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Problem Solving Process Activity Guide

This document provides an activity guide for a lesson on problem solving and computing, including a word search, a birthday guest arrangement task, and a classroom redesign project. Students are encouraged to work in teams to complete these activities, reflecting on the problem-solving process throughout. The guide also includes sections for students to define, prepare, try, and reflect on their problem-solving strategies.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views5 pages

Problem Solving Process Activity Guide

This document provides an activity guide for a lesson on problem solving and computing, including a word search, a birthday guest arrangement task, and a classroom redesign project. Students are encouraged to work in teams to complete these activities, reflecting on the problem-solving process throughout. The guide also includes sections for students to define, prepare, try, and reflect on their problem-solving strategies.

Uploaded by

harsleymorgan659
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Problem Solving and Computing - Lesson 3

Name(s)_______________________________________________​ Period ______ Date ___________________

Activity Guide - Using the Problem Solving Process

Word Search
Overview
Working with a team, find the following words in the grid. They may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal in any direction.
DEFINE, PREPARE, TRY, REFLECT, PROBLEM, SOLVE, COMPUTER, SCIENCE

Objective
Find and circle all 8 words as quickly as you can!

E S Q H J H R C F A X M G M U E B L N I ​
S R K E R E T U P M O C E C M Z T Y J C ​
D X A P N X Q L Y V K L S X X N C E H N ​
J M X P K W W O J Q B B O Q M H E A H T ​
B I U O E Y H K M O A R L F R D L P H A ​
N J H T Y R A E R C F L V M S C F A J M ​
T I R Y Q W P P H D X Q E Q U N E R G S ​
H Y R I M I X D Z K B M N G O J R B K U ​
P U B U E U J E G D T F B D T I M V V P ​
H V W S K F D G K V D M S O X Y O R S F ​
S C I E N C E W P Q T E O R I A S Q M U ​
H R G D Y V N H I J D C F G V H E M Z M ​
U O H H N A G X O Q K K B I G M T W O L ​
O P E I O Q G B A R V H P N N A Z E X V ​
Y I S W N R N U U W G H X H A E B O P N ​
L X D J X R P V Y J H U H X D Y F O I D ​
F U D J X V U K F C V D Q B P D Z I B D ​
F B R D S I W P K F K V T R D R G Y C R ​
Y E T Y O D M X H L L V P T J V I J C D ​
H E X K R O I P B W E T O Y X I B W V O

Once You’re Done


Head to the last page of the activity guide and fill in the row there for the “Word Search” in the table.

1
Birthday Guests
Overview
A big group of 15 guests is getting together at a restaurant for a birthday. The restaurant has 3 tables that can each
seat only 5 people. Below you can find some information about the people who are attending the party.

Aysha, Ben, Carla, Damien, Eric, Fan, Genaro, Hannah, Isaias, Jessica, Kyla, Laila, Max, Nazek, Owen

Close Friends (Try to put them together) In a Fight (Try to keep them apart)
Aysha and Damien Aysha and Genaro
Max and Isaias Ben and Hannah
Nazek and Laila Fan and Max
Owen and Genaro Damien and Laila
Ben and Jessica Isaias and Owen
Genaro and Eric Kyla and Jessica

Objective
Find the best possible arrangement of guests at the party. Draw your solution in the space below. To help you can
cross out the letters of the names you’ve assigned in the row below.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O

Once You’re Done


Head to the last page of the activity guide and fill in the row there for the “Birthday Guests” in the table.

2
Redesign Your Classroom
Overview
You and your friends will be redesigning your classroom. You only have one school day to make it happen, but
otherwise how you plan it is up to you. Plan the best looking classroom that you can!

Develop Goals
Talk with your group for a few minutes. What are the most important things about the classroom? Can everyone see
the teacher? How will you move everything? Write down the goals you’ll use to decide what makes a good plan.

Goals How My Plan Helps Reach this Goal

Everyone can still see the teacher

Everyone should be able to ________.

Make a Layout
Every member of your group should separately start designing a layout. You should select what should go where and
make sure it all fits in the room. For each goal your group chose, list how your layout helps to reach it in the right
column. In the space below draw or describe your redesigned classroom.

New classroom design:

3
Share Your Layout and Get Feedback
Share the layout you developed with your teammates and explain why you think it is the best possible layout given the
goals you chose. Afterwards, record their feedback and reactions to your design in the space below. Is there anything
that needs to change? How could your layout improve?

Improve and Finalize


Using the feedback from your teammates update your layout. In the space below, write down the new design that you
and your group agreed on.

Redesign

Once You’re Done


Head to the last page of the activity guide and fill in the row there for the “Redesign Your Classroom” in the table.

4
Problem Solving Process Notes
Reflecting on Using the Process
How did you use each step of the problem solving process to solve this problem? Give examples of what each step
looked like as you were solving that problem.

