PROGRAMME INFORMATION

Future Problem Solving is a highly regarded and well-researched international educational program that develops creative, critical and caring thinking skills in students from Year 1 – Year 13. Students grapple with global and community issues, identify underlying problems and create positive solutions to those issues. Above all, it aims to give young people the skills to design and promote positive futures as citizens of the 21st Century.

Please click the icons below to go to information from the Future Problem Solving International website. The grade information is incorrect for New Zealand. Our divisions are as follows:

GLOBAL ISSUES:

  • Primary Division – up to Year 6
  • JB Division – Year 7
  • Junior Division – any teams with Year 8 students in them
  • Middle Division – Years 9 and 10
  • Senior Division – Years 11 to 13

ALL OTHER COMPONENTS:

  • Junior – up to Year 8
  • Middle  – Year 9 and 10
  • Senior – Year 11 to 13

Components of the Future Problem Solving ProgrammeT

There are four programme components in Future Problem Solving. In Global Issues Problem Solving and Community Projects, students work in teams or as individuals and in Creative Writing and Storytelling they work as individuals.

Goals of the  Programme

  • To develop an active interest in the future
  • To encourage creative thinking
  • To develop critical and analytical thought
  • To strengthen oral and written communication skills
  • To present an effective problem solving model
  • To develop research techniques
  • To work co-operatively in teams

Links to the New Zealand Curriculum

Future Problem Solving has close links to the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). It reflects the Principles of the NZC and in particular provides a vehicle for exploring the Future Focus Principle. See Future Focus Principle for information about this principle. Students have the opportunity to both develop their own key competencies and to explore how other people develop and apply the key competencies whilst problem solving. Topics for Global Issues are deliberately selected across a range of learning areas, whilst Community Problem Solvers will develop skills and knowledge across the learning areas through authentic contexts. Teachers (‘Coaches’) will have the opportunity to apply the effective pedagogies as they facilitate 21st century collaborative learning.

“Future Problem Solving is of value to those considering entering the business/management worlds as it teaches them to be innovative in an ever-changing environment and to implement solutions having considered all the implications.” 

– Lecturer in Management – Parent of a Future Problem Solving student

Watch to hear a TEDx presentation from our alumni and now Board of Trustees member, Hannah Hudson:

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