How many total challenges do you typically brainstorm?
Around 10 - 12
What’s the main purpose of writing an Underlying Problem?
To focus your efforts on solving the most important issue in your topic.
What are two features of a high-quality solution?
It’s creative and realistic enough to implement/do. Other answers also can be considered..
Why is it important to weight your criteria carefully?
Some factors (like impact, time, or feasibility) matter more than others in regards to relevance to the UP.
What does FPS stand for?
Future Problem Solving
When researching your AOC, what types of sources make your argument stronger?
Reliable sources like government data, expert interviews, and scientific studies (overall, statistics)
Also can be more local statistics, but from a reliable source
What’s one mistake teams often make when writing their UP?
Making it too broad or not linking it clearly to the AOC.
What should each solution refer back to? In other words, what is the main point to go off of when creating solutions?
The UP
How could your team show that your Action Plan made a measurable difference?
Collect before-and-after data, surveys, or participation records.
What are the different tracks you can take through FPS?
Community Projects, Global Issues, Story Telling, Creative Writing, (MAGIC)
What happens if your team’s challenges are too similar or repetitive?
You miss other important aspects of the problem and limit your solution options.
Which of these is a stronger UP — one that focuses on education or one that focuses on behavior change — and why?
Behavior change, because it leads to measurable community impact.
1) To maximize word efficiency and not go over the word count
2) For more clear understanding for the judges
What should you include in your action plan to state whose responsibility each specific step is?
Roles
Why does FPS use future scenarios instead of just present-day topics?
To train students to think ahead, anticipate change, and solve problems creatively.
Why is it important to choose an Area of Concern that’s both local and globally relevant?
It shows awareness of local impact while connecting to broader global issues.
State the correct format of an Underlying Problem in Future Problem Solving — and explain why each part is important.
How might we (action or strategy) so that (goal or purpose) by (realistic time frame)?
‘How might we’ = opens creative thinking and shows it’s a question, not a command.
‘So that’ = explains why it matters, the purpose or benefit.
‘By [time frame]’ = sets a clear and realistic window (for community projects, use this year or within a few years, not far-future dates).
Why should a solution not depend on “everyone doing the right thing”?
Because effective solutions work even when participation isn’t perfect, and sometimes you get unexpected positive outcomes.
Name 3 potential criteria that you could use to assess your solutions when creating your grid?
Answers may vary:
- Cost effectiveness
- Feasibility
- Sustainability
In what year was the FPS program founded
1974!!
(Half credit for 5 years off)
Give one example of a hidden challenge in a community project about recycling.
Answer may vary:
Recycling bins are poorly labeled, inconviently placed
Teachers want to teach but don’t have curriculum time.
People think coffee pods can’t be recycled even when they can.
Do NOT give point if it is:
People don’t care about the environment.”
There’s too much waste in the world.
Pollution is bad.
“We don’t recycle enough.”
It’s a big problem everywhere.
People are lazy.
Write a strong Underlying Problem (UP) using the correct FPS format.
Make sure it’s focused, creative, and realistic. You’ll only get points if it follows the format and shows depth
Required format: How might we (HMW)… so that (purpose)… by the year (time frame)?
What is one detailed solution that could address the recycling challenge of:
"Recycling bins are not labeled with accurate information?"
Answers may vary:
- Implement clearly labeled, color-coded recycling bins with visual guides
What is the most important step of the Action Plan to ensure that everything gets done in an efficient manner?
Time Line
Add 63 x 70 to the number of steps in the FPS Problem Solving Process. What is the answer?
4416