Problem Solving Step 1

Problem Solving: The ability to find a solution to a situation or challenge.

Step 1: I complete tasks by finding someone to help if I need them

Outcomes

To achieve Step 1, learners will be able to identify when they need help, and find someone appropriate who can help them to complete the task.

In the previous step, learners showed that they could complete tasks by following instructions. This step builds on that by introducing the idea that they might be able to seek help if they are unable to do something by themselves.

Learners need to be able to:

Recognise when they need help
Identify the right person to ask for that help

Introduction

There are lots of times when we find things too difficult to do by ourselves and may need help. For example: we don’t understand something; we haven’t done something before and can’t work out how to do it; we are not trained to do something that might be dangerous; we are in a new place.
Before we ask for help, it is worth thinking about the problem again to see if we can solve it on our own or find instructions to help us.
Discuss scenarios to see if help from others would be needed or not.

Skill Starter

Tag Team

Pick two learners to be ‘catchers’: they can tag all other learners as soon as the coach blows a whistle.

When tagged, learners must stand still and are unable to move until ‘released’ by the remaining (untagged) learners.

The game progresses until only the coach is able to release those tagged, upon clear request from the learner using verbal cues. A learner can only be released once.

When tagged a second time, learners take on the role of motivators to cheer on their team mates from the sideline.

15 mins

Group activity

Active

Teach & Apply

We all have different people we know who can help us in various areas of our lives.
As a whole group, create a list of people they can go to for help. For example: peers, parents or carers, coaches and teachers.
Develop this by asking which people would be right for certain tasks: for example, asking your coach to help with sports training.
If the first person can’t help you, you could ask them who they think might be able to help you instead, or think of other people yourself

Optional Activity

Search Engine

Set learners some different problems to solve which need them to ask a different person for help. For example, finding out who the tallest person in the group is, finding out the history of their team/club, or trying out a new technique.

10 mins

Group activity

Discussion

Reflection & Assessment

Embed these strategies across your teaching and coaching to help learners apply what they’ve learnt.

Highlight opportunities throughout coaching and everyday events when problem solving takes place, and the process of identifying the problem and knowing when to ask for help.

Use these ideas for ways of assessing this skill step to help you check learners’ understanding and confidence.

Speak to learners to assess how they are solving problems in other environments and how they have sought out additional help, if needed.
Ask these reflective questions:
- What is meant by instructions?
- When do you ask others for help?
- Who can you turn to in different areas of your life for help?