Problem Solving
Jacob keeps missing assignments because he does not check his Canvas shell regularly. What could Jacob do to solve this problem?
Jacob could set reminders on his phone to check the Canvas shell or leave a note on his lap top to check it.
Carlos opened his inbox and saw an email from his professor marked “URGENT.” His heart sank when he realized it was about a missing assignment he forgot to submit.
How might Carlos be feeling?
Carlos may be feeling sad, disappointed, or worried.
Alex and Sam had been planning a small business together, but they couldn’t agree on where to open their shop. Alex wanted a busy downtown spot, while Sam thought a quieter neighborhood would be better. After talking through the pros and cons, Alex said, “I’m okay with either choice—the ball is in your court.” Sam realized it was now his turn to decide, so he chose the downtown location, and the two partners moved forward with their plan.
Meaning: you are responsible for what happens next.
Olivia has trouble starting a long research paper. She feels overwhelmed by the topic. What could she do to help get started?
Olivia could break the assignment into smaller steps, create an outline, write a little bit each day, reference sources, go to office hours.
At a career fair, Jack walks up to employers, asks questions, and collects contact information. Celia walks around but does not talk to anyone and leaves early.
What can you infer about how each student is using the opportunity an who is more likely to make connections?
Jack is making the most of this opportunity and will probably make more connections.
When Jessie didn’t get the job she really wanted, she felt disappointed and thought all her hard work had gone to waste. However, a few days later, another company she had applied to contacted her with a better offer, including higher pay and a more positive work environment. At that moment, Jessie realized that losing the first opportunity was actually a blessing in disguise, because it led her to something even better than she had originally hoped for.
Idiom: blessing in disguise
Meaning: A good thing that seemed bad at first
Lila is unsure about her major, is not interested in the classes she is taking, and feels stressed about choosing a career path. How could she solve this problem?
Lila could meet with her academic advisor, look into different professions, and change her major.
Lena invites two classmates to study for a big exam. She makes a schedule and brings notes. One classmate checks their phone often. The other says, “I’ll just review later tonight.” Lena keeps working through the plan.
What can you infer about Lena compared to her classmates?
You can infer that Lena is more prepared, focused, and responsible than her classmates. Lena might care about the exam more than her classmates.
On the first day at his new school, Liam felt nervous because he didn’t know anyone in his class. When the teacher assigned a group activity, he was paired with two classmates, but at first no one spoke. The silence made Liam uncomfortable. Finally, one student smiled and said, “I’ll break the ice—what’s your favorite hobby?” Liam relaxed and shared that he liked playing soccer, and soon everyone was talking. By the end, they were laughing, and Liam realized that breaking the ice can help people feel comfortable.
Idiom: break the ice
Meaning: to say or do something to make people feel less shy and start talking.
Participation points are required for Ben's class. Ben understands the class material but avoids speaking during class discussions due to anxiety. How could Ben solve this problem?
Ben could communicate this with the professor, make a goal to make one comment per class, or seek out resources to help with his anxiety.
During an internship interview, Sam kept looking at their phone while the interviewer was talking. Sam would check the screen and type messages instead of making eye contact. The interviewer had to repeat questions more than once.
What can you infer that the interviewer might think?
The interviewer might think that Sam seems rude or uninterested.
Maddie stood in front of her class, ready to give her presentation, but suddenly her mind went blank. “The capital of France is… um…” she said, frowning. She knew the answer but couldn’t say it. “It’s on the tip of my tongue,” she said nervously. After taking a deep breath, she finally remembered. “Paris!” she said with a smile, and her class clapped.
Idiom: tip of my tongue
Meaning: you know something, but you cannot remember it right at that moment.
Marcus needs an internship to graduate but he keeps getting turned down. What could Marcus do to try to fix this?
Instead of giving up, he asks his professor for help, improves his resume, and practices interviews. He researches new companies to apply for.
Jordan had an interview for an internship at 10:00 a.m. He stayed up very late the night before and forgot to set an alarm. When he woke up at 10:05 a.m., he saw 3 missed calls and a voicemail from the company on his phone.
What most likely happened?
Jordan missed the interview.
On Friday, the class was planning a surprise party for their teacher. Ava knew all the details and was very excited, but she was also supposed to keep it a secret. During lunch, her friend asked why everyone had been staying after school. Ava almost spilled the beans, but she stopped herself just in time. Instead, she smiled and said it was just a group project. Later that day, she felt proud of herself for not spilling the beans and ruining the surprise.
Idiom: spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal a secret