5th August 2009 – Lesson 8
09 August 2009
Today’s lesson was about problem solving, which consist of four steps – 1. Define the problem, 2. Generate alternative solutions, 3. Evaluate and select an alternative, 4. Implement and follow up on the solution. Different steps of problem solving have different characteristics.
In the first step – defining the problem, it includes differentiate fact from opinion, state the problem explicitly and, determine whose problem it is and who resolves the problem. The second step – generate alternative solutions, includes specify both short-term and long-term alternatives that are consistent with goals and specify alternative that solve the problem. Third step – evaluate and select an alternative, includes evaluate relative to goals, evaluate main effects and side effects and, state the selected alternative explicitly. For the last step – implement and follow up on the solution, it includes implement at the proper time and in the right sequence, provide opportunities for feedback, establish an ongoing monitoring system and evaluate the success of the solution.
After that, Ms. Suma told us to read and understand scenario 1 on page 219 which was about moving up in the rankings. We were then told to find the best alternative in order to solve the problem given in the article. Next, we had class activity again. This activity called the Straw Game. We were told to form a group of six. The rule of this game was every member of the group were required to use only one finger to support a straw which we need to bring it slowly from the chest level to the ground (finger needs to touch on the floor), and then have to bring it up again. Whosoever finger did not touch on the straw or the straw drops half way, the group had to redo the whole process again. And luckily, our group managed to finish it up in a very short time.
After the break, we had another activity again. It was a jigsaw puzzle game, which Ms. Suma gave every group a package which contains pieces of paper form puzzle which we need to solve and figure out on it. Our group was the last one to compete because ours was the hardest one among other groups and it was a pyramid. After that, Ms. Suma told us it wasn’t complete yet because we still need to combine with other groups’ pyramid to form into a big pyramid. From both of the activities that we had today, we’ve learn about teamwork among each other.