School is where students get much needed practice solving problems. As a teacher, I taught U.S. History, but I also embedded in my lesson opportunities for students to analyze and judge the actions of people. Often, the questions were why did this person make that decision, what were the results and was their a better option available. When my students fully accepted this challenge, they were not only acquiring knowledge and building towards mastery. They were also learning how to solve problems.
People throughout history encountered problems and they reacted in some way. My students were able to assess their decision. This process of assessment gave them important experience going through information and determining the best path forward. This process connected them to the very problem-solving skills they need to be successful in and out of the classroom.
Learning how to solve problems is a universal skill. In order to lead your students to success, focusing on the concept of problem solving is important. By doing this, you help your students eventually (Emphasis on Eventually) reach a point where they are comfortably self-sufficient. Below, is a video I put together outlining the steps of The Problem Solving Process. I encourage you to share with your students or become familiar with it yourself and tailor it so that it meets the needs of your students. Thanks for reading.
MB
Enjoying the content? Please consider partnering with us to spread the message with a donation via PayPal. You can also use this link whenever you shop at Amazon and give us a much appreciated commission on your purchase.