GEORGIA FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING PROGRAM, INC

This site was updated in late August, 2022.

Materials for the 2022-23 school year are now available.  If you need more information, please contact GA FPSP Affiliate Director, Argen Hicks, at argenhicks@gmail.com.

​

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.

Parents can be coaches! 

​

​

​

FPS competitions can be done virtually or in-person,

individually or with a group!

​

WHAT IS FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING (FPS)?

​

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.

​

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.

​

 

GA FPSP sponsors four 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 and Scenario Performance, 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.  Two other components, Novice and Action-based Problem Solving, are similar to Global Issues Problem Solving but are non-competitive.

​

Students demonstrate their critical and creative thinking skills through writing (Global Issues, Scenario Writing, Novice, Action-based PS), through speaking (Scenario Performance) and through writing and visual documentation (CmPS).

 

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!

​

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 thirty plus FPSPI Affiliate programs in the United States, Australia, Korea, Portugal, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and other countries around the world. Annually, over 250,000 students participate in FPS activities.

​

 

Who can participate in Georgia?

Georgia FPSP is open to all students in grades K-12 or equivalent school year levels.  Individuals or teams participate in one of four divisions:

The non-competitive primary division – grades K-3 or

the competitive 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.

​