ACADEMIC PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE
Let's try this method out on an academic problem.
Scenario: Susan is enrolled in five courses for the fall semester. She is struggling with one of her 3-credit required
courses and is worried that she might fail it. The withdrawal deadline with refund has already passed, but the
withdrawal deadline with no refund is still one week away. She is unsure if she should withdraw from the course or
not. Her finances are tight and she doesn't want to have to pay to repeat the course if she does withdraw. On the
other hand, she is concerned about the effect of a low grade on her average. She is also extremely stressed and is
having trouble sleeping and eating as a result of this stress.
1. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Identifying and naming the problem.
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Problem 1: Susan is struggling academically with the course.
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Problem 2: She has financial problems.
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Problem 3: She is experiencing stress.
2. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBL E SOLUTIONS?
Listing all possible solutions.
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To withdraw from the course.
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To remain in the course.
3. WHAT DOES SUSAN NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EACH OF THESE SOLUTIONS IN ORDER TO
PICK ONE OVER THE OT HER?
Gathering information that will help her decide what to do.
Some questions she should answer:
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Is her stress caused by this problem, or by something else?
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When is the withdrawal with no refund deadline?
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What would the withdrawal look like on her record?
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Would the withdrawal affect her average?
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What are the implications of having a withdrawal on her record?
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Must she make up the 3 credits in the next semester, or can she do it later?
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What minimum grade does she need in the course?
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If she stays in the course and gets an "F", to what extent will this affect her average?
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Can she obtain extra help to try and improve her performance in the course?
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What are possible sources of extra help?
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If the extra help isn't free, can she afford to pay for it?
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How important is completing this course this term to her?
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What effect will not completing it, or failing it, have on her winter course choice?
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Is it a pre-requisite for any of her winter term courses?
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Are there additional questions she should answer?
4. WHAT WOULD THE RESULT BE OF CHOOSING TO WITHDRAW? TO REMAIN IN?
Identifying the outcome of each solution by listing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Susan now lists the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.
Solution 1 - Withdrawing:
Advantages
Would no longer be stressed about failing
Would have more study time for other courses
Grade will not affect average
Disadvantages
Would complete 3 fewer credits this term
Would lose the tuition for these 3 credits
Would have to repeat course if required
Would have a "W" on her record
Solution 2 - Remaining in:
Advantages
If passes, earns 3 credits
If earns a grade of "C" will not have to repeat it
Disadvantages
Anxiety about failing will remain
Resultant stress may affect ability to cope with courses in general
Efforts to pass may affect other grades
If does poorly, low grade will lower average
If passes with "D" will still have to repeat it
May cost money for extra help
5. HOW TO DECIDE WHICH DECISION TO CHOOSE?
Prioritizing the advantages and disadvantages in order of their importance to her- checking her values.
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Susan feels that doing well in the course is more important to her than having to pay to make up the
credits, despite her tight financial situation.
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She feels that it is also important to reduce her stress level, which she thinks has worsened as a result of
worrying about her performance in this course. She also wants to do well in her other courses, and does not want
this course to affect her other grades.
Susan has labelled each advantage and disadvantage according to its level of importance to her as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
MI= Most Important
I= Important
SI = Somewhat Important
NI = Not Important
Withdrawing:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Would no longer be stressed about failing MI
Would have more study time for other courses MI
Grade will not affect average I
Would complete 3 fewer credits this term I
Would lose the tuition for these 3 credits I
Would have to repeat course I
Would have a W on her record NI
Staying in:
Advantages
If passes, earns 3 credits SI
If earns a "C", will not have to repeat it SI
Disadvantages
Anxiety about failing will remain MI
Resultant stress may affect ability to cope with courses in general MI
Efforts to pass may affect other grades MI
If does poorly, low grade will lower average I
If passes with "D" but course is required, will still have to repeat it I
May cost money for extra help I
6. CHOOSING THE BEST SOLUTION
Choosing the solution that has the greatest number of most important advantages and the least number of
disadvantages.
Susan feels that there are 2 best solutions, neither of which is possible. One is to have withdrawn from the course
during the withdrawal with refund period. The other is to complete the course with a strong grade.
6. WHAT IF THERE IS NO BEST SOLUTION
Choosing the 'next best' solution, one that is not ideal but which she can accept and live with.
Susan chooses Solution 1 - Withdrawing.
It contains the greatest number of advantages she has labelled as MI or I, and contains only those disadvantages
which she can accept.
She feels this is the next best solution. She will lose her tuition if she withdraws, but she doesn't believe it is
possible for her to complete the course with a strong grade. However, despite losing her tuition and having to
repeat the course, she feels that this decision is acceptable to her, because the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages.
8. PUTTING HER SOLUTION INTO GEAR: MAKING AN ACTION PLAN.
Susan makes an Action Plan. She will:
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Accesses Minerva and withdraws.
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Inform her instructor that she has withdrawn.
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Make an alternative study plan for the remainder of the semester; allot extra study time to her other
courses as necessary.
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Look at her winter course choice and adjust it accordingly; consider delaying courses that have this course
as a pre-requisite.
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Talk to instructors and departmental advisers about winter course choice.
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Plan when she will repeat the course.
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Monitor her stress level as the term progresses; notice whether or not the withdrawal has reduced it; if
not, explore other reasons for her stress level; consider talking to a counsellor about her stress level..
9. ACTING: CARRYING OUT HER ACTION PLAN.
Susan completes each step of the above Action Plan.
10. MONITORING: OBSERVING AND EVALUATING THE RESULTS OF HER ACTIONS.
Susan assesses whether or not withdrawing had a positive effect on:
Her stress level:
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Is she able to eat and sleep?
Is she able to concentrate when studying?
Her fall grades:
•
•
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Did her other grades improve?
If so, does she think they did so as a result of withdrawing?
Or was it for some other reason?
11. APPLYING WHAT SHE'S LEARNED FOR NEXT TIME
Keeping actions which generated positive results; eliminating those that didn't.
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Susan draws conclusions about her decision by analyzing the results.
She applies what she has learned to her next academic problem.
She uses strategies which worked and, and changes or eliminates what did not.