Embedded Files
Poppy's message to you This week
Poppy's message to you This week
Research Material
Research Material
QUESTIONS To KEEP IN MIND:
QUESTIONS To KEEP IN MIND:
- What is the difference between a routine problem and a non-routine problem?
- What is the difference between well-defined and poorly defined problems?
- What are some strategies that can help people to solve problems?
- What is creative thinking?
- What is the Engineering Design Process?
“If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.”
“If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.”
- Albert Einstein -
- Albert Einstein -
Different types of problems
Different types of problems
Routine or non-routine?
Routine or non-routine?
Routine problems have fairly obvious solutions which usually draw on facts and skills you have memorised.
Routine problems have fairly obvious solutions which usually draw on facts and skills you have memorised.
For example: "what is 2 + 2", or "how do you make a cup of tea"?
For example: "what is 2 + 2", or "how do you make a cup of tea"?
Non-routine problems are more abstract and less straight forward.They require you to draw on abstract thinking, strategic thinking and/or creative thinking.
Non-routine problems are more abstract and less straight forward.They require you to draw on abstract thinking, strategic thinking and/or creative thinking.
For example: How can you weigh 8 grams using just a ruler, a pencil and two bottle tops?
For example: How can you weigh 8 grams using just a ruler, a pencil and two bottle tops?
Well-Defined or Poorly Defined?
Well-Defined or Poorly Defined?
Well-defined problems are clearly articulated, and the path to solving them is usually indicated in some way.
Well-defined problems are clearly articulated, and the path to solving them is usually indicated in some way.
For example: "what is the best way to measure the total area of all rooms in your house"?
For example: "what is the best way to measure the total area of all rooms in your house"?
Poorly-defined problems are vague, incomplete, or not clearly defined. There could be many paths to solving the problem, and many possible correct answers, which makes it difficult to evaluate which solution is best.
Poorly-defined problems are vague, incomplete, or not clearly defined. There could be many paths to solving the problem, and many possible correct answers, which makes it difficult to evaluate which solution is best.
For example: "How can we feed the poor people in our world"?
For example: "How can we feed the poor people in our world"?
Strategies for problem solving
Strategies for problem solving
- Asking questions
- Researching and inquiring
- Looking at other similar problems, and seeing how they were solved
- Taking different points of view
- Creative thinking
- Critical thinking
- Graphic representations (including mind-mapping)
- Brainstorming
- Algorithms
- Heuristics
The Engineering Design Process
The Engineering Design Process
In STEAM, we have been using the Engineering Design Process to solve problems and design solutions.
In STEAM, we have been using the Engineering Design Process to solve problems and design solutions.
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