Problem solving is the process of identifying an issue, evaluating options, determining solutions, and executing a plan to overcome challenges. For high school students, developing strong problem solving capacities is vital – yet current education systems struggle in this area.
In this expert guide, I will:
- Highlight current gaps in high schoolers’ problem solving proficiencies
- Explain why teaching strategic problem solving is so valuable
- Provide an overview of highly impactful activities to develop these skills
- Offer best practice facilitation strategies based on pedagogical research
- Share inspiring examples of schools cultivating critical thinking
- Provide clear recommendations for implementing problem solving curriculums
By taking an intentional, multifaceted approach facilitated by skilled teachers, schools can significantly amplify students’ problem solving expertise to unlock their brightest futures.
The Growing Imperative to Teach Strategic Problem Solving
In an increasingly volatile and ambiguous world, the ability to calmly evaluate complex issues and develop solutions is more important than ever before. Yet analyses reveal major gaps in high school students’ problem solving skill levels compared to what’s needed for college and career readiness.
For instance, according to a major report by McKinsey & Company:
- 72% of educators believe new graduates lack adequate critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Over 60% of students lack proficiency in problem solving according to standardized assessments
Additionally, per the OECD’s PISA exams assessing creative problem solving:
- U.S. high schoolers’ scores ranked 25th globally in problem solving ability
- Top countries like Singapore and Korea outscored the US by 30-40 points
| Country | Average PISA 2015 Problem Solving Score |
|---|---|
| Singapore | 562 |
| Korea | 561 |
| Japan | 552 |
| United States | 519 |
These statistics demonstrate substantial gaps in American high schools students’ preparation – shortchanging their potential.
Fortunately, developing problem solving abilities is very responsive to education investments with high return on investment. For instance, a study published in Creativity Research Journal found that just a single creativity-focused course boosted problem solving scores by 55%!
Schools must capitalize on this opportunity to deliberately cultivate critical thinking and problem solving through multifaceted learning activities.
The Far-Reaching Benefits of Teaching Strategic Problem Solving
Beyond bridging skill gaps, prioritizing problem solving instruction delivers additional academic, career, and life advantages:
Fosters Wider Cognitive Abilities
Research shows developing problem solving abilities boosts wider capacities like:
- Analytical reasoning skills: Systematically evaluating multifaceted information
- Metacognitive skills: Monitoring and optimizing one‘s own thought processes
- Creativity levels: Generating innovative solutions and connections between concepts
Strengthening these cognitive capacities pays dividends across diverse academic disciplines.
Drives College, Career, and Life Success
Problem solving is invaluable beyond the classroom. A survey by Hart Research Associates revealed the top three skills over 90% of employers highly prioritize are:
- Ability to effectively solve complex problems
- Ability to think critically, creatively, and innovatively
- Ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings
All of which are amplified through strategic problem solving instruction.
Additionally, in a study published in Contemporary Educational Psychology, researchers found that students‘ problem solving abilities were a stronger predictor of college GPA than even SAT/ACT scores!
Boosts Motivation and Engagement
Unlike passive test prep, engaging students in stimulating problem solving activities piques their intellectual curiosity. Participating in compelling challenges creates enjoyment of learning for learning‘s sake.
By centering education on meaningful projects and problems, schools can increase motivation, heighten student aspirations, and reduce dropout rates. For example, a study by UCLA’s National Center for Research on Evaluation found that well-implemented problem-based learning curriculums increased high school graduation rates by over 55%.
The evidence overwhelmingly shows teaching sound problem solving strategies delivers immense academic, career, cognitive, and motivational value additive to traditional instruction.
Overview of High-Impact Problem Solving Activities
Effectively developing problem solving skills requires going beyond worksheets or textbook word problems. Active, experiential learning activities provide optimal skill-building experiences.
Here I overview the top methods to deliberately teach strategic problem solving:
1. Group Challenges
Exciting collaborative games immerse teams in creative problem solving. For example:
- Escape rooms: Solve puzzles and complete challenges to ‘escape’
- Amazing races: Navigate checkpoints across campus solving clues and riddles
- Game design contests: Develop and pitch educational games prototyping key elements
Benefits include teaching teamwork, communication skills, handling ambiguity, and perseverance.
2. Individual Logic Puzzles
Tackling brain teasers like Sudoku independently sharpens logical acuity. Additional examples include:
- Word problems: Multistep questions build quantitative reasoning
- Logic riddles: Deductive reasoning puzzles strengthened analysis abilities
- Programming challenges: Applying computational thinking to coding problems
Strengthens grit, deductive reasoning, and sharpens emotional regulation when stuck.