Define Prepare Try Reflect

Word
Search

Birthday
Guests

Redesign
Your
Classroom

The Purpose of Each Step


For each step in the problem solving process, write one sentence explaining its purpose. Why is it included in the
problem solving process?

Define:_______________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Prepare: _____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Try:__________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Reflect:_______________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Defining Problems with Questions


Before starting to solve a problem it’s important that you have defined it well. What questions or strategies can you use
to better define or understand a problem? Record them in the space below.

Common questions

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Reflecting on participatory challenges enables individuals to better understand and manage social dynamics and resource constraints encountered during group tasks. This reflection benefits future undertakings by identifying what social interactions facilitated or hindered progress, and what resource allocations (space in classroom redesign or seating in birthday arrangements) were optimal or insufficient. It allows teams to build on successful elements and address inefficiencies or conflicts, promoting more harmonious and effective collaboration in future projects .

Preparation for a word search primarily involves strategies to improve speed and efficiency, such as scanning for clusters of letters or recognizing common word structures quickly. In event planning like a birthday party, preparation involves not just logistical considerations, like ensuring seating arrangements optimize social dynamics and manage conflicts, but also assessing space and environmental factors to enhance guest experience. Unlike word searches, event planning preparation requires anticipating interpersonal interactions and potential conflicts, demanding a more nuanced and strategic approach .

To ensure every team member contributes effectively, strategies such as assigning roles based on individual strengths, encouraging open dialogue, and establishing a culture of respect and inclusivity are essential. In diverse settings, using structured brainstorming sessions where all members have an equal chance to voice ideas can prevent dominance by a few. Implementing feedback loops and rotating roles can ensure varied perspectives are considered, and underrepresented ideas are heard. This ensures comprehensive solutions that benefit from the group's collective expertise .

Defining a problem correlates with successful outcomes by ensuring all group members share a clear understanding of the task requirements and limitations from the outset. This prevents miscommunications and sets a unified direction for solution efforts. In activities such as arranging birthday guests, explicitly defining the seating constraints and relationship dynamics helps streamline decision-making by clarifying which configurations to prioritize or avoid. In a classroom redesign, a detailed problem definition guides group members in aligning their creative efforts with practical needs, leading to more cohesive and effective solutions .

Conflicts can be strategically managed by leveraging the problem-solving process: during the Define phase, clearly identify the nature of conflicts (e.g., identifying conflicting individuals). The Prepare phase involves developing possible solutions, such as arranging seating to minimize conflict or restructuring team dynamics to avoid potential friction. Trying these solutions involves implementing them in practice and monitoring interactions to ensure they meet objectives without exacerbating tensions. Reflecting on the outcomes allows groups to adjust their strategies, learning which approaches effectively manage conflicts or require modification .

Peer feedback provides diverse perspectives and critical evaluation that can highlight unnoticed flaws or potential improvements. In the classroom redesign process, feedback assists in refining the layout by offering suggestions that enhance functionality or aesthetics, ensuring goals such as visibility and accessibility are met. Feedback is effectively integrated by establishing open communication channels, actively soliciting constructive input, incorporating valuable suggestions, and collectively revising the solution based on team consensus .

Challenges in redesigning a classroom could include spatial limitations, ensuring visibility for all students, and optimizing movement. The Define step helps by clarifying these issues and prioritizing them. Preparation might involve researching efficient layouts or consulting with educators for advice on ergonomic solutions. Trying various layouts can identify practical arrangements, utilizing feedback from peers can provide new perspectives or highlight unnoticed issues. The Reflect step involves assessing the new design for functionality and addressing any gaps noticed during implementation .

Reflecting on previous problem-solving experiences allows individuals to assess the effectiveness of their methodologies, such as the sequence in which they approached the task, or time management techniques they utilized. For structured activities like word searches, reflection might reveal strategies that enhance pattern recognition and speed, such as identifying smaller patterns. In guest arrangements, reflection might highlight interpersonal dynamics or solutions that were particularly effective in previous instances, aiding in quicker decision-making and better conflict resolution .

The problem-solving process can be applied to the birthday guest arrangement by following these steps: Define the problem by identifying the seating constraints (3 tables, 5 seats each) and noting interpersonal dynamics like friendships and conflicts. Prepare by considering various seating arrangements that accommodate friendships and avoid conflicts. Try arranging guests by testing different combinations on paper, such as ensuring Aysha and Genaro are not seated together while pairing Aysha with Damien and ensuring close friends like Ben and Jessica are seated together. Reflect by reviewing the chosen arrangement to ensure no conflicts are present and adjustments have optimized seating for comfort and enjoyment .

The iterative nature aligns closely with design activities as it involves continuous cycles of development and revision. Initial ideas undergo trial implementations in the "Try" phase, where their effectiveness is tested. Feedback collected allows for "Reflecting" and making necessary adjustments, enhancing the solution’s quality. As in classroom redesign, this process ensures the final layout not only meets original goals but incorporates practical adjustments that maximize functionality and satisfaction, embodying the cyclical refinement inherent in effective problem-solving .

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