Problem-Solving Toolkit

The need for problem-solving skills

Good problem-solving skills empower students in their educational, professional, and personal lives. Nationally and internationally, there is growing recognition that if education is to produce skilled thinkers and innovators in a fast-changing global economy, then problem-solving skills are more important than ever. The ability to solve problems in a range of learning contexts is essential for the development of knowledge, understanding and performance. Requiring students to engage with complex, authentic problem solving encourages them to use content knowledge in innovative and creative ways and promotes deep understanding.

In two recent reports, employers in small, medium and large enterprises identified the following aspects of problem solving as crucial to success in their organisations:

• developing creative, innovative solutions;
• developing practical solutions;
• showing independence and initiative in identifying problems and solving them;
• solving problems in teams;
• applying a range of strategies to problem solving;
• using mathematics including budgeting and financial management to solve problems;
• applying problem solving strategies across a range of areas;
• testing assumptions taking data and circumstances into account; and
• resolving customer concerns in relation to complex project issues.

Business Council of Australia and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (2002). Employability Skills for the Future. Canberra: AGPS.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 7 November, 2006. http://www.dest.gov.au/ty/publications/employability_skills/final_report.pdf

The Business Council of Australia, in its report, New Concepts in Innovations: The Keys to a Growing Australia, (2006), highlighted the importance of “not only the development of strong technical skills in the workforce but also those associated with communication, teamwork, problem solving, ongoing learning, creativity, cultural understanding, entrepreneurship and leadership.”

Business Council of Australia, 2006.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 7 November, 2006.
http://www.bca.com.au/Content.aspx?ContentID=100408

 

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