Module 1 - Activity 12 – Problem-solving skills

After the activity:

My experiences with problem-solving skills in class:

With the information overload and not being able to find “what we want, when we want it, and in a form we want it so that we can use it effectively”, the Big6 is an essential skill to know and use in the information age! 

 People of all age are able to solve problems going through the following six stages:

1. Task Definition: what is expected/needs to be done/needs to be known

2. Information Seeking Strategies: where to look/who to talk to/what is the best source

3. Location and Access: where to find the sources/how to look for them/where to find the information in the source

4. Use of Information: what information is found/does it answer the question/is it reliable/how to record it
5. Synthesis: how to fit the information together and present it/list sources - bibliography

6. Evaluation: was the problem solved/was project presented in an understandable format/am I please/ was something learned

In my class we are using the Big6 strategy to solve the problem of how we can protect our endangered species.  Students are showing great enthusiasm and they are actively participating in the process.  It is such as joy seeing them assisting each other with the technology skills and during the process of searching for information.

Other comments

I see that Emil, Theo and Terry-Ann are using the brainstorming strategy and students are given the opportunity to solve problems pertaining to real life situations.  Students are encouraged to be responsible for creating a solution to the problem they were encountering, show good citizenship and to express themselves freely and to develop and express independent thoughts.