The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for teaching problem solving skills. It was conducted in three phases. During the first phase, two pieces of problem solving software, "The King's Rule" and "Safari Search," were identified and analyzed. During the second phase, two groups of six fourth-grade students were each observed using one piece of software for seven 30-minute sessions. Think-aloud protocols were collected at the beginning and end of the observational period. Posttests were administered to assess problem solving ability and transfer. In the third phase, these data were first analyzed separately by software, then the results were compared. While the students used limited versions of the strategies the software claimed to teach, students were also found to have developed several strategies that allowed them to succeed in the program without using the desired strategies. No transfer of the problem solving strategies was observed. This type of research will provide valuable clues for the design of effective problem solving software. (21 references) (Author)