{"id":33147,"date":"2023-11-14T10:57:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T02:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/?p=33147"},"modified":"2023-11-15T09:50:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T01:50:22","slug":"strategies-to-develop-problem-solving-skills-in-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/blog\/strategies-to-develop-problem-solving-skills-in-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategies To Develop Problem-Solving Skills In Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students need the freedom to brainstorm, develop solutions and make mistakes \u2014 this is truly the only way to prepare them for life outside the classroom. When students are immersed in a learning environment that only offers them step-by-step guides and encourages them to focus solely on memorisation, they are not gaining the skills necessary to help them navigate in the complex, interconnected environment of the real world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Choosing a school<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that emphasises the importance of future-focussed skills will ensure your child has the abilities they need to survive and thrive anywhere in the world. What are future-focussed skills? Students who are prepared for the future need to possess highly developed communication skills, self-management skills, research skills, thinking skills, social skills and problem-solving skills. In this blog, I would like to focus on problem-solving skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>What Are Problem-Solving Skills?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theforage.com\/blog\/skills\/problem-solving-skills\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Forage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> defines problem-solving skills as those that allow an individual to identify a problem, come up with solutions, analyse the options and collaborate to find the best solution for the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Importance of Problem-Solving in the Classroom Setting<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Learning how to solve problems effectively and positively is a crucial part of child development. When children are allowed to solve problems in a classroom setting, they can test those skills in a safe and nurturing environment. Generally, when they face age-appropriate issues, they can begin building those skills in a healthy and positive manner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Without exposure to challenging situations and scenarios, children will not be equipped with the foundational problem-solving skills needed to tackle complex issues in the real world. Experts predict that problem-solving skills will eventually be more sought after in job applicants than hard skills related to that specific profession. Students must be given opportunities in school to resolve conflicts, address complex problems and come up with their own solutions in order to develop these skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Benefits of Problem-Solving Skills for Students<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23048 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/61fb748001f6b300203cf0e8_OWIS-Secondary.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/61fb748001f6b300203cf0e8_OWIS-Secondary.jpg 700w, https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/61fb748001f6b300203cf0e8_OWIS-Secondary-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/61fb748001f6b300203cf0e8_OWIS-Secondary-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/61fb748001f6b300203cf0e8_OWIS-Secondary-100x67.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Learning how to solve problems offers students many advantages, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Improving Academic Results<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When students have a well-developed set of problem-solving skills, they are often better critical and analytical thinkers as well. They are able to effectively use these 21st-century skills when completing their coursework, allowing them to become more successful in all academic areas. By prioritising problem-solving strategies in the classroom, teachers often find that academic performance improves.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Developing Confidence<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Giving students the freedom to solve problems and create their own solutions is essentially permitting them to make their own choices. This sense of independence \u2014 and the natural resilience that comes with it \u2014 allows students to become confident learners who aren&#8217;t intimidated by new or challenging situations. Ultimately, this prepares them to take on more complex challenges in the future, both on a professional and social level.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Preparing Students for Real-World Challenges<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The challenges we are facing today are only growing more complex, and by the time students have graduated, they are going to be facing issues that we may not even have imagined. By arming them with real-world problem-solving experience, they will not feel intimidated or stifled by those challenges; they will be excited and ready to address them. They will know how to discuss their ideas with others, respect various perspectives and collaborate to develop a solution that best benefits everyone involved.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>The Best Problem-Solving Strategies for Students<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33148 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/OWIS-Nanyang-Secondary-School-Tutor-Time-Pastoral-Care.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/OWIS-Nanyang-Secondary-School-Tutor-Time-Pastoral-Care.jpg 700w, https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/OWIS-Nanyang-Secondary-School-Tutor-Time-Pastoral-Care-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/OWIS-Nanyang-Secondary-School-Tutor-Time-Pastoral-Care-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/OWIS-Nanyang-Secondary-School-Tutor-Time-Pastoral-Care-100x75.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No single approach or strategy will instil a set of problem-solving skills in students.\u00a0 Every child is different, so educators should rely on a variety of strategies to develop this core competency in their students.\u00a0 It is best if these skills are developed naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These are some of the best strategies to support students problem-solving skills:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Project-Based Learning<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By providing students with project-based learning experiences and allowing plenty of time for discussion, educators can watch students put their problem-solving skills into action inside their classrooms. This strategy is one of the most effective ways to fine-tune problem-solving skills in students.\u00a0 During project-based learning, teachers may take notes on how the students approach a problem and then offer feedback to students for future development. Teachers can address their observations of interactions during project-based learning at the group level or they can work with students on an individual basis to help them become more effective problem-solvers.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Encourage Discussion and Collaboration in the Classroom Setting<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another strategy to encourage the development of problem-solving skills in students is to allow for plenty of discussion and collaboration in the classroom setting.\u00a0 When students interact with one another, they are naturally developing problem solving skills.\u00a0 Rather than the teacher delivering information and requiring the students to passively receive information, students can share thoughts and ideas with one another.\u00a0 Getting students to generate their own discussion and communication requires thinking skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Utilising an Inquiry-Based approach to Learning<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students should be presented with situations in which their curiosity is sparked and they are motivated to inquire further. Teachers should ask open-ended questions and encourage students to develop responses which require problem-solving. By providing students with complex questions for which a variety of answers may be correct, teachers get students to consider different perspectives and deal with potential disagreement, which requires problem-solving skills to resolve.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Model Appropriate Problem-Solving Skills<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the simplest ways to instil effective problem-solving skills in students is to model appropriate and respectful strategies and behaviour when resolving a conflict or addressing an issue. Teachers can showcase their problem-solving skills by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identifying a problem when they come across one for the class to see<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Brainstorming possible solutions with students<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Collaborating with students to decide on the best solution<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Testing that solution and examining the results with the students<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adapting as necessary to improve results or achieve the desired goal<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h6><b>Prioritise Student Agency in Learning<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recent research shows that self-directed learning is one of the most effective ways to nurture 21st-century competency development in young learners. Learning experiences that encourage student agency often require problem-solving skills.\u00a0 When creativity and innovation are needed, students often encounter unexpected problems along the way that must be solved. Through self-directed learning, students experience challenges in a natural situation and can fine-tune their problem-solving skills along the way.\u00a0 Self-directed learning provides them with a foundation in problem-solving that they can build upon in the future, allowing them to eventually develop more advanced and impactful problem-solving skills for real life.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>21st-Century Skill Development at OWIS Singapore<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Problem-solving has been identified as one of the core competencies that young learners must develop to be prepared to meet the dynamic needs of a global environment.\u00a0 At OWIS Singapore, we have implemented an inquiry-driven, skills-based curriculum that allows students to organically develop critical future-ready skills \u2014 including problem-solving.\u00a0 Our hands-on approach to education enables students to collaborate, explore, innovate, face-challenges, make mistakes and adapt as necessary.\u00a0 As such, they learn problem-solving skills in an authentic manner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more information about 21st-century skill development, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/school-tour\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">schedule a campus tour<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our inquiry-driven, skills-based curriculum enables students to organically develop critical future-ready skills \u2014 including problem-solving.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":33969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-secondary-school"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - 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