The Learning and Problem Solving Laboratory
(LAPS Lab) conducts research to address the question:

What do people learn from solving problems?

People are solving problems all the time- in classrooms (e.g., What is the inverse of the function y = 3x + sin x?) and in everyday life (e.g., How can I get dinner on the table by 6pm?). Generally speaking, when we solve problem after problem in a given area, we get better ("practice makes perfect"). But, unfortunately, this is not always the case (remember high school physics?!?). The LAPS Lab aims to study and model the internal, mental changes that occur when people solve problems, both to explain how people become proficient problem solvers and to identify common obstacles to learning. By developing a unified theory of how people learn during problem solving, we can both improve our understanding of how the mind works and aid the design of effective instruction.