Developing problem-solving skills
The ability to create a problem, analyse it, and provide the solution in a quick and efficient manner is one of the most valued skills in today's world. Problem solving skills are increasingly being sought after by employers and in higher education as vital components of success. The best professionals have the ability to think creatively about problems that arise on a day-to-day basis as well as those that are more complex.
Problem solving skills can be developed by all students through practice and training for a variety of purposes from developing new ideas for schoolwork to enhancing athletic performance or simply making better decisions at home. Problem solving is a vital component to learning, and can be used to improve competence on all levels of education.
This module aims to introduce students to the complexities of problem solving by examining the different types of problems that students might be faced with through the academic year both in school and at home. It will continue to develop problem-solving skills by looking at how these skills are applied in real life situations.
Consultation with parents would also be provided so that students can understand better the various aspects of handling problems at home and in school. Both parties would have an opportunity discuss how their child could cope better with difficult times - whether they should seek help from teachers or from friends or family members (e.g., a parent).
The module will also focus on current research in this field which has helped to make the teaching of problem solving skills more precise and effective. This will not only allow students to learn the skills, but also allow them to be able to take what they learn into their own lives and the world at large.
Assessment: Multiple choice questions/ short answer questions (15-18% each), personal portfolio (3-4%), group presentation (2%), multiple choice questions (30%).
A. "Should I Seek Help from My Teacher or My Family?" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - a relatively simple but important question to consider about how students deal with their problems at home and in school. Students would be asked to write the appropriate answer on the worksheet provided for them to complete, in order to demonstrate their understanding of the phenomenon. The assessment can also be used as an exercise for students seeking help from teachers should they require
B. "What is Problem Solving?" - a simple but important definition of the concept of problem solving. The assessment can help students to expand their thinking about what problem solving really is.
C. "The Importance of Learning Problem Solving Skills" - students may be asked to discuss with their parents and teachers how they think they could improve their problem solving skills through training, games, or with other methods. The assignment also allows teachers to demonstrate to students the importance and usefulness of knowing how to solve problems in order to make the best possible decisions in life - including school life.
D. "How to Solve a Problem" - students may be asked to complete a simplified model of how we solve problems, combining the three elements mentioned in Module-2. This would involve the combination of description + reasoning + solution. This is an important concept that students need to learn about and develop better solutions to their problems.
E. "Problem Solving - A Skill in Action" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - given as a reflection paper after students have completed their worksheet, it will allow them to analyse whether they have been able to become problem solvers by looking at alternative solutions for a similar real world problem. Students should explain why they chose a specific solution and how it solves the problem in the best possible way.
Complete answers and reasoning should be provided by the students.
F. "Creative Problem Solving" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - students may be asked to reflect upon their experience with creative problem solving and describe how they have experienced this first-hand such as situations at school, home or even in their daily life.
Complete answers and reasoning should be provided by the students.
G. "Evaluating Problem Solving Initiative" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - this assessment can be used by students to reflect on their own problem solving skills to evaluate how good or bad they are. It allows students to see whether they have improved since being trained in problem solving skills and which improvements would be most beneficial for them.
H. "Problem-Solving Skills in School" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - a simple reflection paper which allows students to reflect on how well they have been able to apply their problem solving skills in school thus far.
I. "Problem-Solving Skills in the World at Large" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - an advanced reflection paper which allows students to reflect on how well they have been able to apply their problem solving skills outside of school thus far.
J. "Problem Solving - A Skill for Life" (EXPLAIN, THINK) - a relatively simple but important question to consider about how students will carry these skills beyond their schooldays once they have become adults. Students would be asked to write the appropriate answer on the worksheet provided for them to complete, in order to demonstrate their understanding of the phenomenon. The assessment can also be used as an exercise for students seeking help from teachers should they require
K. "The Power of Multidisciplinary Approaches to Problem Solving" - this assignment is designed to show that problem solving skills, like aspects of creative thinking, are multi-disciplinary in nature and that effective approaches to problem solving will be enhanced by combining it with different skills such as marketing, sports or mathematics. Students will be asked to look at the website provided for inspiration and then write an essay (e.g., 3000 words) that presents an overview of a realistic real life situation in one class where the multidisciplinary approach was applied (or could have been applied).
Conclusion - the module ends with a summary of the key concepts and skills covered by this module.
All transnational frameworks for problem solving are aligned to the International Standard for Problem Solving, which is a process designed specifically to help problem solvers improve their performance.
This standard is specific to creative and innovative thinking - therefore the principles and practices described in this framework can also be applied elsewhere in education as curriculum content.
The International Standard for Problem Solving is commonly referred to as an "ICI Framework".
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/prosperity.pdf
http://www2.lse.ac.