Zaid Ali Alsagoff zaid.alsagoffgmail.com Module 7: Problem SolvingShould I Consider Moving?Scenario More students are failing their courses this year compared to last year. Who is to blame?Students Perspective? UNITAR Courses and Lecturers are soUNITAR Courses and Lecturers are so BORING BORING andand DIFFICULT! HOW TO PASS? DIFFICULT! HOW TO PASS?Teachers Perspective?Students Students KNOW NOTHINGKNOW NOTHING! ! They are both They are both LAZY LAZY and and STUPIDSTUPID! What a perfect ! What a perfect combination to become an combination to become an employable graduate!employable graduate!Yeah! Blame Yeah! Blame it on us!it on us!How to solve this problem?More students are failing More students are failing their courses this year their courses this year compared to last year.compared to last year.Lets Watch a Video:Lets Watch a Video:Teaching Teaching TeachingTeaching indeed, they create our courage and our wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.” - M. Scott Peck7.1 What is Problem Solving? Problem solving forms part of thinking. Considered the most complex of all intellectual functions, problem solving has been defined as higher-order cognitive process that requires higher-order cognitive process that requires the modulation and control of more routine or the modulation and control of more routine or fundamental skillsfundamental skills (Goldstein & Levin, 1987). It occurs if an organism or an artificial intelligence system does not know how to proceed from a does not know how to proceed from a given state to a desired goal stategiven state to a desired goal state. It is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping.Source: http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_solving “He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes, but he who never asks a question remains a fool forever.” - Tom Connelly 7.2 Barriers to Effective Problem Solving Failure to recognize the problem Failure to recognize the problem Conceiving the problem too narrowly Conceiving the problem too narrowly Making a hasty choice Making a hasty choice Failure to consider all consequences Failure to consider all consequences Failure to consider the feasibility of the Failure to consider the feasibility of the solutionsolution“Its not that Im so smart, its just that I stay with problems longer.” - Albert Einstein 7.3 Problem Solving ProcessAccepting the ProblemAccepting the ProblemStep 1: What is the Problem?Step 1: What is the Problem?Step 2: What Are the Alternatives?Step 2: What Are the Alternatives?Step 3: What Are the Advantages and/or Step 3: What Are the Advantages and/or Disadvantages of Each Alternative? Disadvantages of Each Alternative?Step 4: What Is the Solution?Step 4: What Is the Solution?Step 5: How Well Is the Solution Working?Step 5: How Well Is the Solution Working?Accepting the Problem To solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept accept the problem by acknowledging that the problem existsproblem exists and committing yourself to trying to solve it. StrategiesStrategies to find the motivation and commitment to prepare you to enter the problem-solving process:qqList the benefitsList the benefits. how will solving the problem benefit you? qqFormalize your acceptanceFormalize your acceptance.- formal commitment to solve problem qqAccept responsibility for your lifeAccept responsibility for your life.- we have the potential to control the direction of our lives qqCreate a “worst-case” scenarioCreate a “worst-case” scenario.- what are potential disastrous consequences of your actions or inactions qqIdentify whats holding you backIdentify whats holding you back.- what is preventing you from solving the problem?Step 1: What is the Problem? Step 1A: What do I know about the situation?Step 1A: What do I know about the situation? Step 1B: What results am I aiming for in this Step 1B: What results am I aiming for in this situation?situation? Step 1C: How can I define the problem?Step 1C: How can I define the problem?qView the problem from different perspectives.qIdentify component problems.qState the problem clearly and specifically.Step 2: What Are the Alternatives? Step 2A: What are the boundaries of the Step 2A: What are the boundaries of the problem situation?problem situation? Step 2B: What alternatives are possible within Step 2B: What alternatives are possible within these boundaries?these boundaries? qDiscuss the problem with other people. qBrainstorm ideas. qChange your location.Step 3: What Are the Advantages and/or Disadvantages of Each Alternative? Step 3A: What are the advantages of each Step 3A: What are the advantages of each alternative?alternative? Step 3B: What are the disadvantages of each Step 3B: What are the disadvantages of each alternative?alternative? Step 3C: What additio