In contrast to problem-solving procedures that are the “bricks and mortar” of demonstrations in mathematics textbooks, heuristics, defined by Polya as “the study means methods problem solving”, those mental actions enable practitioner make progress when it is not clear how solve problems directly. Yet, essential heuristic tools are, they tend be included presentations textbooks. The overarching...

Interactive technologies provide today’s youth a low stakes sandbox to collect experiences (Gee, 2004) and try tasks and identities (Gee, 1991) that push the boundaries of “known” and open up the world of possibility. Pairing affordances of video games with the possible selves framework (Markus & Nurius, 1986), research involved using The Sims 2 life-simulation properties to encourage a friends...

Three studies tested whether self-doubt stems more from the absence of a strong desired self or the presence of a strong undesired self. Across studies, participants completed individual difference measures and then imagined a desired, neutral, or undesired possible self and completed strength measures for the imagined possible self. As predicted, compared to low selfdoubt participants, high se...