Identify the Problem Problem Solving Module Session 2

Step #1: Identify the Problem It sounds simple but is usually the toughest step in the process You need to figure out what is really causing the problem Once you know what the problem is you should write it down

Ask Questions What? Where? How? When? With whom? Why?

Ask Questions What can you see that causes you to think there's a problem?

Ask Questions Where is it happening?

Ask Questions How is it happening?

Ask Questions When is it happening?

Ask Questions With whom is it happening? Don't jump to "Who is causing the problem?" You need to address issues more than people

Ask Questions Why is it happening?

Write it down…. Write down a four or five-sentence description of the problem Start with "The following should be happening, but isn't..." or "The following is happening and shouldn't be:..." Be specific when you describe the problem, including what is happening, where, how, with whom and why.

Build Your Skills Identifying patterns, improving your organization skills, classifying information, synthesizing information and “narrowing things down” all build your ability to identify problems. In the activities that follow, you will be building skills that will help you identify problems.

Activity: Patterns Everywhere!

Activity: Organize It!

Organize It! Putting objects or ideas into logical order is an important aspect of problem solving. Something as simple as organizing a binder with tabs can help you build critical thinking skills. Can you think of different ways you organize things everyday?

Activity: Classifying Information

Activity: Four Pictures One Word

Activity: Newspaper Headline

Writing Newspaper Headlines Read the problem carefully before writing your headline Use proper punctuation Use the present tense and avoid words ending in -ed Choose a limited number of words

Activity:

Practice John was told by his boss four weeks ago that he had would have to do a big presentation at work. The presentation needed to be prepared in addition to a number of regular daily tasks. He focused on his daily tasks and did a good job completing them but the presentation kept "slipping" his mind. On the night before the due date of the presentation, he realized that he had at least 8-10 hours' worth of work left to do on the presentation. This wasn't the first time he had procrastinated on a major work assignment and left it until the last minute. Last year he received a note on his personal file for a similar situation. What is the problem?

Credits This Power Point was created by Laubach Literacy Ontario. The resources can be downloaded free of charge at This Employment Ontario project was funded by the Ontario Government All website links were accurate at the time of original distribution-March All of the images and clip art used in this Power Point are from Clipart.com and Microsoft Office.com.