How We Think: A Theory of Goal-Oriented Decision Making and its Educational Applications

How We Think presents a framework for understanding human decision-making, particularly in mathematics education and problem-solving contexts. Schoenfeld draws from decades of research observing teachers and students to develop a model that explains why people make the choices they do. The book establishes key components that shape decision-making: knowledge, goals, beliefs, and orientations. Through detailed analyses of classroom episodes and problem-solving sessions, Schoenfeld demonstrates how these elements interact to determine a person's moment-by-moment choices during complex activities. The work includes practical applications for improving teaching and learning through better understanding of decision processes. Schoenfeld provides tools for analyzing classroom interactions and designing more effective educational experiences. This text bridges cognitive science and education, offering insights into human behavior that extend beyond academic settings. The theories presented have implications for understanding decision-making across various professional and personal contexts.

According to reader reviews, this book provides detailed analysis of real classroom mathematics lessons to demonstrate how teachers make decisions. Several reviewers note the book helps explain both human problem-solving behavior and instructional practices. Readers appreciated: - Clear examples from actual teaching scenarios - Research-based framework for understanding decision-making - Mathematics education focus while remaining applicable to other domains - Visual diagrams and models to illustrate concepts Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style that can be challenging to follow - Some sections repeat information excessively - Limited practical applications for non-academic readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.75/5 (8 ratings) No Amazon reviews available One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Important theoretical contribution but requires patience to extract key insights." Another noted: "The classroom examples bring the concepts to life, though getting through the theoretical sections requires work." Based on available reviews, readers find more value in the applied examples than the theoretical foundations.

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🎓 Alan Schoenfeld spent over 40 years studying how people solve mathematical problems, making him one of the leading researchers in mathematical problem-solving and metacognition. 🧩 The book presents detailed analyses of teachers' decision-making processes, including a groundbreaking 26-minute case study of a teacher's entire lesson. 🔍 Schoenfeld's research revealed that expert problem solvers spend significantly more time planning and monitoring their progress compared to novices, who often dive straight into calculations. 📚 The theoretical framework presented in the book has been applied beyond mathematics to fields like engineering, medical diagnosis, and military decision-making. 🎯 The book introduces the concept of "goal-oriented decision making" (GODM), which explains how people's beliefs, goals, and available resources interact to shape their decisions in real-time situations.