WHAT IS FUTURE

PROBLEM SOLVING?

The Future Problem Solving Programme is:

·                     An outstanding educational experience and one of the most significant and widely respected programmes in existence for extending bright students.

·                     A programme developed in 1974 by Dr. E Paul Torrance in the USA, it now involves more than a quarter of a million students in 18 countries.

·                     A programme which began with two schools in New Zealand 15 years ago and is now one of the largest programmes in the world.

·                     470 registered teams nationally are representatives from over 1500 teams of four, participating in the Future Problem Solving programme this year.

·                     A programme which is taught from Upper Primary

(Year 6) through to Year 12 at secondary school.

How does Future Problem Solving work?

Teams of four students research and examine a topic-based scenario set 20-30 years into the future. Then in a two hour exam situation, students work together to identify and solve problems using a six step problem solving process. Topics in 2005 included Entertainment, Terrorism and Security, Depletion of Oceanic Species and Agriculture in the 21^st Century. The topic for the World Championships in 2006 is “The Redistribution of Wealth”.

Once acquired, this process can be used effectively in an extension of the programme – Community Problem Solving. Here, students research and examine real problems in their community and apply the Problem Solving process.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAMME?

The programme has eight objectives:

1.       To enhance creative thinking abilities

2.       To stimulate knowledge of and interest in the future

3.       To increase written and verbal communication skills

4.       To learn how to function effectively as a team

5.       To provide a problem solving model to integrate into their lives

6.       To develop and increase research skills

7.       To improve analytical and critical thinking skills

8.       To develop self-direction and responsibility

 The programme is producing young leaders of tomorrow who have an appreciation of the wider implications of problems and solutions, the ability to think critically and analytically about significant issues, the creativity and vision to explore scenarios with originality and flexibility and the ability to successfully achieve goals within a team environment.

In 2005 Our team of four Year 7 students and their coach competed with over 400 teams nationwide to gain a place in New Zealand’s Future Problem Solving Finals. They then came first in the Junior Division and have won the rights to represent both their school, community and their country in the highly prestigious World Championships to be held at the Colorado State University, USA, in June 2006.

In 2008 two teams competed in National Future Problem Solving Competition which was held at the Carey Christian Camp, in the Henderson Valley, Auckland.  It was a demanding weekend with the teams being required to sit a two-hour exam on the Saturday morning on the topic of Risk Adversity.  They also had to compete in three other creative-thinking sessions, including presenting a dramatic presentation of their exam booklet, which they were only given a few hours to prepare, and which included creative elements such as drama, dance, mime and song.

 Our teams were very successful with the Year 8s being placed 3^rd overall, and the Year 7s being placed 4^th.

These placings didn’t qualify the teams to represent New Zealand in the World Championships in Michigan, USA, in 2009, but they were outstanding results, nonetheless, as Matamata Intermediate were competing against some very large intermediates, such as Northcross Intermediate, from Auckland, and Tauranga Intermediate – the largest intermediates in New Zealand – and a number of private or high-decile schools.