Problem Solving
Defining the problem and
Choosing Strategies for Seeking
Information
Outline
Definition -- Sample
Meaning and People Involved: What
does it mean? Whose problem is it?
Where does it happen?
Assumption (1): Why is it a problem?
Assumption (2): Why does the problem
need to be solved? What can be
accomplished?
Scope and Related Areas: Is the
problem too big for you to solve? How
can the problem be divided into
different aspects?
B. Information Seeking Strategies
C. The following steps in problem solving
A.
Sample Its all fashions fault
A. Definition
Meaning and People Involved:
Fashion leads to limited choices, rigid value
standards, false sense of identity
Whose Not only those interested in catching the
trend, but all the clothing manufacturers and
consumers.
Assumption (1): Its natural to use clothing to express
ourselves, but we need to have more choices and also
develop our personal sense of styles.
Assumption (2): Why does the problem need to be
solved? What can be accomplished? Solved in a
limited way and on a personal level.
Scope and Related Areas:
know our bodies and develop a sense of color
combination, etc.
shopping strategies say no to whatever is said to
be fashionable. Shop with a need and with an
awareness of whats in your wardrobe.
collection strategies clear organization, etc.
Sample Its all fashions fault
Information Seeking Strategies
I.
II.
III.
Internet public opinions and BBS;
Literature review:
Data collection:
Magazine language used to construct
our identity;
Take pictures on the streets to find
some patterns in peoples dressing;
Go to some stores, ask for
recommendations, and mentally
remember the saleswomens persuasive
skills.
What does it mean?
How to overcome the bottleneck of
language learning How to identify
and solve language learning
problems kinds
Meaningful exposure to the language
Emotional blocks to language learning
(e.g. speaking)
Mismatch between learning style and
learning situation
Lack of encouragement and
accountability
Lack of motivation or plan
What does it mean?
1.
2.
3.
How to Talk About My Love
Relationship With My Parents?
Context definition: kinds of parents
and kinds of love;
Purpose of Talk communication,
confession, with a specific goal
(e.g. marriage)
Desired Results? For
understanding, agreement or more
active support.
What does it mean?
Depression: kinds 1, 2,
(Depression;; )
(Mania; Manic Depression),
(SAD)
Major Depression ; 2 (symptoms:
Mood; Interests; Eating and
weight;Sleep; Motor activity;
Fatigue; Self-worth, Concentration,
Death.)
Anxiety Panic, Phobic, Obsessive
Compulsive, Inactivity,
Whose problem is it?
How to gain weight
Those under weight? (Proper Weight And
BMI Chart)
Those who want to be slim? With anorexia?
Actors and actresses?
How to deal with exercise-addiction
How much is too much? (Different from
positive addiction source)
How about those who play basketball for a
whole afternoon?
Where does it happen?
second-hand smoking
On campus and outside of classrooms?
Arent no-smoking signs put up in
many places?
In a taxi? We can ask taxi-drivers to
stop smoking, but not to never smoke.
In some pubs?
Assumption (1): Why is it a problem?
Keeping life-long friendship with a
good old friend who is hard to see.
Friendship is to be nourished by both
involved.
Is it possible to have life-long
friendship? Or life-long memory of
some friendship?
English depts giving lower grades.
Is it true? In all the classes? Why?
Not harmful to ones learning, but --
Assumption (2): Why does the problem
need to be solved? Can the problems
be solved by you?
Stray dogs on campus
FJ --:;
; Doggy Club;
;
(source)
Scope and Structure:
How to get along with roommates
(general reference) Narrow down!!! Do
you have concrete examples?
after some conflicts;
through efficient communication to overcome
schedule conflicts.
Assumption:
understand your roommates,
the types of problems (Does your schedule
really bother your roommates? The reasons
for the conflicts)
Understand your relationship without assuming
too much. Are you nodding acquaintances,
close friends or strangers to each other?
Scope and Structure:
how to get along with roommates
Mental preparation;
Conflict Resolution Skills e.g. 1
Scope and Structure:
How to deal with a friend who is
used to see the dark-side of the
world?
Definition/Assumption
What is dark-side or pessimism? How is
it different from being realistic or cynical?
your relationship with this person and the
degree of his pessimism;
Can we really change a person?
Is the problem too big for you to solve?
Craze for Learning English best
and economical ways of learning
English
Age levelcollege students? Or high
school students?
Motivation & Self-Learning abilities
Family background
Existing learning strategies
How can the problem be divided into
different aspects?
poor vocabulary
Counter example: 71
Purpose;
Learning habits;
Definition: knowing a word is about
knowing:
the form,
its grammatical use,
its collocations,
function and
meaning.
Strategies
External factors (your age, etc.)
How can the problem be divided into
different aspects?
Anxiety or depression
Kind
External reasons
Psychological reasons
Physical reasons
Information Seeking Strategies
II.
Internet general information (e.g. on
psychology), public opinions and BBS;
Library Research/Literature review: poor
III.
Raw Data collection:
I.
vocabulary
Asking around
Case study Depression; overcome the
anxiety in the daily life; How to gain
weight; how to get along with roommates;
keep life-long friendship; the bottleneck of
language learning; pessimistic friends;
exercise-addiction
Policy reading -- How to deal with the
problem of stray dogs on campus; secondhand smoking
The following steps in problem solving
Problem Solving
Understanding the problem.
(Recognizing what is asked for.)
Devising a plan. (Responding to what is
asked for.)
Carrying out the plan. (Developing the
result of the response.)
Looking back.
The following steps in problem solving
The Big Six in information management -
1. Task Definition
2. Information Seeking Strategies
3. Location and Access information
4. Use of Information
5. Synthesize and present the information
to Offer Solutions
6. Evaluate Process and Product (source)
