Problem Solving & Critical Thinking

Best Work for Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

• Pick a problem of the week, any one out of the eight and then, complete the problem as well as a write up by the due date.
• Geometry - Mr. Donohue

Reflection

This was my best evidence because the problem I chose to complete was all up to me, it wasn't just a problem that my teacher had given me and I had to complete it, I had the choice of which problem I would want to take on.

This work demonstrates my strengths in this competency because I had to make the decision of what problem I would choose to solve, and then once I read through the problem I had to make a decision about how I would effectively solve the problem. I also, while filling out the problem of the week write up, I had to come up with an additional way to solve the problem to prove that I know what I am talking about. So, ultimately I had to make multiple decisions about my work. While completing my work I also had second guessed my answer multiple times but, I knew that if i completed the formula correctly and reviewed my work thoroughly there should be nothing to worry about.

I gave myself a Competent-Exemplary only because I believe, everyone in my my class was late on the due date, and he ended up extending it which shouldn't happen. Other than that, I completed the work as neatly as I was able to. I feel like I definitely reasoned effectively, made insightful judgements and decisions, and solved problems because there was complete freedom to choose what problem we had so I feel like even if you chose carefully each problem was completely different, some were even riddles while others were actually math based so, you were bound to end up with problems and asking your peers for help was also a problem, so you were left to yourself to figure things out. You also had the freedom to solve the problem in whatever way you felt was best because in math there is never ever just one way to solve a problem, anyone can solve it differently.

My next steps for developing this competency in the future are to be more independent when I'm working on any kind of work, because I tend to run to a teacher just to make sure I'm doing something right as more of a reassurance kind of thing, and I feel like its time I ease up on that a bit.