Fostering Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) in Problem-Solving and Troubleshooting Processes among Engineering Experts in Industry

 The present research addressed two unique aspects of fostering problem solving and inventive thinking among engineering experts: first, teaching the Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) method for problem solving and new product development; second, fostering Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) comprised of cognition, meta-cognition and self-efficacy beliefs among engineering experts. The pilot study involved observations at industry sites to learn about experts' thinking while solving problems. In the main study, we developed a 30-hour workshop on teaching SIT and SRL that was delivered to five groups of 20-25 engineering experts each (total n=110) at the workplace. The workshop included lectures, discussions, games and solving authentic engineering problems. Data was collected by means of questionnaires, interviews, problem-solving tests, observations and documenting class activities. The findings indicated that the participants significantly improved their competencies related to identifying problems in a given system, and suggesting more innovative solutions and less irrelevant solutions to these problems.