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Problem Solving Philosophy

The world, as we know as adults, is full of problems. Big problems. Small problems. Easy problems. Hard problems. Fun problems. Annoying problems. Part of my job as a computer teacher is to teach problem solving. This may have many of you scratching your heads but hear me out! If you are my generation you likely had a computer class where you were given explicit instruction on exactly how to do something in a word document or power point and you followed the instructions as quickly as you could so that you could find random games to play on the internet with whatever time remained in class, right?!?!? IT WAS GREAT!!!!! Except it came back to kick me square in the pants. I retained nothing, and then the software changed. My goal as your child's computer teacher is to prepare them for software changes, unfamiliar software, and a world that I'm not even sure what it will look like (please let there be teleportation!!!). The easiest way to do this is through teaching problem solving. At the beginning of each year (and throughout the year on what seems like a daily basis) we go over what to do when we have a problem. We identify our resources such as: log in cards, the lesson power point, our peers, google, etc. and then we talk about how, when we see something that we aren't sure how to do, the first thing we should do is try. I try to bring as much humor into class as I can. Solving problems can be frustrating! I often remind them that I'm not going to let them do anything that will make the computer blow up, I don't want to clean up the mess or deal with any paperwork! After they've tried, they then can use their resources to help them. There is rarely a time in my room that I don't encourage them to work together. In fact, the only two exceptions to that rule are during quizzes and typing. Collaboration is key to tech use and problem solving! The more brains in on a problem, the better. So, as your child comes home throughout the year frustrated with me (trust me, it will happen) remind them of the end goal: for them to be super awesome, creative problem solvers! Because if they don't become super awesome, creative problem solvers then who is going to create teleportation?!