Future Problem Solving Program competition

The following are 5-8 grade language arts Future Problem Solving Program competition results:

BIRCHWOOD GOES INTERNATIONAL

Birchwood School represents Ohio at the International Conference for the Future Problem Solving Program at Michigan State from May 29 through June 1. At both the junior and intermediate divisions, Birchwood teams placed first at the state to earn the invitation to the international competition. Junior team members consist of sixth graders: Deepak K, Munim, Clare P, and Nina R. The intermediate winners from seventh and eighth grade are George B, Serena C, Anirudh D, and Forde R.

Future Problem Solving Program (FPSPI) engages students in the creative problem solving. Founded in 1974 by creativity pioneer, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, FPSPI stimulates critical and creative thinking skills while encouraging students to develop a vision for the future. The program itself charters forty-three affiliate programs throughout the United States , Australia , New Zealand , and Korea , involving 250,000 students annually. It is also mentoring programs in Canada , Hong Kong , Japan , Malaysia , and Singapore .

Birchwood had a total of seven teams attending the State Bowl at Solon High School on April 4 and 5. Students were given a future scenario about “debt in developing country” from which they used the six-step problem solving process. They derived a final underlying problem and solution, after a long process of divergent and convergent thinking in a two-hour period. In addition students learned to work with the different personalities in a team and to convey their ideas with clarity.

Many other Birchwood teams did well at the state level:

Intermediate Division

Fourth Place : Shulamite C, Jacob D, Sam J, Lina W

Third Place : Jacob B, Jocelyn L, Thomas W, Ben W

Junior Division

Fifth Place : Miranda M, Zaeem M, Miguel P, Nardine T

Second at the skit presentation of their final solution - to “sell” their final solution

Other state bowl qualifiers:

Junior Teams:

Carlf C, Alexander I, Trevor L, Hassan S

Alex P, Sanjana R, Susmita R, Hannah Y

Individuals:

Nathan C

Lulu S

A big thank you to all the parents who coached, judged, drove, prepared lunch, gathered the memorabilia, or simply assisted in various ways. Your presence and show of support was phenomenal.

A final word of thanks to Mr. Hageman, who broached this topic to the teams and whom many cited as a research source at the state bowl.