In today's technological world, individuals encounter technological problems on a
daily basis. Each of these problems presents unique criteria and constraints, and
each of these problems may have more than one correct solution. Technology education
teaches students various methods to solve these technological problems.
Problem solving
is defined as the process of understanding a problem, devising a plan, carry out
the plan, and evaluating the plan in order to solve a problem or meet a need or want.
The Problem Solving Method
* Define the problem - Analysing, gathering information, and establishing limitations
that will isolate
and identify the need and opportunity.
* Research - Using principles,
ideation and brainstorming to develop alternate ways to meet the
opportunity or solve
the problem.
* Identify Solutions - Selecting the most plausible solution by identifying,
modifying, and / or combining
ideas from group of possible solutions.
* Evaluate Solutions
- Modelling, operating, and assessing the effectiveness of the selected solution.
*
Choose Final Solutions - Incorporation improvements into the design of the solution
that address
needs identified during the evaluation phase.
* Troubleshooting - To locate
and find the cause of problems related to technological products or
systems.
* Research
- The act or acquiring information.
* Development - The act of changing the form
of something. Usually complete is a series steps or
stages: research, design, model,
prototype, test, evaluate, etc.
* Invention - The act of creating a new product, system,
or process that never existed before.
* Innovation - The act of changing or improving
an existing product, system, or
process.
* Experimentation - The act of trying out
the new product, system, idea, or process to ensure it
meets the designer's needs
or wants and the design criteria and constraints.
* Technological Design - The process
of decision making, creating, or planning.
Problem solving generally leads to additional
or new problems and / or opportunities which in turn may
lead to new solutions.
