Web-Based Tutorial
Introduction
Identifying
Framing
Resolving
Re-Addressing
Exercises
Evaluation
Form
Tutorial for Optimizing and Documenting
Open-Ended Problem Solving Skills
Ó November 1999, Cindy Lynch, Susan Wolcott, and Greg
Huber
Permission is granted to reproduce this
information for noncommercial purposes. Please cite this source: Lynch, C. L.,
Wolcott, S. K., & Huber, G. E. (1999, November). Tutorial
for optimizing and documenting open-ended problem solving skills [On-line].
Available: http://home.apex.net/~leehaven
Re-Addressing an Open-Ended Problem
Parts of this "Re-Addressing"
section of the tutorial
Re-Addressing Exercises
Definition
The term "open-ended problem"
implies that the problem may be addressed again and again over time. To
effectively re-address an open-ended problem, we must:
- Acknowledge
important factors that suggest a need to re-address the problem, such as
the availability of new information or relative shifts in the importance
of various factors
- Coordinate
identifying, framing, and resolving skills into a viable process that
moves toward better solutions or more confidence in a solution as the
problem is addressed over time
In some respects, this is a more complex form
of identifying the nature of the problem and relevant information.
"Identifying" includes articulating uncertainties related to the
available information and reasons for disagreements about the problem. Those
issues are important for knowing when it is appropriate to re-address the
problem, but re-addressing is much more complex because we must effectively
coordinate identifying, framing, and resolving skills.
Next Steps
When we address an open-ended problem, we
need to be aware of the limitations, weaknesses, or unknown aspects related to
the solution we endorsed. In many cases, we must devise strategies for
gathering new information about the problem and evaluating the results of a
particular resolution (Golub, 1997; Schon, 1983). This is one of the principles of continuous
improvement and of learning from our experiences.
Even in cases where our conclusions are
implemented and the issue seems to be closed (designing and constructing a
building, for example), monitoring the situation for potential difficulties and
learning from what we observe is crucial to improving our efforts over time.
The goal is to work toward better solutions or greater confidence in a
particular solution as the process is repeated over time. How we re-address a
problem is affected by our re-addressing skills and by the time and other resources
available.
Exercise 12--Next
Steps gives you an opportunity to
consider what you might do to re-address a problem.
Documenting Your Open-Ended Problem
Solving Skills
The introduction for this tutorial addressed
the importance of documenting your problem solving skills and the importance of
developing self-evaluation
skills. As you have moved through this tutorial, you have devoted considerable
effort to optimizing and documenting your open-ended problem solving skills.
Exercise
13--Documenting Your Open-Ended Problem Solving Skills gives you an opportunity to bring your work together
into a coherent presentation and to practice self-evaluation. You may view the Evaluation Form
or you may download the MS Word-97 Document
here.
Ó November 1999, Cindy Lynch, Susan Wolcott, and Greg
Huber
Permission is granted to reproduce this
information for noncommercial purposes. Please cite this source: Lynch, C. L.,
Wolcott, S. K., & Huber, G. E. (1999, November). Tutorial
for optimizing and documenting open-ended problem solving skills [On-line].
Available: http://home.apex.net~leehaven
