How to Teach Problem-Solving Skills to Students

13 Strategies for Teaching Problem-Solving Skills

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of the problem-solving process, let’s explore 13 concrete strategies you can use to help students sharpen their skills:

1. Pose Open-Ended Questions

One of the best ways to get students to think critically is to ask open-ended questions that don’t have a single correct answer. Instead of asking, “What is 5+7?” try posing a more complex prompt like “What are some different ways we could arrive at a sum of 12?”.

Open-ended questions push students to consider multiple possibilities, analyze different approaches, and think creatively. They also create opportunities for rich discussion and collaboration as students share their ideas.

2. Use Real-World Examples

To help students see the relevance and applicability of critical thinking skills, ground your lessons in real-world examples as much as possible. Connect abstract concepts to concrete situations that students can relate to.

For instance, when teaching basic algebra, you might frame a problem around planning a birthday party and figuring out how many pizzas to order based on the number of guests. By making these real-world connections, you’ll help students understand how problem-solving applies beyond the classroom.

3. Encourage Hands-On Learning

Giving students opportunities to actively engage in problem-solving through hands-on learning experiences is far more effective than simply lecturing about problem-solving skills. Project-based learning and collaborative activities allow students to practice problem-solving authentically.

Consider having students work together to design and build a model bridge, solve an environmental challenge in their community, or code a basic computer game. These immersive projects require students to grapple with open-ended problems, gather information, weigh options, and implement solutions – all key aspects of the problem-solving process.

4. Model the Process

As the instructor, one of the most powerful things you can do is model practical problem-solving for your students. When you encounter a challenge in class, narrate your thought process out loud. Demonstrate how you break a problem into steps, consider different approaches, and work through obstacles.

You can even involve students in this process by having them contribute their ideas and strategies. By making your problem-solving visible, you’ll give students a clear template to follow and emulate.

5. Provide Scaffolding and Support

Problem-solving can be challenging, especially for students still developing their skills. It’s important to provide appropriate scaffolding and support to help students progress.

This might mean breaking problems into smaller sub-tasks, providing hints or prompts when students get stuck, or pairing struggling students with more advanced peers. You can also offer tools like graphic organizers or problem-solving templates to guide students through the process.

The key is to give students enough support to keep them engaged and moving forward while still allowing them to grapple with the problem and develop their strategies. Over time, you can gradually remove these scaffolds as students become more proficient problem solvers.

6. Emphasize Reflection and Metacognition

Reflection is a critical part of the problem-solving process. Encourage students to pause and think about their approach regularly – what’s working well, where they’re getting stuck, and how they might adjust their strategy.

You can build in moments for reflection throughout a problem-solving activity or have students write reflective journals about their problem-solving process. These metacognitive practices help students become more self-aware and strategic in their thinking.

7. Celebrate Mistakes and Failures

Creating a classroom culture that embraces mistakes and failures as opportunities for growth is essential for developing confident problem solvers. Students must feel safe taking risks, trying new approaches, and learning from missteps.

When a student makes mistakes, resist the urge to correct them immediately. Instead, ask probing questions to help them identify their error and brainstorm ways to fix it. Celebrate these moments as valuable learning experiences that are integral to the problem-solving process.

8. Use Thinking Aloud Protocols

Thinking aloud protocols involve having students verbalize their thought process while working through a problem. This can be done individually, in pairs, or small groups. As students explain their reasoning and approach out loud, they often clarify their understanding and identify gaps or mistakes in their thinking.

As the instructor, you can model this by doing a “think aloud” as you solve an example problem in front of the class. Narrate each step, explaining what you’re doing and why. Then, have students practice this technique by working through a problem themselves or having one student think aloud while others listen and ask clarifying questions.

Thinking aloud productively slows the problem-solving process, encouraging students to be more deliberate and thorough. It’s also a valuable formative assessment tool, giving you insight into how students approach problems and where they may need additional support.

9. Adjust Your Teaching for Each Student

Students will need different levels of help with problem-solving. Some may require a lot of guidance initially, while others are ready for harder challenges.

Provide this help in layers, like a scaffold:

• Break big problems into smaller steps
• Give hints when students get stuck
• Pair struggling students with classmates who can help

Gradually remove these supports as students get better at problem-solving on their own. Keep adjusting your approach to match each student’s needs.

10. Make Problem Solving Fun

Bring a playful spirit to problem-solving in your classroom. Frame challenges as exciting puzzles to be solved, not boring tasks to slog through.

Encourage experimentation and celebrate the messy process of working through tough problems. Emphasize that mistakes are a normal part of learning. The goal is for students to enjoy the journey of discovering solutions.

You can even turn problem solving into a game, with teams competing to crack a challenge. Or have students design their problems for the class to solve. Making problem solving interactive and lively will help students stay engaged.

11. Teach Multiple Strategies

There’s rarely just one way to solve a complex problem. Expose students to a variety of problem solving strategies and heuristics, such as working backwards, finding patterns, creating visual representations, or breaking the problem into smaller sub-problems.

Encourage students to choose and apply different strategies depending on the situation flexibly. Discuss the pros and cons of different approaches and when each might be most useful. The goal is to equip students with a diverse toolkit that they can draw from when faced with novel challenges.

12. Make Cross-Curricular Connections

Problem solving isn’t limited to math class. Emphasize the cross-curricular applications of problem solving skills by incorporating them into all subject areas. In a history lesson, have students analyze a primary source document to solve the mystery of what happened. In an English class, challenge students to problem-solve a character’s dilemma.

Making these cross-curricular connections helps students see the relevance and transferability of problem solving skills. It also provides repeated practice in different contexts, leading to deeper understanding and retention.

13. Partner with Families

Students’ problem solving skills develop both in and out of the classroom. Partnering with families can help reinforce and extend the strategies you teach at school.

Share information with parents about the problem solving process and the specific techniques you’re working on in class. Suggest ways they can support problem solving at home, such as asking open-ended questions, doing puzzles and brain teasers as a family, or discussing how they approach real-life challenges.

When schools and families work together to nurture problem solving skills, students are more likely to develop the confidence and competence to tackle tough problems in any setting.