Document Type: Conference Papers
Pages: 14-20
Year published: 1998
City published: Hong Kong
Publisher: Hong Kong Institute of Education
Conference: Science & Technology Education Conference (1998: Hong Kong)
Relay Thinking (RT) is a thinking process borrows the concepts found in running a relay race. These concepts are then modify so that the co-operative advantages found in a "relay" are put in group thinking projects. In 1997, eight secondary Design and Technology (D&T) students used RT to generate ideas in order to solve a pre-set problem. The objective of this study was to see the possibilities and limitations of using the process in D&T problem solving activities. The performance of the students were noted during the thinking activities and interviews were conducted after the activities. The interviews did not aim at investigating the students' solutions to the problem, but rather their experience in using RT.
In this paper the concept of RT will first be described. The results of the study of the secondary students using the process will then be presented. From the results of the study, RT provides an alternative to individual and group thinking experiences, although some modifications on the thinking activities are necessary. The results also indicate that secondary students should be provided with more opportunities to have group co-operation in problem solving activities.
