FPS at Our School
Components
Our students have been competing in
Global Issues Problems Solving (GIPS)
earlier known as ‘The Booklet Program’;
Community Problem Solving (CmPS);
and Scenario Writing
Process
The Unofficial First Step is Research.
Research is important so students understand the topic and the given scenario. We also learn facts and
ideas we can use in the problem solving process to justify our own thinking.
Then we read the scenario.
In Global Issues Problem Solving this is an hypothetical situation set in a future time; in Community
Problem Solving we write our own scenario. It is called the Area of Concern and explains the situation that
needs to be addressed.
After this the 6 step problem solving process which leads from problem identification to
solution finding is followed.
When doing Community Problem Solving (CmPS), teams must implement their best
solution ideas.
The 6 Step Problem Solving Example in this Book
The next fourteen pages, which follow the six steps of the problem solving process, have been written to
help coaches new to the program, members of school leadership teams and parents appreciate both the
intricacies of the FPS process and what is involved in sustaining a vibrant program in a school.
Throughout, the value of the program to students and coaches is highlighted by the many comments
from our school’s FPS participants, both past and present, most of whom responded to our surveys.
Actual examples of successful student work can be found in an accompanying booklet:
Future Problem Solving...Work Samples by Loreto Normanhurst Students
Left: Danica, Cara, Nisha
and Caitlin get help with
setting up Survey Monkey
from Mrs Grace Paraino
Right: Caitlin, Nisha and
Danica look over old
photographs
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