The Purpose of Teaching Real-World Problem Solving Blog

Teaching Real-World Problem Solving: Key to Future US Innovation

The purpose of this blog is to promote the development, in our students, of real-world problem solving skills by use of inquiry-guided learning. Refocusing our teaching strategies to incorporate problem solving skills is crucial if we wish US students to compete in the international arena. According to The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), US students' problem-solving skills have not kept pace with other developed nations. The latest test results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) show US problem solving test scores trailing (IES, 2014,July 07). Although measuring slightly above average, the US was ranked behind Britain, Singapore, South Korea, Japan China and Canada. (Bertran, 2014, April 01). 

US economic success has historically relied upon our entrepreneurial outlook and has been fueled by our workforces’ creativity and capacity for innovation. As educators, we must expand the focus of our teaching to include critical thinking skills along with mastery of knowledge (Nilson, 2010), if we wish our students to continue to be world leaders in technology, medicine, manufacturing and economics (Cranney & Dunn, 2011).       

This blog will methods teaching real world problem solving skills through use of inquiry-guided teaching and suggest ways in which educators can integrate these strategies into their teaching. 

courtesy of bsharp.com

References

Bertran, V.,  (2014, July 07). We have to get serious about creativity and problem solving. Huffington Post Education, [The Blog]. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vince-bertram/we-have-to-get-serious-ab_b_5272884.html

Cranney, J. & Dunn, D. S. (2011). Psychological literacy and the psychologically literate citizen: New frontiers for a global discipline. The Psychologically Literate Citizen: Foundations and Global Perspectives, 3–12.New York: Oxford University Press.

Institute of Educational Sciences (IES), (2014, April 01) National Center for Educational Statistics. Program for International Student Assessment (PISA.)Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/ Assessment (PISA) test examined

Nilson, L. B., (2010). Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.