PROBLEM SOLVING LEVEL 3
MOVING ON –
WHAT NEXT?
THE PROBLEM:
to decide on and devise a detailed and feasible
plan for the year immediately after leaving
Coleg Y Cymoedd
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SESSION 3
Step 1: You should have identified 3 or 4 methods of solving your
problem.
 In your Candidate Work Booklet write about each method, detailing
what activities you will do for each of these to help you choose between
them.
 The activities you discuss for each method should not be based on the
same basic approach. They should include a variety eg visual , auditory
and spoken, written, analytical.
 Make some notes below to help you to organise your thoughts and then
complete the relevant section in the Candidate Work Booklet:
Method 1:
What activities will you use to investigate this method?
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Method 2:
What activities will you use to investigate this method?
Method 3:
What activities will you use to investigate this method?
Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q4 [3.1.2]
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Step 1b: Now you need to make notes on how you came up with each method.
You might want to think about the following:
(1) How did you come up with each method?
(2) Is the method based on:
o written work?
o practical experiment?
o study?
o imitiation? (ie doing it because someone you know has)
There might be elements of all of the above in each method- you will need to
describe what you are going to do for each method.
(3) Why is your approach appropriate for the method?
Again, you might want to make notes here, to help you to clarify your thoughts,
before completing question 5 in your Candidate Work Booklet.
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Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q5 [3.1.2]
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Step 1c: It is time to consider the main features and risks of each method- you
can discuss with others.
METHOD 1: _______________________________
Main features
Risks
METHOD 2: ___________________________
Main features
Risks
METHOD 3: ______________________________
Main features
Risks
Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q6 [3.1.3]
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Step 1d: Now you must do some basic research (based on what you’ve said above)
to be able to choose which method you will follow.
You might wish to:
 Talk to other people about each method.
 Look for jobs in the newspapers / job centre.
 Look up the cost of a gap year.
 Look on UCAS website.
You should use some of the activities you talked about earlier.
You must keep evidence of what you do:
 Keep a record of any discussion you have.
 Make photocopies or keep the newspapers you look at.
 Print the websites you use
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Step 1e: Now you need to decide which method you will adopt and why. You need
to give detailed reasons as to why you have chosen this method. Refer to the
research you have done. Focus on the method you have chosen but refer to the
others as well. Explain why you have decided to focus on your chosen methodwhat benefits does it have for you?
Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q7 [3.1.3]
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SESSIONS 4 and 5: Monitoring- action planning and research.
Now that you have chosen which method to follow, you need to devise an Action Plan.
It needs to have a detailed timeline with deadlines for the essential activities you will
need to carry out in order to solve your problem.
You need to have your Action Plan approved by your tutor.
In order to create your Action Plan:
 Make notes below of the essential activities you will need to do.
 Place them in order with dates.
BE DETAILED!
You could look at the research booklet for your selected option in order to help you
decide which activities you will need to do.
Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q8 [3.2.1]
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NOW WORK THROUGH THE RESEARCH BOOKLET
RELEVANT TO YOUR CHOSEN METHOD.
You will need to have completed this booklet by the
first full lesson back after Easter.
Ask your tutor / carers / colleagues to check your progress at appropriate times.
REMEMBER: When you have completed the Research Booklet, you will need to come
back and finish this booklet and the Candidate Work Booklet.
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YEAR 13:
SESSION 6: Monitoring: recording what has been done.
Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q9 Activity Log [3.2.2]
Q10 Progress Check [3.2.3]
SESSION 7: Reviewing the outcomes.
(1 hour)
Problem Solving, Candidate Work Booklet: Complete
Q10 Check if the problem has been solved [3.3.1]
Q11 [3.3.2] and Q12 [3.3.3]
REVIEW WITH TUTOR:
Now that you have completed your Problem Solving Level 3, your
tutor may ask you the following question (they may record your
answer).
“With regard to planning, doing and reviewing, what have you learned
about problem solving?”
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