Problem Solution Resources

For any teacher interested in using digital tools in the classroom, one key question always remains:  What exactly should students study?  Like any good project, digital tools are only effective when students interact with interesting content.  Often, the best projects ask students to study common global challenges and develop potential solutions.  The resources on this page can support efforts to engage students in problem-solution based projects. 

Problem Solution Resources Understanding Global Challenges and/or Controversial Issues Evaluating Potential Solutions Organizing Problem Solution Introductions Organizing Solution Paragraphs

Understanding Global Challenges and/or Controversial Issues

Handout_UnderstandingtheProblem.pdf

This handout can help students to gather a range of evidence connected to global challenges.

Evaluating Potential Solutions

Handout_EvaluatingPotentialSolutions.pdf

This handout is designed to be used in conjunction with the Understanding Global Challenges handout, and can be used to help students think through solutions that they are studying for controversial issues or global challenges. 

Organizing Problem Solution Introductions

Handout_OrganizingPSIntroductions.pdf

Writing about global problems and potential solutions requires a certain style. Writers begin problem-solution pieces by convincing readers that the problem being studying must be addressed and that there are practical solutions worth pursuing. To do so, they use several unique sentences in their writing. They include grabbers, backgrounders, persuaders and closers. This handout will help you to craft a draft of an introduction for your problem-solution piece.

Organizing Solution Paragraphs

Handout_OrganizerSolutionParagraphs.pdf

While the best writers rarely follow scripted templates, they almost always include the same kinds of sentences in their work. Similar to introductions, solution paragraphs in problem-solution pieces include grabbers, backgrounders, elaborators, persuaders and closers. The difference comes in the content shared. Use this handout to craft a draft of a paragraph explaining one of your solutions to an audience.