Learning Technique: How would you solve this?

• LessonUp
• Primary Education
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Introduction

How do you solve this? A working method with the open question.

Instructions

With the ‘How do you solve this?’ work form, you are not looking for the right answer. It is a work form that challenges students to think creatively. How would they use the material from your lessons to solve a situation? You may provide frameworks, but avoid being too directive. The autonomy that you give students with this work form offers the opportunity to take up their own thinking and learning process. It contributes to motivation, self-confidence and essential skills such as logical/critical thinking, problem-solving skills and empathy.

What is it?

‘How do you solve this?’ is a working method that starts a conversation, makes the students think and asks them to use the subject matter in an appropriate way. 

The image shows a problem, an uncomfortable or dangerous situation or possibly a funny mistake. With the question ‘How do you solve this?’ you place the students in the situation, as it were, and ask them to think about how they would bring this to a successful conclusion. The answers can lead to wonderful conversations, but also provide insight into understanding or self-reflection.

How do you use it?

To start your lesson in a surprising, relaxed way, ