The Bright Bird A Problem-Solving Allegory Years ago, a pair of Bright Birds lived in the forest. You can see why they were called ‘Bright Birds’. People came from afar just to catch a glimpse of them and tell the tale to their friends and family.

Bright Bird’s Problem Sadly, the female Bright Bird crashed into a tree while hunting, and suffered brain damage. She lost the instinct for making nests, and that’s a problem for a bird.

Happily, the news was not all bad. She could now think logically - like a human being. So, in Spring, when it came time to make a nest, she tried the Information Skills Process. But The Good News is DEFINING 2. LOCATING 3. SELECTING 4. ORGANISING 5. PRESENTING 6. EVALUATING

1. DEFINING She worked out the basic needs a nest should provide for. (Strong+Safe+Sheltered+Snug) NEST = …Healthy Brood of Chicks Bright Bird thought deeply about the problem.

DEFINING … but how do you design a nest to satisfy these needs? She thought, “Why not go and see how the other birds build their nests?”

2. LOCATING Bright Bird studied the crow’s nest. She noted the strong sticks placed high in a tree, away from ground-based predators. But, how could the untidy bundle of sticks withstand strong winds?

LOCATING She liked the solid swallow’s nests made of mud. But it was obvious the mud would dissolve if heavy rain fell on it.

LOCATING The busy weaver bird impressed her with its cleverly woven stalks of grass and animal hair. The nest looked soft and comfortable, yet tough.

3. SELECTING Bright Bird inspected 10 types of birds’ nests in all, but she based her solution on the nests of the crow, the swallow and the weaver. CROW’S NEST Y High, away from predators Y Strong sticks Y Needs more careful construction SWALLOW’S NEST Y Firm mud Y Needs shelter WEAVER’S NEST Y Soft & Snug Y Strongly woven Y Attached to branch

4. ORGANISING She borrowed ideas from the crow, the swallow and the weaver and added her own ideas to make the finished product: A NEST THAT SATISFIED HER NEEDS Sheltering Foliage Woven to branch Woven grass lining Mud holds sticks together High Branch

5. PRESENTING To show others that she had borrowed some ideas, she added feathers from a crow, a swallow and a weaver to the nest.

6. EVALUATING The nest finished, Bright Bird couldn’t wait to try it out. She snuggled deep into its soft lining and felt safe and comfortable - just what her chicks would need!

EVALUATING She felt very satisfied with the nest and was proud of the thoughtful way she had gone about designing and making it. She announced to her mate that all was ready for their family to be laid and raised.

SUCCESS! Now, there are many pairs of Bright Birds in the forest. People are glad that the first mother was such a good solver of problems; for she had many successful broods of chicks.

The Really ‘Bright’ Bird In fact, you could say that the first female was a ‘bright‘ bird in two ways. Can you tell what these two ways are? THE END Produced by Brian Armour of the Redlands Independent College Acknowledgements: Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz for Big 6. Corel for the clipart used in this production.