3. Project-Based Learning Through STEM
By driving projects forward, students synthesize problem solving with contextual practice. Engaging projects include:
- Coding/App Development: Design functional programs and applications
- Engineering: Construct towers, catapults, or hydraulic arms from basic materials
- Science Labs: Develop and test hypotheses by designing original experiments
Immerses students in the creative process from idea to execution.
4. Socratic Seminars
Text-based collaborative discussions strengthen dialogue, argumentation, and evaluating different perspectives around complex topics. Steps include:
- Students read articles/passages beforehand to prepare
- Facilitator poses analytical open-ended questions
- Participants respectfully discuss questions in depth
- Facilitator summarizes key points and takeaways
Sharpens abilities to articulate positions, think dialectically, and synthesize nuanced stances.
While each activity uniquely contributes, a well-rounded curriculum combines individual and team challenges, tactical puzzles and contextual projects for maximal benefit.
Best Practices for Optimal Implementation
Simply providing activities is insufficient – optimal development requires research-based instructional and facilitation strategies including:
1. Establishing Objectives and Assessing Outcomes
Set clear target problem solving skills aligned to curriculum goals. Assess student‘s growth using rubrics tracking dimensions like:
- Evaluating root causes
- Generating solution options
- Coherently justifying proposed strategies
- Communicating solutions and discoveries
2. Scaffolding Challenges
Meet students where there are and incrementally increase difficulty such that tasks remain engaging but demanding. Balance success and struggle.
3. Facilitating Collaborations
Coordinate teams and discussion groups to maximize participation. Promote psychological safety and constructive dynamics. Circulate providing guidance and feedback.
4. Consolidating Takeaways
After each activity, lead reflections focused on solidifying lessons learned regarding strategies applied. Identify areas of achievement and future growth opportunities.
5. Incentivizing Metacognition
Explicitly teach and encourage reflective thinking habits so students intrinsically drive their own development through self-assessment and strategy calibration. Maintain growth mindset cultures.
Deliberately fostering problem solving requires considerable instructional support – but pays exponential dividends enabling student‘s future success.
Schools Cultivating Problem Solving Excellence
The most convincing evidence comes from schools intentionally redesigning curriculums with problem solving as the keystone. Students exhibit remarkable development when sufficiently challenged by teachers expertly applying best practices.
For example, Singapore math programs are centered around Cecil’s ‘Model Method’ – a framework for equipping students to methodically solving multi-step word problems. Tools include visual models, questioning techniques and metacognitive monitoring. The results have been outstanding:
- Singapore students rank #1 globally in mathematical word problem solving proficiency
- Over 75% of 4th graders can successfully solve complex 2-3 step word problems
Domestically, High Tech High, a charter school network spanning California and the US, completely structures learning around hands-on interdisciplinary projects. By thoroughly embedding project-based learning – students gain deep problem solving competencies. Outcomes include:
- Over 99% of graduates accepted to four-year college programs
- Alumni earn bachelor’s degrees at four times the rates of socioeconomic peers
- Minority and low-income student achievement effectively equalized
These inspiring examples demonstrate that by taking an intentional, multifaceted approach facilitated by expert teachers, schools can drive step-change improvements in student’s problem solving capacities, motivation, and outcomes.
Call to Action – Next Steps for Schools
I hope this guide has revealed why deliberately developing high school students’ problem solving skills is non-negotiable for their continued success. While current educational approaches insufficiently target these competencies, the interventions outlined here provide clear pathways for improvement.
As an education reform expert, I recommend school districts and teachers evaluate current curricular gaps and explore incrementally incorporating research-backed activities. Even starting with a single semester course centered on problem/project-based learning can deliver meaningful growth.
Ideal next steps include:
- Audit academic standards and assessments – identify areas where enhancing problem solving would elevate outcomes
- Map existing activities against recommendations – determine gaps to address
- Pilot 1-2 new evidence-backed interventions per grade level and closely monitor impact
- Train teachers on facilitation best practices to optimize delivery
The challenges facing tomorrow’s graduates will demand exceptional problem solving capacities. By taking proactive measures to equip students, schools can profoundly expand opportunity both within the classroom and far beyond. Our students’ potential is boundless — it is our collective responsibility to furnish them with the cognitive tools to build a brighter future.