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5
Steps to Creative Problem Solving
The Brainstorming process you read about on page 22 is
one method of creative problem solving. There are many others, and some
people contend that Brainstorming is only part of a problem solving
process.
We will next explore "The Five Step" method.
- Figure Out, Identify and Define the Problem
This step seems rather obvious. If you don't know what the problem
is how can you solve it. But is also means narrowing and focussing
on a problem. Sometimes people attempt to tackle a problem with out
really defining what the problem is. They end up with more than they
can handle or can reasonably do. So they give up or worse, let others
down.
- Look at all the Options
This is the step where you think about and list all the things you
can do about the problem. This is where the Brainstorming method you
learned - in this step you think about the things you can do about
the problem.
- Find the Best Solution
Take your list that you made in Step 2 and look at all the options
you came up with. Decide which option or options will work the best.
- Best Solution Accomplishment Plan
Once you have decide which solution(s) to use, you need to plan how
to put it into action .
- Look at the Results
Did your plan work? Did it work the way you wanted it to? What worked
and what did not? Evaluate your plan and the results.
In problem solving, repeating some or all of the steps
is OKAY and sometimes necessary.
Adapted from the Problem Solving
Module from Ohio Literacy Resource Center, http://literacy.kent.edu/salt_fork/prob_solv/index.html
Used by permission
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