GAME CHANGERS GAMING SKILLS AND THE WORKPLACE

PROBLEM SOLVING

Literacy Link South Central

Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

This participant playbook is part of a series created for the course “Game Changers: Gaming
Skills and the Workplace.” Built in a modular fashion to allow for maximum flexibility, this
course provides training on real-world skills that can be developed and practiced in a game-
based environment. Using a combination of facilitated lessons, activities, research, and games,
this course will help teach a new generation of job seekers the 21st Century soft skills critical to
Canadian employers. Modules in this course include:

Why Gaming is Good

Verbal Communication
Non-verbal Communication
Observation Skills
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Flexibility and Adaptability
Work Ethic
Conflict Resolution
Resiliency
Who Do You Think You Are?
The Employment Game
Leveling Up

A Youth Advisory Committee played a key role in the development of this course. Literacy Link
South Central offers thanks to committee members Cassandra Smith, Colin Todkill, Eleyas
Araya, Eric Rice, Jamie Kaill and Taisha Jenee Pinsonneault for their input and guidance.

Gaming recommendations for this project were provided by our advisors at Teleos
Engagement. Literacy Link South Central recognizes Gabriel Hancock, Robert Durant and Shayne
Ganness and thanks them for sharing their in-depth knowledge of game design and
development.

This curriculum was developed and formatted by Summer Burton, Project Manager, Literacy
Link South Central. For questions about this curriculum, please contact Literacy Link South
Central at 519-681-7307 or literacylink@[Link]

Literacy Link South Central is pleased to provide this course through

the support of the Royal Bank of Canada’s Future Launch fund.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Agenda:

1. Approaching Life’s Problems

2. Brainstorm a Solution to a Complex Problem

3. Problem Solving Questions

4. Skills for Problem Solving

5. Dr. Johnson’s Lab / Zombie Apocalypse

6. Selecting the next session’s topic

7. Wrap-up and take-away

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Approaching Life’s Problems

Have you ever encountered a problem that could only be solved by thinking creatively?

 Yes  No

Problem solving involves a combination of several different actions or activities, including:

 ________________________ that there’s a problem in the

first place

 ________________________ about possible solutions

 Making a ________________________ about what you’re

going to do to try and solve the problem

 And then ________________________ on it.

Do you know someone who complains about problems, but doesn’t try to fix them?

 Yes  No

How does that make you feel? _____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

We may not be able to solve every problem, but we can’t fix things if we don’t at least try.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Brainstorm a Solution to a Complex Problem

As a group, choose one of the complex problems from the list below:

 Homelessness in our City/Town

 Single-use plastics ending up in oceans and lakes
 Not enough young people are entering the skilled trades to replace retiring
tradespeople

You are now going to work together to brainstorm solutions to this

problem. Have taken part in a brainstorming session before?

 Yes  No

Some tips for successful brainstorming:

 all ideas are valuable and worth including
 be creative! No solution is too big, unusual or complicated
 we aren’t trying to figure out what won’t work, but what might

Record some of your favourite solutions below: _______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

If you were going to act on one of these solutions, which one would it be? _________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

The Problem-Solving Process

There are four key questions you can ask yourself when you’re faced with a problem you need
to solve – whether it’s big or small.

Question 1: What is the problem we need to solve?

There are several steps you can take to make sure you know what the problem is:

Make sure it’s not just an opinion: Is there __________________________________________?

Look at it from different points of view: what do __________________________________think

the problem is?

Dig deeper: is what you see a ______________________,

or a _______________________?

Finish this statement: “_________________________

_________________________________________...”

without including a personal attack or accusation.

Come up with a clear statement: _______

__________________________________

_________________________________.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Question 2: What kinds of solutions could

there be?

Once you are very clear about what the

problem is, you can look at different
ways to fix it.

What is the best approach to this?

 Go with the first possible solution

 Think of several different ways we could possibly solve the problem

Who should be involved in coming up with solutions to the problem? _____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Why is it helpful for other people to be involved in coming up with possible solutions?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

You need to think about the _____________________________ of each possible solution. Take
ideas off the list if you think the solution could make things worse in the long run.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Question 3: Which solution do I want to try?

Once you have a list of possible solutions, you have to decide which one you’re going to try.
Here are some important questions to ask to help you with that decision:

Will the solution ________________________ fix the problem, or _______________ fix it?
Solutions that are guaranteed to work are probably worth the extra effort.

Is it a _________________________ solution, or a ________________________ solution?

Bandaid solutions don’t fix the real problem.

Is there an _______________________ reason one solution appeals more than others? You
may need to choose a solution even if you don’t like it.

Do you have the __________________ you need to execute the solution? If other people need
to be involved for the solution to work, you need them to agree to help.

Once you’ve weighed your options, you can decide what solution you’re going to try.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Question 4: So… now what?

Deciding what solution you think will work is a good

first step, but you have to “make it real.” What are
some ways you can do that?

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

You need get ____________________ from people who can help.

Who do you need to let know that you’re working on a solution? _________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Executing a solution is rarely a quick, one-step process. You need to set ___________________
to know you’re making progress.

What sentence can you finish to give you a way to measure progress? _____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

What sentence can you finish to describe your end goal? _______________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

What should you do with those sentences? Choose all that apply.

 Write them down

 Keep them in mind

 Check them off as they become a reality

Will the first solution you try fix your problems every time?  Yes  No

What do you have to do if a solution doesn’t work? ____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Will you have learned something from the solution that didn’t work?  Yes  No

Once the problem is solved,

think about how to:

___________________________

the problem from happening

again.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Question 5: what if the problem is too big to solve?

