Activities to Promote Problem Solving
Activities-
Examine a BSSS course and identify Unit Specific Goals, Content Descriptions and Achievement Standards which highlight problem solving.
Discuss your selection of the following activities and evaluate their potential for developing problem solving skills.
Problem Solving Activities for H.A.S.S.
Hold a mock peace conference for a major conflict in History
Hold a class debate over periodisation in History
Propose, design and record the voice over for a walking tour for a given location
Deliver a policy pitch for solutions to ecological problems
Hold a community roundtable debate on a development application
Propose and debate solutions to a moral dilemma
Problem Solving Activites for English/Literature/Language
Complete a critical textual analysis on an unseen text
Apply a critical reading to a text of their own choice untaught in class
Transform the same phrase/sentence into three different tones
Rework a classic poem using modern references and to critique a modern problem while maintaining scansion and rhyme scheme
Research and find language to communicate in a dialect
Problem Solving in Maths
Orienteering
Budgeting for a major purchase
Transferring skills built by exercises to novel situations
Crunching stats for a given purpose
Successfully work as a group to find solutions to a problem collaboratively
Problem Solving in the ARTS
Arrange a piece of music for a different instrument or genre
Design a performance staging within given cost, cast, setting and audience parameters
Produce a work for a competition within its set parameters
Experiment with the technical skills and produce a work in a new media
Collaborate with others to perform as an ensemble
problem Solving In H.O.P.E.
Create drills to build skills for a new sport
Construct a training and nutrition regimen for a given person
Create fitness activities for a given group setting
Develop an alternative route for a hike after an unforeseen change or challenge
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 )
Interesting Links
Defining Authenticity in Historical Problem Solving | Edutopia
Problem Solving in Education: A Global Imperative - Educational Leadership (ascd.org)
Teaching problem solving: Let students get ‘stuck’ and ‘unstuck’ (brookings.edu)
PROBLEM SOLVING, SCAFFOLDING AND LEARNING in PHYSICS ETD_ShihYin_1.pdf (pitt.edu)
Organising the Teaching of Problem Solving | NZ Maths