Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to participate?
- Global Issues Booklet Competition:
$320.00 plus G.S.T. per team (4 students) - Individual Competition:
$ 85.00 plus G.S.T. per student - Stepping Stones – Non-Competitive Global Issues:
$320.00 plus G.S.T. per team (3 problems), $240.00 plus G.S.T. per team (2 problems) and $160.00 plus G.S.T. for 1 problem - Creative Writing
$75.00 plus G.S.T. per student
Storytelling
$65.00 plus G.S.T. per student - Community Projects:
$320.00 plus G.S.T. per team - Individual Community Project:
$ 85.00 plus G.S.T. per student
Is Future Problem Solving good for all students?
Most of the creative, ethical and critical thinking skills in this programme are important for all students. The high level of reading, inquiry, reasoning and critical thinking skills required makes it particularly engaging for very able students. The skills which students learn through this programme are transferable across the curriculum and can have a profound positive impact on all learning areas.
Some teachers working within the Stepping Stones Division teach the programme as part of a whole class programme.
Community Projects may be suitable for gifted and talented students with a range of different abilities and particularly suitable for students who are well organised and can learn to work well in a team. There is also an individual division where students who are committed as individual students can strive.
How can we fit Future Problem Solving into our school programme?
Future Problem Solving is a challenging academic programme which requires a high level of abstract reasoning. This needs to be recognised when implementing the programme in a school. Ideally three hours a week would be an optimum time investment; in reality, most coaches seem to have an hour a week with their teams.
All New Zealand schools are expected to identify and cater for their gifted and talented students. Future Problem Solving, whilst not meeting the needs of all gifted and talented learners can become an integral part of the provisions for gifted and talented learners in a school. Experienced coaches are available to offer specific support and advice to schools in their implementation/ set-up phase.
- Different models in schools have included:
* withdrawal groups,
* extension group within a classroom
* part of a gifted and talented programme
* a component of one curriculum area or topic of inquiry
* before /after school classes
* part of the whole class programme (Stepping Stones Division in particular)
* options lines / subjects
Community Projects requires a long term commitment in terms of time and flexibility. Most schools have run this as an extension withdrawal group. We recommend that coaches have at least one year’s experience with Future Problem Solving before tackling Community Projects, although this is not essential. Community Projects may be able to be included as part of the school’s technology programme. The coach would need to be au fait with the document to ensure that the requirements of the curriculum are covered. The goals of Community Projects align closely to the definition of Technology in the curriculum.
Creative Writing fits nicely into the English Curriculum. It suits the needs of gifted writers who are interested in the future and who enjoy science fiction.
Storytelling suits the needs of students who like to ‘tell’ a story rather than write it down, and those who enjoy giving a dramatic and persuasive performance.
How do we identify students for Future Problem Solving?
Future Problem Solving is a programme which suits the needs of many gifted students, it is not the ‘be all and end all’ of gifted and talented education. It can be an integral part of any enrichment programme.
If your school has a good definition of gifted and talented students and a school-wide identification procedure you will already have identified your pool of gifted and talented students. From this pool you can further filter out your Future Problem Solving students. Some schools merely use PAT Stanines. The danger of this is that you may miss those exciting, creatively gifted students who do not necessarily score well on standardised tests yet are ideal Future Problem Solving candidates. Likewise you may end up with some students who prefer to work in a narrow ‘right answers’ approach and Future Problem Solving does not necessarily meet their specific learning needs as open-mindedness is a key skill set. Many schools call on the recommendation of classroom teachers who know their students’ needs and strengths.
Look for students who enjoy
- Intellectual Challenge
- Taking risks and questioning ideas
- Being curious and are keen inquirers
- Coping with ambiguity
- Thinking creatively
- Discussing ‘meaty’ topics
- Imagining the future
- Wondering about the world
- Working in teams
Students with these characteristics who find teamwork difficult may prefer to register as individuals.
Also give consideration to highly creative, individualistic thinkers with unique approaches to their learning but do not score impressively on academically.
What training is available?
Coaches Training Workshops are run in various parts of the country when there is sufficient demand. during the first term each year, usually during the week but sometimes on a Saturday. Facilitators are experienced Future Problem Solving coaches and evaluators. Workshops incorporate strategies for creative thinking which are transferable into everyday classroom teaching, and practical tips for new coaches.
Zoom support is available for first year coaches.
Who are the evaluators?
We have a nationwide team of evaluators. These people are mainly coaches, ex-students, retired teachers or outstanding senior students. The quality of evaluation is high, and comprehensive feedback is given to teams. This is one of the strengths of this programme. All evaluators have received training at workshops or by mentoring.
Coaches are urged to train as evaluators. The best way to learn about how the programme works is to become an evaluator.
Several of our evaluation team are evaluating at international level.
If you would like to become an evaluator, please contact admin@fpsnz.co.nz
Other Relevant Information
- Enrolments are accepted only on the appropriate online registration form.
- Send no money, your school will be invoiced.
- After Problem Two no further booklets will be evaluated, for competitive teams, until registration fees are paid in full.
- There can be no return of pdf resources.
- There will be no refunds after a school has submitted booklets.