After- School Programs Teaching Kids To Be Problem Solvers ? It was originally asked by a boy in Maine to show his teammates that anything . His own personal response was . Brown is the co- director for the Maine chapter of Odyssey of the Mind, an international program for students of all ages that teaches creative problem- solving through yearly challenges and friendly competitions. Such programs have been popping up everywhere as after- school activities, providing a creative outlet in which children can explore topics using a more hands- on, authentic approach to learning, as well as build friendships outside of their school settings. This influx of creative programming comes at the perfect time, as expert in education Ken Robinson speaks about developing divergent thinking skills (or the ability to interpret a question in many ways and find multiple answers) in children. Take this question: How many uses can you think of for a paper clip? While the average person may be able to think of 1. And yet, our greatest geniuses in this area weigh in at roughly office- supply size themselves . Why Teach Divergent Thinking/Creative Problem- Solving? It. In school, we are taught to find one and only one; but in real life, there are many possible answers to every question. A divergent thinking approach often encourages people to work together as teams, which is also more common in adult life. Rarely are we asked to work entirely alone. The Center for Creative Problem Solving gives the lawyers of the future broader and deeper understanding of people, their problems, and the consequences of. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: Build and expand decision making, critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. Programs challenging students to produce and evaluate different solutions to a problem will help them develop the sort of critical thinking necessary to meet these standards. You probably would if you had built a robot that dances. Anecdotally, educators remark that kids who feel lost or unwelcome at school and engage in hands- on projects that draw on their natural curiosity are able to learn and retain basic concepts better than with traditional teaching approaches. It Creates a Different Attitude. Educational challenges, like applying to college, take on a new light when viewed through the eyes of alumni of these creative thinking programs, who see any problem as potential opportunities to think outside of the box. Brown, in her 2. 5th year of involvement with Odyssey of the Mind, knows firsthand how confident kids become.
That same son who dramatized footwear was known to exclaim, . Grade Levels: Kindergarten. For instance, this year some teams are building a vehicle that must stop and go without touching the floor, while others are creating a silent movie- inspired play. If a team would like to compete, they have opportunities to do so at regional competitions. If they place at one of these, they can move on to state and world finals. Creative Problem Solving. Our creative problem solving program is a great way to help students get used to group dynamics and work with others to achieve goals. A Robust Creative Problem-Solving Process. Learn how to use the Simplex process to solve complex problems, in this short video. After all that time, they continue to collect success stories from participants. Grade Levels: Kindergarten. This year, challenges include building a weight- bearing structure that doubles as a musical instrument and creating a project that targets a community need. Participants meet regularly to imagine, design, and develop a solution over the course of 2. Appraisal. Teams are scored by volunteer appraisers based on their solution to the central challenge, the . Another study from the University of Tennessee indicated that students involved in DI reported that their participation in the program helped them improve their grades. Grade Level: Age groups between 6. Cost: Pricing varies depending on the program, with Jr. FLL registration set at $5. FLL registration at $2. MINDSTORM robot kit for $3. Kits from previous years can be used, and students can also choose from a list of add- ons to . Format. Kids use their team kits to solve challenges and program robots to perform various tasks based on the program level. For instance, this year in FIRST LEGO League, participants had to program their robots to pick up a ball and score a goal. Kids are encouraged to meet with industry experts, attend regional competitions, and create a unique team presence to showcase in a friendly competition. Appraisal. Projects are judged and scored based on the overall design, the final project, and the team. Additionally, the alumni were substantially more interested in pursuing STEM fields. For example, the FIRST participants were three times more likely to major in engineering than the rest of their cohort. For more information, check out this Noodle spotlight on a New York City FIRST LEGO league team and the lessons learned by both students and parents. Grade Level: 6. Participants plan their own city using Sim. City software, write an essay based on research about a social need, build a city model using recycled materials, and write a narrative description of the model. Students may present their work at a regional tournament. Appraisal. Future City is primarily an educational program, and students do not have to compete. If they choose to, they are scored based on their knowledge, presentation skills, and the judge. Lasting Impact. Students who have participated in Future City often report that they see the importance of math and science and would like to continue studying engineering. Teachers and parents report that their students show improvement in teamwork, public speaking, project management, and working independently, as well as writing, research, and problem- solving skills. Grade Level: Action- based problem- solving is available for grades K. Find your contact here. Timeline: Action- based problem- solving is non- competitive and has no particular timeline. Global- and community- based problem- solving runs August. Format. Students research a variety of global or community issues, such as the impact of social media or processed food, to solve a defined problem and imagine a future scene. To present their solution, participants produce a project or booklet. Students may bring their ideas to a conference for competition. Appraisal. Projects are judged by trained volunteers who consider all aspects of the solutions and future scenes. Lasting Impact. In a paper published by The International Journal of Creativity and Problem- Solving, participants in FPSPI indicated that they had developed skills in a range of areas as a result of the program, including time management, self- direction, self- motivation, leadership, socialization, the use of technology, and broader academics. How Can I Teach Creative Problem- Solving at Home? If you don. Here are some exercises to encourage creativity in your child: Give kids some materials (toilet paper tubes, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, and so on) and an open- ended question, such as . Amazing things can be created with a simple cardboard box. Come up with a vague problem or challenge and brainstorm answers together. Your prompt can be based on a problem you confront day- to- day, like . You may be surprised at what turns up on your paper. Make a mind- map by writing down a topic, like friendship or team work, and connecting all the ideas you have about that topic. For example, with a topic like friendship, you might find yourself jotting down ideas like love, birthday parties, having fun, recess, and so on. Then, choose one of those ideas, and write all the ideas you have about that topic. Daily life is full of problems you are constantly solving. Next time you or your child finds a solution to a challenge, reflect on how effective it was. How could you have solved a problem better? How can we improve our original solution now? Flip the question- answer model on its head . Get involved with STEM or STEAM programs, or search for interesting STEM activities online that you can do at home. A Riot of Divergent Thinking. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Retrieved April 1. National Center for Biotechology Information. Briggs, S. 3. 0 Ways to Inspire Divergent Thinking. Innovation Excellence. Retrieved April 1. Innovation Excellence. Church, E. How You Can Help Your Children Solve Problems. Retrieved April 1. Scholastic. com. De. Haan, R. Teaching Creativity and Inventive Problem Solving in Science. CBE Life Sciences Education. Retrieved April 1. National Center for Biotechology Information. Goodman, S. Fuel Creativity in the Classroom with Divergent Thinking. Retrieved April 1. Edutopia. com. Strategies of Divergent Thinking. University of Washington. Retrieved April 1. University of Washington.
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