It can be hard to start the problem solving process when some problems seem so large, or
when you feel like you don’t have the power to actually achieve a solution.

Break larger problems down into __________________________________________________.

What four things can you control when faced with a problem that seems too big to solve?

 Our______________________________

 Our______________________________

 Our______________________________

 Our______________________________

You are not ______________________________. Big problems can be solved by many people
working together towards a solution.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Skills for Problem Solving

Problem solving is something we often see listed in job

postings.

For a workplace perspective on problem solving, read the article

“Problem-Solving Skills: Definitions and Examples” from [Link], and
answer the questions below. A link to the article is available here:

[Link]

1. Although problem solving is often identified as its own separate skill, this article suggests
that there are lots of other related skills that go into effective problem solving. List them
below:

1. ______________________________ 2. ______________________________

3. ______________________________ 4. ______________________________

5. ______________________________ 6. ______________________________

7. ______________________________ 8. ______________________________

2. Review the examples of problem-solving skills provided and fill in the blanks or answer the
questions below and on the following page.

When identifying possible solutions, you will need to know how to _____________________

the problem to others. You will also need to know what ______________________________

______________________________ are the most appropriate when seeking assistance.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

What skill involves gathering information about a problem by brainstorming with other team
members, consulting more experienced colleagues or acquiring knowledge online?

_________________________________

Employers highly value individuals they can trust to both identify and then implement
solutions as fast and effectively as possible. What skill is this associated with?

______________________________

The first step to solving any problem to ____________________ the situation. Your

____________________________________________ will help you understand problems

and effectively develop solutions.

3. Review the suggestions under how to improve your problem-solving skills. Choose one, and
describe how you could practice it in your life – either at home, in school, at work, or with
friends.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4. Where can you highlight your problem-solving skills on your resume? __________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. Can you also reference problem-solving skills in your cover letter?  Yes  No

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Dr. Johnson’s Lab / Zombie Apocalypse

The article you just read outlined the importance of

research and analysis, good communication, teamwork
and decision-making when solving problems. It’s time
to demonstrate all of those skills by solving a mystery.

Have you ever done an escape room before?  Yes  No

What kind of challenges or tools might be involved in an escape room? ____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

What kind of skills might you need to be successful? ___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Break-in boxes are the opposite of escape rooms – instead of trying to get out of somewhere,
you’re trying to get in.

Have you ever tried to get into a break-in box before?  Yes  No

What sort of challenges or tools might be used in both an escape room and a break-in box?

______________________________________________________________________________

In today’s game you won’t just be trying to get into a single box, but three different boxes, each
of which are in this room. There are clues scattered around the room as well. You will have to
find them and figure out their purpose to be successful. This is a timed challenge, which begins
once your facilitator reads the story that sets up the game. When the timer goes off, the game
is done – whether you’ve broken into the final box or not.

Are you ready?

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

The story:

You are attending a series of professional development workshops, and your facilitator has
called in sick. But don’t worry – a colleague of theirs named Dr. Johnson agreed to step in for
them. Something is a bit strange about Dr. Johnson though – he spends more time looking at
his files than teaching, seems distracted and anxious, and keeps leaving the room unexpectedly.

When he’s out of the room, you and the rest of the group decide to take a peek at the files that
have Dr. Johnson so worked up. You discover that Dr. Johnson has plans to unleash a deadly
airborne virus that would turn anyone who came into contact with it into a zombie. However,
you also learn that the doctor has created an antidote that can reverse the symptoms. He plans
to save it for himself and family.

You have a limited amount of time to use Dr. Johnson’s files and clues in the room to find the
antidote and save yourselves (and the world!)

Did you break into the final box and get the antidote?  Yes  No

How do you think solving a puzzle in the game is similar to solving a problem in the real world?

______________________________________________________________________________

Who in the group demonstrated good critical thinking and problem solving skills?

______________________________________________________________________________

Which problem solving skills did you use while trying to solve the puzzle of Dr. Johnson’s Lab?

______________________________________________________________________________

What would you differently next time you attempt to get into a break-in box?

______________________________________________________________________________

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Selecting the next session’s topic

We will be discussing another skill from the list during our next session. Each of these skills can
be developed and practiced in a gaming environment, and are important not only in games, but
in a non-gaming environment.

1. Verbal communication
2. Non-verbal communication
3. Observation skills
4. Decision making
5. Problem solving
6. Teamwork
7. Flexibility and adaptability
8. Work ethic
9. Conflict resolution
10. Resiliency

Which skill should we look at next? Participate in the poll to let your workshop facilitator know.

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 Problem Solving: Participant Playbook

Wrap-up and take-away

We looked at lots of different techniques we can use to solve

problems today. Before the next session, practice problem
solving by working through the activity below. Your facilitator
will be asking about the activity at the start of the next session.

Think of a problem you have in your life, and then ask someone else for their
opinion of the problem.

Do they see it the same way you do?  Yes  No

Thinking of that problem, finish the sentence “this wouldn’t be happening if…” as
many times as necessary to confirm it’s really a problem, and not just a symptom.

Have you confirmed what the actual problem is?  Yes  No

Brainstorm possible solutions to the problem. Get other people’s input if possible.

Will you act on one of those solutions?  Yes  No

Reminder: record the date and time of our next session below.

The next session is: ____________________________________________ at ____________.

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