Future Problem Solving Steps 4 and 5
Future Problem Solving
Steps 4 and 5
Selecting Criteria and
Evaluating Solutions
Step 4 Purpose
• Now that we have all of these solutions, how do we decide which one is the best?
• Step 4 is all about evaluating solutions!
• You will come up with 5 questions that you will use to decide which solution is
THE BEST!
Step 4 “Formula”
• All questions begin with…
– “Which solution will be the…”
• Next you need a superlative adjective
– They end in –est or start with “most”
– Safest, most humane, easiest to implement
• FOR “WHO” – who will benefit
• SO THAT “WHY/WHAT? – how or why?
Examples of Correctly Written
Step Fours
• Which solution will be the safest for immigrants so that fewer people are hurt by corrupt border patrols?
• Which solution will be the fastest to implement for the government so that people are protected from corrupt border patrol agents?
• Which solution will be the least expensive for businesses so that they will not pass their expenses on to the public?
Common Questions to Ask…
• Safest
• Least Expensive
• Fastest to implement
• Easiest to implement
• Most humane
• Most effective
• Easiest to enforce
• Least intrusive
• Most fair
• Most humane
• Most environmentally friendly
Step 5 Purpose
• Use your questions from Step 4 to determine THE BEST solution!
• Move quickly – more than likely, you are almost out of time!
• Remember…
–“1” is BAD
–“8” is AWESOME!!!
Step 5 Procedures
• Choose one person to write on the score sheet.
• Throw out your “worst” 8 solutions – leaving you with your Top Eight.
• Write in the numbers of the Top Eight
Solutions in the boxes on the left.
• Evaluate ONE question at a time and write in the scores!! 1 is BAD, 10 is AWESOME
Step 5 Procedures (Cont.)
• Go through the evaluation process for all five questions. 1 is BAD, 8 is AWESOME
• Mathematician, it’s your time to shine!
– Add all of the scores going across
– The solution with the highest score becomes your Step 6 Action Plan
• While three people are working on Step 6, one person finishes up Step 5 by writing in the WHAT of each Top Ten Solution
Let’s Recap!
• In Step 4, we come up with ___ questions to help us evaluate our __________.
• We use __________ adjectives only!
• We remember to use ____ and __ ____ to identify ____ and WHY/WHAT.
• In Step 5, we use our ____ ____ solutions.
• ___ is BAD, ___ is ________!
• We evaluate ____ _______ at a time!
• While everyone else works on Step 6, one person fills in the _____ for each solution.
