Area of Concern/Challenges
UP
Solutions
Action Plan + Grid
MISCELLANEOUS :)
100

How many total challenges do you typically brainstorm?

Around 10 - 12

100

What’s the main purpose of writing an Underlying Problem?

To focus your efforts on solving the most important issue in your topic.

100

What are two features of a high-quality solution?

It’s creative and realistic enough to implement/do. Other answers also can be considered..

100

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.

100

What does FPS stand for?

Future Problem Solving

200

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

200

What’s one mistake teams often make when writing their UP?

Making it too broad or not linking it clearly to the AOC.



200

What should each solution refer back to? In other words, what is the main point to go off of when creating solutions?

The UP

200

How could your team show that your Action Plan made a measurable difference?

Collect before-and-after data, surveys, or participation records.

200

What are the different tracks you can take through FPS?

Community Projects, Global Issues, Story Telling, Creative Writing, (MAGIC)

300

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.

300

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.

300
Give me two reasons why your solutions should be written concisely?

1) To maximize word efficiency and not go over the word count

2) For more clear understanding for the judges

300

What should you include in your action plan to state whose responsibility each specific step is?

Roles

300

Why does FPS use future scenarios instead of just present-day topics?

To train students to think ahead, anticipate change, and solve problems creatively.

400

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.

400

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).

400

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.

400

Name 3 potential criteria that you could use to assess your solutions when creating your grid?

Answers may vary:

- Cost effectiveness

- Feasibility

- Sustainability

400

In what year was the FPS program founded

1974!!

(Half credit for 5 years off)

500

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.

500

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)?

500

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

500

What is the most important step of the Action Plan to ensure that everything gets done in an efficient manner?

Time Line

500

Add 63 x 70 to the number of steps in the FPS Problem Solving Process. What is the answer?

4416

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