GEORGIA FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING PROGRAM, INC

WELCOME TO THE 50TH YEAR OF GEORGIA FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING

AND FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING PROGRAM INTERNATIONAL!!

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This site was updated in mid-September 2023

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Problem Solving

Creative Thinking

Critical Thinking

Decision Making

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--through a challenging academic competition

FPS has highly-engaging competitions that can be independent activities or infused into the school curriculum.  A school affiliation is not necessary for FPS participation in Georgia.

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GA FPSP materials for the 2023-24 school year are now available.

If you need more information, please contact GA FPSP Affiliate Director, Argen Hicks, at argenhicks@gmail.com.

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Students can participate in FPS through schools (as a curricular or extracurricular activity) or independently.

All that is required is an adult sponsor (coach) and a spirit of adventure!

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WHAT IS FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING (FPS)?

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Future Problem Solving is primarily a thinking activity in which students use both oral and written communication.

FPS engages students in critical thinking and creative problem solving.

(FPS is not mathematical problem solving or hands-on physical creation of an object to solve a problem.)

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Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) was founded in 1974 by creativity pioneer, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, at the University of Georgia.  FPSPI promotes a six-step problem solving process and encourages students to develop a vision of the future.

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GA FPSP sponsors three different academic competitions for students in grades 4 through 12 during the school year.  In Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS), students study a given topic such as Terraforming or Sleep Patterns and apply the six-step problem solving process to a future scenario about the topic.  In Scenario Writing, students develop their own future story about the topic.  In Community Problem Solving (CmPS), students apply the six-step process to a real problem in their own community.

 

(To find out about three other components -- Scenario Performance (competitive), and Novice and Action-based Problem Solving (non-competitive; similar to Global Issues Problem Solving) -- contact GA FPSP.)

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Students demonstrate their critical and creative thinking skills through writing (Global Issues, Scenario Writing), and through writing and visual documentation (CmPS).

 

 

The FPS Six-Step Problem Solving Process:

1. Identify Challenges Related to the Area of Concern

2. Select an Underlying Problem

3. Produce Solution Ideas to the Underlying Problem

4. Generate and Select Criteria to Evaluate Solution Ideas

5. Evaluate Solution Ideas to Determine the Best Solution

6. Develop an Action Plan for Implementing the Best Solution

 

 

FPSPI is a nonprofit educational corporation administering creative problem solving activities for students in grades K-12.  GA FPSP is one of 30+ FPSPI Affiliate programs in the United States, Australia, Korea, Portugal, New Zealand, Singapore, and other countries around the world. Annually, over 250,000 students participate in FPS activities.

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Who can participate in Georgia?

Georgia FPSP competitions open to all students in grades 4-12 or equivalent school year levels.  Individuals or teams participate in one of three divisions:

Junior division – grades 4-6, Middle division – grades 7-9, Senior division – grades 10-12

 

Click below to read more about FPSPI and reasons to participate.

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