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The following activities can be integrated into themes or be used by themselves toward improvement in targeted competencies.
THINKING SKILLS
PROBLEM SOLVING (TP)
TP 1 Identify problems TP 2 Generate ideas about the causes of a problem TP 3 Identify the cause of a problem TP 4 Identify solutions to the problem TP 5 Choose appropriate solutions TP 6 Apply appropriate solutions TP 7 Evaluate the solutions TP 8 Modify the solutions needed
The Job-Site activity is a sequenced work-related problem which addresses problem solving competencies TP1-TP8. They may be used as is or adapted for your site.
ACTIVITY ONE (TP 1)
Objective: Students will be able to identify problems in work-site settings.
1. Students each receive the handouts, The Job-Site and Part 1: The Job Site. 2. Students read the situation in pairs. 3. Students discuss and identify the major problems in pairs. Have them consider the following points: Who is involved? What exactly is wrong? Where is the problem taking place? When did the problem begin? What is the pattern of the problem? 4. The main problem is written on the board and discussed as a class. 5. Students create and write out similar work-site problems in pairs. 6. The teacher collects the problems and reads them out-loud to the class. 7. The class isolates the main problems in each case.
1. Students each receive the handouts, The Job-Site and Part 1: The Job Site.
2. Students read the situation in pairs.
3. Students discuss and identify the major problems in pairs. Have them consider the following points:
Who is involved? What exactly is wrong? Where is the problem taking place? When did the problem begin? What is the pattern of the problem?
4. The main problem is written on the board and discussed as a class.
5. Students create and write out similar work-site problems in pairs.
6. The teacher collects the problems and reads them out-loud to the class.
7. The class isolates the main problems in each case.
ACTIVITY TWO (TP 2)
Objective: Students will be able to generate ideas about the cause of a problem.
1. Refer to the handout Part 2: The Job-Site. 2. Students think about the problem at the job site. How could the foreman, James, Rosa, and Lamont all be at fault for not meeting the deadline? 3. Students share their answers with the class.
1. Refer to the handout Part 2: The Job-Site.
2. Students think about the problem at the job site. How could the foreman, James, Rosa, and Lamont all be at fault for not meeting the deadline?
3. Students share their answers with the class.
ACTIVITY THREE (TP 3)
Objective: Students will be able to identify a variety of causes in a workplace problem.
1. Problem solving may be nothing more than the art of asking the right questions at the right time. Questions such as who, what, where, when, why, how, and to what extent cover most problem situations. 2. Students refer to the questions on the worksheet What's the Problem ? while they do the activity for Part 3: The Job-Site. Students try to identify the problem at this work-site by asking a random 10.15 questions on the worksheet. 3. Each group presents its findings to the class. 4. The class compiles a list on the blackboard. 5. Follow-up activity: Students break into pairs and explore a personal problem using the What's the Problem? worksheet.
1. Problem solving may be nothing more than the art of asking the right questions at the right time. Questions such as who, what, where, when, why, how, and to what extent cover most problem situations.
2. Students refer to the questions on the worksheet What's the Problem ? while they do the activity for Part 3: The Job-Site. Students try to identify the problem at this work-site by asking a random 10.15 questions on the worksheet.
3. Each group presents its findings to the class.
4. The class compiles a list on the blackboard.
5. Follow-up activity: Students break into pairs and explore a personal problem using the What's the Problem? worksheet.
ACTIVITY FOUR (TP 3)
Objective: Students will be able to create a cause and effect analysis of a problem using a fishbone diagram.
1. Divide students into task groups of three. 2. Explain to students that they will be looking for root causes and appropriate solutions for a workplace problem. Tell students that workplace problems usually occur in one of the following areas: Materials: (poor quality, not enough) Process: (poor instructions, lack of communication, no priorities, no schedule) People: (untrained staff, untrained management, too much socializing) Machines: (age, in bad condition, scheduling, too complex) 5. Directly teach the fishbone model using The Job Site handout and the Cause and Effect Analysis: Fishbone Diagram worksheet. The teacher elicits all information from the students as the class fills in the diagram on the blackboard. 6. The class decides on the root problems which appear more than once in the diagram, or which contribute to the other problems. 7. Students identify a workplace, class or society problem and complete a new fishbone diagram for it. They discuss possible solutions for this problem.
1. Divide students into task groups of three.
2. Explain to students that they will be looking for root causes and appropriate solutions for a workplace problem. Tell students that workplace problems usually occur in one of the following areas:
Materials: (poor quality, not enough) Process: (poor instructions, lack of communication, no priorities, no schedule) People: (untrained staff, untrained management, too much socializing) Machines: (age, in bad condition, scheduling, too complex)
5. Directly teach the fishbone model using The Job Site handout and the Cause and Effect Analysis: Fishbone Diagram worksheet. The teacher elicits all information from the students as the class fills in the diagram on the blackboard.
6. The class decides on the root problems which appear more than once in the diagram, or which contribute to the other problems.
7. Students identify a workplace, class or society problem and complete a new fishbone diagram for it. They discuss possible solutions for this problem.
ACTIVITY FIVE (TP 4)
Objective: Students will be able to identify various solutions
