Activities to Promote Problem Solving

Activities-

  1. Examine a BSSS course and identify Unit Specific Goals, Content Descriptions and Achievement Standards which highlight problem solving.

  2. Discuss your selection of the following activities and evaluate their potential for developing problem solving skills.

Problem Solving Activities for H.A.S.S.

  1. Hold a mock peace conference for a major conflict in History

  2. Hold a class debate over periodisation in History

  3. Propose, design and record the voice over for a walking tour for a given location

  4. Deliver a policy pitch for solutions to ecological problems

  5. Hold a community roundtable debate on a development application

  6. Propose and debate solutions to a moral dilemma

Problem Solving Activites for English/Literature/Language

  1. Complete a critical textual analysis on an unseen text

  2. Apply a critical reading to a text of their own choice untaught in class

  3. Transform the same phrase/sentence into three different tones

  4. Rework a classic poem using modern references and to critique a modern problem while maintaining scansion and rhyme scheme

  5. Research and find language to communicate in a dialect

Problem Solving in Maths

  1. Orienteering

  2. Budgeting for a major purchase

  3. Transferring skills built by exercises to novel situations

  4. Crunching stats for a given purpose

  5. Successfully work as a group to find solutions to a problem collaboratively

Problem Solving in the ARTS

  1. Arrange a piece of music for a different instrument or genre

  2. Design a performance staging within given cost, cast, setting and audience parameters

  3. Produce a work for a competition within its set parameters

  4. Experiment with the technical skills and produce a work in a new media

  5. Collaborate with others to perform as an ensemble

problem Solving In H.O.P.E.

  1. Create drills to build skills for a new sport

  2. Construct a training and nutrition regimen for a given person

  3. Create fitness activities for a given group setting

  4. Develop an alternative route for a hike after an unforeseen change or challenge

  5. Adapt a planned activity to provide access for a person with special needs

Jigsaw

"A Jigsaw is a cooperative active learning exercise where students are grouped into teams to solve a problem or analyze a reading. These can be done in one of two ways – either each team works on completing a different portion of the assignment and then contributes their knowledge to the class as a whole, or within each group, one student is assigned to a portion of the assignment (the jigsaw comes from the bringing together the various ideas at the end of the activity to produce a solution to the problem). In a jigsaw the activity must be divided into several equal parts, each of which is necessary to solving a problem, or answering a question. Example activities include implementing experiments, small research projects, analyzing and comparing datasets, and working with professional literature. The advantages of the jigsaw include the ability to explore substantive problems or readings, the engagement of all students with the material and in the process of working together, learning from each other, and sharing and critical analyzing a diversity of ideas." (Sheridan Centre for Teaching and Learning, Brown University, Interactive Classroom Activities | Sheridan Center | Brown University )