Recently we had the opportunity to participate in a state Futures Problem Solving competition. The state wide program is associated with Future Problem Solving Program International.
For the country and our communities to maintain and create a vibrant culture of creative and problem solving individuals and collaborative teams we need to develop these skills through our schools and support life long learning opportunities.
Here's an exerpt from a email to our children's teacher, Wendy Swenson, from Norfolk Catholic High School, who conducts the program for the 7-9th and 10-12th grade students.
"Thank you for spending time with our children and helping them to learn how to learn.
The skills that you are helping nuture will impact them for the rest of their lives.
The critical thinking skills and collaborating on problem solving are critical lifelong learning behaviors that more people need to develop. Helping our children with these creative skills will help arm themselves for our very fast paced and changing world.
It was great to see our kids get some recognition for their efforts. I see that several teams from Omaha Westside participated in the Seniors division. A 1st place Skit Competition (an excerpt, Mad Cow Bobby, recorded and modified from a potluck dinner presentation) and a 3rd for the Booklet Competition (out of 12 teams) is very impressive. Along with a 1st place finish Skit Competition in the Middle Division, WOW!!. Is this a record with 5 Norfolk Catholic school teams making it to state? Now to get to international!!!
Although I asked Mr. Zoucha to have his government classes (11th) participate in a Visioning 2026 poll, your Futures kids may enjoy filling out this poll as well.
http://www.visioning2026.com/docs/Visioning2026PollingQuestions.pdf
Let me know what you think. To learn more about this project please visit our web site.
http://www.Visioning2026.com"
Here's an earlier email to collegues about another creative and problem solving program.
I read a reference to Destination Imagination in the Omaha World Herald (03/17/07) and went on a search. Problem solving using creativity across several learning disciplines.
A VERY GOOD VIDEO description.
The Nebraska DI mission states, Our Mission is to nurture and encourage development of the important life skills of problem solving, teamwork, cooperation, curiosity, and
self-respect with an "I can" attitude in a creative way.
Nebraska's next year program looks very interesting!
As part of Visioning 2026 goals toward educating ourselves through live long learning what do you think about sponsoring Norfolk area team(s) that could consist of students from local grade schools, NPS, Catholic, Lutheran, Park Avenue, Kings Academy? Other teams could be sponsored for middle school aged kids and then high school. I suspect we could get several service groups to help support this program as well.
http://www.ncaps.org/Register.html
National Discovery Imagination Organization
What I like about this program is it's multi-discipline approach!!!
Who would be our best access points for the school systems, the PTAs, school administrators, teachers, school boards, etc.?
There's another national program called FIRST LEGO League. An exciting and fun international robotics program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in kids ages 9 to 14. I know that NECC is involved in something very similar if not the same program.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/04/22/robot.olympics/index.html