Community Problem Solving (CmPS) is a team or individual activity in which students identify real problems and implement real solutions in a community – local, state, national, or even global. Students use the skills of the problem solving process as they work on their project; however, since real life is not always as organized as an academic exercise, the process may not proceed neatly from step to step. CmPS can be pursued as an extracurricular activity or as part of the regular school curriculum and projects can be one or more years in length.
Future Problem Solving Program International’s problem solving model aligns with State and National Curriculum Standards and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Standards. participation in Community Problem Solving, students refine critical and creative thinking skills, focus on a real community or
school issue, produce Solution ideas, generate Criteria to evaluate Solution ideas, determine the best Plan of Action, and implement the plan to resolve their problem.
CmPS in Action
RHAM Middle School | Senior Division | 2018-2019
01
Inspiration
Approximately 41% of RHAM (Regional Hebron, Andover and Marlborough) Middle School students do not meet the achievement level for math, as measured by the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test. It has long been believed that in the United States of America, girls in particular, lack confidence in ‘hard subjects’ such as math and science. Due to this, less girls plan on majoring in a math or science. How might we encourage development of student’s math skills?
02
Planning
The first step to implementing this project was meeting with the appropriate personnel, such as the head of the math department and the principal. We drafted a club proposal that outlined high school-volunteers working with middle schoolers during free periods as well as after school. After we secured school approval, we worked with the math department to identify teachers willing to supervise and identify dates and times that we can tutor.
03
In Action
We worked to tutor girls in the middle school’s math lab, hoping to achieve a large audience of girls. We aimed to increase their confidence in their STEM based skills and peak their interest in these important and exciting subjects.
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Outcome
Project Grow has demonstrated success by the following measures:
● Increased confidence in math for students who have been tutored which allows them to approach problems differently, with the mindset that they can and will solve it
● Helped students raise grades in math as well as overall understanding
● Helped female students realize that their options are not limited and that they can thrive in STEM-based fields
● Increased number of students who are choosing more difficult math classes for next year