The 4 s of Problem Solving

[ open HD video ]

The Goal

Create a list of specifications that

outline all the details that

someone needs to know to be able to

successfully complete a task.

The Job

Take the words and ideas from the person who has the problem

and translate them into precise technical

terms that the person(s) solving the

problem will understand.

3 Major Benefits

1. Addresses a major aspect of human nature:

Procrastination

3 Major Benefits

2. Forces the student to learn the value of taking into account how they are going to be rewarded for their work.

3 Major Benefits

3. Gives leverage to the person doing the work rather than to the one asking for the work to be done.

Using a Form

Let the students help

design the form that they will use for the tasks given to

them.

Skills andKnowledge

The student is to identify the specific knowledge they will need to implement their plan successfully.

Benefits

1.Students begin to take responsibility for identifying and pursuing their own learning.

2.Differentiated instruction.

Using a Form

Break large tasks

into a logical

sequence of smaller subtasks.

Design Timeline

Students often remark that

doing the actual work on

a project is anticlimactic.

Follow the Design

For students to learn the skill of

time management, they must be

monitored throughout the

project.

Monitor Throughout

Return to D #1

The Define step could be used as a tool to assess the quality of the completed project.

3 Major Benefits

1. Awareness of the quality of the work.

2. View problem solving as cyclical instead of linear.

3. Student participation makes evaluation more transparent.