Problem Solving

Steps in Problem Solving

Introduction to Agriculture

Scientific Method

May 2007

Animal Science Revision Committee

What is agriculture?

Farming Cows and hogs Technology The study of animals Growing plants Others??

How has your life and your family’s life changed as a result of agriculture?

Many choices of high quality foods to eat Clothing made out of many different fibers

produced from agricultural products A source of fuels to replace gasoline Others??

What is science?

Study of life Study of the earth Experimenting A way to make things better Technology

Science and Agriculture

What are some Similarities between science and agriculture?

Seven Steps In the Scientific Method

1. Identify the problem

2. Formulate the hypothesis

3. Design and conduct experiments

4. Collect Data

5. Analyze the data

6. Draw conclusions

7. Make recommendations

What is the importance of the scientific method?

Logical problem-solving approach to answer questions

Provide clues or remedies to make logical changes

Repeat or replicate another scientist's experiment

Need for problem solving skillsWhy is having problem solving

skills important?– Lots of problems develop or

decisions have to be made, in any agriscience endeavor.

– Solving problems in a logical way helps to alleviate stressful feelings.

What types of problems arise in Agriscience?Growing conditions of animals

– Fish kill in aquaculture lab– Best feed, amount for animals– Rabbits won’t breed

Growing conditions of plants– Plants wilt and die– Greenhouses too hot– Soil doesn’t hold enough fertilizer– Poinsettias weren’t turning red

4 Easy Steps to Problem Solving

1. UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM Can you state the problem in your own

words? What are you trying to find or do? What are the unknowns? What information do you obtain from the

problem? What information is missing or not

needed?

Steps in Problem Solving, cont.

2. DEVISING A PLAN

Look for a pattern. Examine related problems, and

determine if the same technique can be applied.

Make a diagram. Use guess and check. Work backward.

Steps in Problem Solving, cont.

3. CARRYING OUT THE PLAN Implement the strategy or strategies in

step 2, and perform any necessary actions or computations.

Check each step of the plan as you proceed. This may be intuitive checking or a formal proof of each step.

Keep an accurate record of your work.

Steps in Problem Solving, cont.

4. LOOKING BACK Check the results in the original problem. Interpret the solution in terms of the original

problem. Does your answer make sense? Is it reasonable?

Determine whether there is another method of finding the solution.

If possible, determine other related or more general problems for which the techniques will work

Activity: Problems, Problems

Think of a problem you had to solve today or yesterday. How did you solve it?

Write the 4 steps you used in solving your problem.

Activity 2: Hand in, work individually

What steps would you follow in solving the following problems?– 1. Tomato plants in garden are droopy.– 2. Lettuce leaves have holes in them.– 3. Calf is standing away from the herd, head

down, and bleating “mooing”.

Solving Research Problems through the Scientific Method

1. Ask a question.– What is the purpose of the experiment?– What do you want to learn?– Ex: What will a spider plant do without

water for 2 weeks?2. Research information

– Has anything been written about the problem?

– Ex: Some plants can hold water

The Scientific Method, cont.

3. Develop a hypothesis– Educated guess predicting the

results of the study– Always a statement.– Ex: A spider plant will hold water

for 2 weeks without wilting.

The Scientific Method, cont.

4. Perform the experiment.– Design a test to prove or disprove the

hypothesis.– Include a “control” that in unaffected by the

experiment– Procedures – steps in the experiment– Ex – Water 1 plant normally, every 4-5

days (control). Refrain from watering 1 plant for 2 weeks. Observe condition of plant daily.

The Scientific Method, cont.

5. Analyze the results.– Record what happened

during experiment– Use charts, graphs, etc.

6. Conclusion– Was your hypothesis correct?

The Scientific Method, cont.

Do Experiment: Shiny as a New Penny

Assignment

Read and answer questions to “The Circumstances” handout.