Problem Solving
Problem Solving (2:15)
“People also differ in how they solve problems. So some people like to go with what has worked before, like, well, how other people have solved this problem. What do we know to be a successful strategy here? Other people like to come up with something out of the box or another possibility. Well, what else could it be? And you need both kinds.”
Role models in order of appearance: Marti Hoffer, Rovina Broomfield, Nat Whalley, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., Melanie Kiely, Hiwot Amare Le Roy, and Dawn Luke.
1) One of the most important skillsets you can develop is to become a problem solver. How can becoming a problem solver help you in your personal life? What about at school? Do you think being a good problem solver will be helpful in your future career? Why or why not?
2) One role model told us that to be a good problem solver you should always “try to prove yourself wrong.” Why might it be helpful to “try to prove yourself wrong” when working to solve a problem? How could you use this idea the next time you are trying to solve a problem?
3) When faced with a problem, it can be hard to decide where to start.
What strategies did the role models share about how to solve a problem? What is the first thing you might do when faced with a problem?
4) One role model said, “The thing that I’ve learned that I think is so important is to talk to other people.” Why might it be helpful to talk to other people when you are trying to solve a problem? Can you talk to anyone or are there certain types of people that will be more helpful than others? Why?
5) People have different ways that they think about solving problems. Some people like to start with a proven solution, while others like to think of new solutions.
How do you like to solve problems? Is one method better than the other? Why or why not?
One of the most important skill sets that you can develop is becoming a problem solver.
Really, the key to being a good problem solver is remaining curious and never believing you’re so right that you don’t even challenge your own point of view. Try to prove yourself wrong. And that is not a natural thing. You just want to search for things that support what you think, but actually look for things that go against what you think, and that will help you make sure that your solution is more solid and can last longer.
The thing that I’ve learned that I think is so important is to talk to other people about their experience. So, the way you look at a problem is actually only one perspective. So the more people you can talk to, and especially if they’re really different people from you, so they come from a different background or even a different country, you can learn so much more about that problem hearing from their perspective.
People also differ in how they solve problems. So some people like to go with what has worked before, like, well, how other people have solved this problem, what, you know, what do we know to be a successful strategy here? Other people like to come up with something outta the box or another possibility. Well, what else could it be? And you need both kinds.
I’ll sometimes take a step away from the problem so I can get a clear mind and come back at it again with a new perspective.
First, identify the problem. And so, I think the easiest way to identify problems is to start with questions because then you can find out where the problem lies. And once you have a good list of questions, you can start looking at what those answers are.
I’m always thinking that for a problem, we have a solution, and I have that capacity of breaking down the problem in small sets of problems that for each small problem we have a small solution.
And so I start to say, okay, of all the 10 things that could fix, fix this, what is the low-hanging fruit? What can I do today to overcome this or to at least get to the next level? And so you take that little nugget, it may seem like something small or minor, and you say, let me focus on getting that one thing done so you can have a sense of accomplishment, but it’s also a pathway to do other things.
Independent Learning Guide: This all-purpose guide can also be used by educators, parents, and mentors to jumpstart a valuable discussion about problem solving and the importance of these skills in all areas of life.
Solving problems can be tricky! Whether you like to follow solutions that have worked in the past or think outside of the box, the role models in this video have some great advice for you. From breaking tough problems into smaller pieces to asking for advice, there are plenty of great strategies for dealing with problems.
Classroom Lesson Plan: This step-by-step lesson plan is available to guide a more in-depth “before, during, and after” learning experience when viewing the video with students. This lesson plan is also suitable for use in after-school programs and other educational settings.
Use Empowerment Activities as a fun way to reinforce the video topic and build community with your students.
Related Empowerment Activities:
Fun Page Activity: How do you solve problems? One great strategy is to consider lots of possible solutions. Practice solving a problem in this simple fun-page activity.