Future Problem Solving

Magellan students will participate in the Global Issues and Scenario Writing components of Future Problem Solving. This international program will help our students develop the skills of teamwork, written and verbal communication, research, critical and creative thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Students will apply these skills to situations that are set in the future but based on current research. The focus of FPS is on teaching students how to think, not what to think.
 
Process
Students work in teams of four or five to research and study various topic areas. They will then complete a problem-solving booklet based on a Future Scene written about the topic of study. A team of evaluators reads the booklets and provides extensive written feedback focused on improvement of writing and thinking skills. All of the problem solving work is based on the Creative Problem Solving process that can applied to complex situations in education, business, community, and personal situations. Students will identify challenges (1), select and underlying problem (2), produce solution ideas (3), select criteria (4), apply criteria (5), and develop an action plan (6).
 
Participation
All Magellan students will participate in the process for two practice problems in the fall and early winter. All students will also complete the qualifying problem for the State Bowl competition; however, some students may choose to participate non-competitively. From that point on, all students will still research, study, and discuss the topic for the State Bowl, but only qualifying teams and individuals will attend the State Bowl in the spring. Any teams or individuals who advance to the International Conference will continue to prepare for that competition through the end of the school year. Magellan teachers will determine teams, and it is likely we will adjust these teams as we progress through the practice problems. Once teams are set for the state qualifying problem, they will remain the same.

Scenario Writing
All students will also have the opportunity and be encouraged to compete individually in Scenario Writing. Students develop short stories related to one of the topics. The story is set at least 20 years into the future and is an imagined but logical outgrowth of actions or events taking place in the world today. The story should focus on one main character and develop that character through the plot of the story. Through scenario writing, students will enrich their critical thinking and creative writing skills. The top three scenarios are published in a booklet and authors are invited to attend the State Bowl to receive their awards and read their stories. First and second place stories are submitted for international level competition.