Creative Problem Solving [CPS]

The design of this approach is to help the students walk through the step-by-step details of project learning that centers around providing a start to finish outline of identifying the problem, gather the data to support the need, give a reason why search for alternatives solutions to the problem, and then formulate and implement a plan of action.

The strengths of this approach are the ideas of solving a problem that immediately effects the person or the environment. This approach is a good choice because there are several situations/challenges that students could be passionate about and would enjoy tackling. What stands out is the Divergent /Convergent Thinking portion where students are asked to defer judgment on all ideas before converging. Many times when one idea is presented, it is either immediately excepted without reasonable question, or the idea is knocked down before it can properly germinate.

The limitations of the study are the attributed weights to the ideas. Unless the scales are without further discussion if the numbers have a slight difference in total amount the group may be caught up in recounting; because the numbers are so close or possibly the same. Also the question of a stalemate can occur. The students are then back at the beginning trying to figure out which idea is the best one. Most times the answer to having two equally strong ideas is priority/order. Once one idea has been tried, then the other idea will follow, but deciding which idea goes first can still be a challenge.