Send-a-Problem

Each group receives a problem, tries to solve it, and then passes the problem and solution to a nearby group. Without looking at the previous group’s solution, the next group works to solve the problem. After as many passes as seems useful, groups analyse, evaluate, and synthesise the responses to the problem they received in the final pass and report the best solution to the class. Send-A-Problem thus involves two activity stages: solving problems and evaluating solutions. The purpose of the first stage is to provide students with an opportunity to practice together and learn from each other the thinking skills required for effective problem solving. The purpose of the second stage is to help students learn to compare and discriminate among multiple solutions.

1. Form groups of two to four students, and take time to describe the activity, give instructions, and answer questions.
2. Distribute a different problem to each group, asking each group to discuss the problem, generate possible solutions, choose the best solution, and record and place their response to the folder or envelope.
3. Call time, and instruct teams to pass to the next group; each group receives a new folder or envelope.
4. Upon receiving new problems, students again brainstorm responses and record results until time is called and they again pass the problem to a new group.
5. Repeat the process for as many times as seems useful and appropriate for the problem.
6. Students in the final group review the responses to the problem, analyse, evaluate, and synthesise the information, adding any additional information they wish.
7. The activity concludes as teams report on the responses contained in the folder they evaluated. As groups report out, add any points that groups missed and reinforce correct processes and solutions.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdocvladFw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ4hly5ALHk
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdocvladFw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I36zOkYbqlA

• http://www.lessonpaths.com/learn/i/cooperative-learning/teaching-tip-send-aproblem
• http://www.bemidjistate.edu/faculty_staff/professional_development/Send%20a%20problem%20(active%20learning%20strategy).pdf
• https://www.google.com.sg/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCgQFjAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fteaching-what-works.wikispaces.com%2Ffile%2Fview%2FSend%2Ba%2Bproblem.doc&ei=f0FXVPOWEtGUuATPoYGYAg&usg=AFQjCNFrwde_J0Ri3RPQ6n-SuI_DHMgypg