WHAT ARE THE CHARATRISTICS OF INDIVIDUAL WHO IS PROBLOM SOLVER?
very smart, organize, use analytic process in dealing with any issue
Paul,
I am seeing this in my students as well. There is a feeling of entitlement by many of the younger students because they have not had to acquire the self discipline needed to be successful at critical and reflective thinking. With our help we need to get them to step back and acquire the self discipline needed to find resources, pose solutions and then solve problems. Problem solving is more than just doing a google search.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am having a more difficult time with the "younger" crowd in dealing with problems than I am with the "older" crowd. It seems that the younger students were brought up babied in many instances. Their problems were solved FOR them, not BY them. All they have to do is ask, or probably more often, whine hard enough and they expect that their problems will go away. Their thinking is they don't deserve to have problems. Who does? They also don't realize some of the consequences of not dealing with their problems until it is too late. I'm not saying I was much different when I was young. I might have been worse, who knows, but it is a generational type of problem in itself.
Ruthie,
This has been my experience as well. Our students need to create a step by step model for themselves when it comes to problem solving and a google search is not it. Self discipline and reflective thinking goes a long way in helping them to become problem solvers and career leaders.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It seems that so many students today are impulsive... they go for the "fire" -woops! I should have ready-aimed" method rather than the ready-aim-fire method of problem solving. I truly believe this is still due to the instant gratification world they are raised in and the examples their parents set. I think one of the best characteristics of problem solvers is the desire to change the situation enough to actually start changing thinking habits.
Steven,
Answering with a question helps students to develop their abilities to analyze and think through possible solutions. The more experience they get in this method the better they are going be at solving problems once they are in the work place. Keep asking those questions!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The person that can solve the problem has a complete understanding of how it works to start with. In the automotive field this is a must. Without understanding how it works you cannot solve the problem. Teaching students to analyze and think in a logical manner is a real challenge in today's world. You must first teach them to think. If I am ask a question by a student I generally reply with a question that makes them think and apply the knowledge they should have.
Devon,
Good point and one that challenges many of us in education as we strive to help our students to be successful in their career field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Please Gary Meers, all my boss should read your comments, key end results, for our students. more effective. If only this is so, ego get in the way, evaluations rule, how we teach, thinking out of box helps, reflecting brings back, what is really important.
Wendy,
I hear this same thing from instructors all the time. Students are not developing their thinking skills so when they come to college they just want to get content, test over it and leave the class. Today's jobs require problem solving and reflective thinking so the more we can incorporate that into our instructional process the better. Keep up the good work you are doing in this area.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree 100%. This is one of the biggest challenges with new students entering the program as the majority lack problem solving skills. When problem solving with students who have challenges, we go through all possible outcomes and results in order to show the student how different/positive the outcome can be when using good problem solving skills.
Andrew,
I too have worked with these two types of problem solvers. I love the energy that the "just dive in" type of problem solver brings to the table but often times mistakes are made because of misjudgement of related facts and information. I try to decipline myself to be more of a "think before I act" problem solver.
Gamaliel,
Well developed definition. This is the type of person I would like to have on my team as we work to solve problems in my field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with this point of view: it is an individual who stands out and voices his opinion once he has analyzed the situation and possible outcomes and its pros and cons for the group as a whole
Jennifer,
Right you are about how much problem solving occurs with a student like the one you describe. She with all the challenges she faces is working through solutions to different problems all day long. Having a sick child in relation to finding child care while trying to get a car going that doesn't want to start so she will not be late to class. This is problem solving and she hasn't even gotten to class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A single mother going to school full-time, taking care of children, and working. What a great opportunity to engage students of that specific demographic and promote upward mobility through education!
A problem solver is resourceful and always has options. A problem solver does not complain about the younger students they have and blame society, technology, and helicopter parents. Questioning their options to reach goals. A problem solver knows their limits and is a reflective upon their work. Problem solver's are solution based and not stuck in the problem. They ask for help and welcome criticism.
Andrew,
The key is the end result. There are many different approaches to solving a problem so the more we can help our students to look at options the more effective they will be in their problem solving skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have come across people who are problem solvers and I have seen them in two ways, think before acting and diving right in to immerse themselves in to the problem. It seems that either way they solve the problem.
Theresa,
Like your definition. You have touched on one of the key elements and that is thinking before acting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
very confidence
sucessful
multi task
listen well
