa.  The title stuck out to me because a few years back I had a mini pedagogical crisis when asked by a student when they were ever going to use this again and the answer was probably never.  Why was I spending so much time and effort in teaching if a lot of them were never going to use it again.  I gave the pat answer I am teaching you the skills necessary to solve any problem out there, but was I really?  This led to the inception of 20Time in the classroom, which has since become it’s own standalone course, when I first read about how our educational system is algorithmic and we do not allow for heuristic learning (Bookhauser, 2015).  I thought, well maybe the Algo-Heuristic Theory falls along this same concept and decided I would explore it deeper, it has nothing to do with this, but it was interesting non  the less.

The Algo-Heuristic theory developed by Lev Landa in the 70’s, known today as Landamatics, basically states we are all doing it wrong.  “Everyone maintains that school should not only impart knowledge to students but teach them how to think, how to solve problems….Why are schools unable to teach thinking?” (Landamatics Ten Years Later: An Interview with Lev N. Landa, 1993).  To answer the question Landa states that “Thinking is not knowledge. Thinking is what one does with—and on – knowledge in his or her mind, how one transforms it and operates with it.” (Landamatics Ten Years Later: An Interview with Lev N. Landa, 1993).  Landa proposes that as educators we need to teach students not only knowledge but a method (algorithm) by which to apply the knowledge to solve problems, any problem. The heuristics come in because even creative processes are solved using systematic methods, what is heuristic for one may be algorithmic for another and it all depends on the approach one takes.

Landamatics is quite simple allowing students to take what knowledge they have and apply a method to use this knowledge in solving problems.  Methods are broken into two types M_a, system of actions, and M_p, system of instructions or a prescription (Landa, 1998).  By combining the two methods it is possible to come up with a systematic approach to problem solving that can be used at various levels and across a wide range of problems.  Landa has developed various approaches depending on whether the problem is conjunctive, disjunctive, or logical.  Outlining the whole process is outside the scope of this blog but the premise is quite basic, provide students with a system of steps to problem solving instead of providing guided examples to problem solving.  We have all encountered students who can solve problems if they follow the same process of the examples but if the problems deviate slightly from the example they do not know where to begin.  The most basic method of Landamatics is laid out in general method 2 (Landa, 1998).  By following this process students can apply knowledge to a wide range of problems and begin formulating answers on their own without teacher intervention.

Most ID models I am familiar with teach how to design a course, this however goes beyond that but is providing a method to teach thinking not just laying the structural foundation.  It closely follows the constructivist framework because it requires students to take what they know and apply it, but it requires the development and application of an algorithm/method to develop a solution.  Students are required to apply pervious and new knowledge to problem solving while developing thinking skills.  The instructor moves away from the role of teacher and into the role of facilitator as students develop models of problem solving.  Like any new theory/model/method there must be buy in from all stakeholders.  The instructor must be willing to move from role of teacher to facilitator, but this is not dramatically different from many models today.  Like any new model, everyone must be willing to take risks and be ready for any bumps along the way.

References

Bookhauser, K. (2015). The 20Time Project: How educators can launch Google’s formula for future-ready innovation. CreateSpace.

Landa, L. N. (1998). Landamatics Instructional Design Theory and Methodology for Teaching General Methods of Thinking. Landamatics International.

Landamatics Ten Years Later: An Interview with Lev N. Landa. (1993, June). Educational Technology, pp. 7-18.