PROBLEM SOLVING AND
DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
Progress Toward Educational Goals
11th Grade
PROBLEM SOLVING
“Problem-solving is the
ability to identify and solve problems
by applying appropriate skills systematically.”
Jabberwocky
https://www.teachervision.com/problem-solving/teaching-methods/48451.html
IN OTHER WORDS
Problem Solving is a process
in using decision-making skills
to understand what you know
to discover what you
want to know.
TeacherVision
FIVE STAGES MODEL TO PROBLEM SOLVING
 Understand the problem
 take the time to recognize and identity and state the problem your own words so that it
makes sense to you.
 Describe any barriers
 Determine what is causing of the problem.
 Identify various solutions
 Determine one or more solutions to solving the problem. Keep in mind, different problems may
require different solutions.
 Try out a solution

Evaluate the results
 Why does this solution work for this problem?
 How do you feel about your results?
TeacherVison
PROBLEM SOLVING AND
DECISION-MAKING SKILLS SCENARIO
Read the following story. Go through the steps of problem-solving and use
your decision-making skills to discuss how the problem might be solved.
Joseph is a hard working young man and an excellent student with high
grades. He has worked as a stock boy at a neighborhood grocery store since
he was 14 years old and has saved almost every paycheck he has earned at
the store. Now that Joseph is 16, he wants to buy a car with his savings.
However, Joseph has a problem. He also wants to go to college and has only
one more year of high school to graduate with honors. Even though his
parents are very proud of him, they have told him that he will have to decide
what to do with his money. Joseph’s parents have made it very clear to him
that he will not receive any financial support from them.
Taken directly from Baylor University’s Community Mentoring for Adolescent Development
PROBLEM-SOLVING STEPS
 Identity and state the problem
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 What are Joseph’s barriers? (What is causing of the problem?)
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 What are possible solutions?
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 Circle or highlight the best solution from the list above?

Evaluate the results
 Why does this solution work for this problem?
 How do you feel about your results?