Working in a team of four for those few
intensive hours really pushed us to work
on our teamwork and creativity skills. I
can remember bouncing ideas off each
other in the brainstorming and laughing
at the amazing (and sometimes
ridiculous) ideas we came up with
together.
Elisabeth Kramer
National Finalist 1995, Class of 1999
2005: Kate and Mary have fun
with Plane Captain in USA
STEP 3:
SOLUTIONS
About a Solution:
A solution must solve the key verb phrase, not the purpose, not the other challenges and not
the topic. GIPS problem Solvers must remember that the Future Scene is written about a future
time and their solutions need to reflect that. Even if the basic idea is not new, teams can use
futuristic details on how the solution can work. Each solution must be elaborated with details
about who will do something, how the ideas will work and what will be accomplished. A
solution will be a positive statement.
What makes Step 3 challenging?
Too often students address their purpose but ignore their key verb phrase. They often forget
they have to explain fully why the solution will work. Repeating the purpose is not an
explanation. Some solutions that students write are very good solutions to a slightly different
problem instead of the one they have chosen so they do not count.
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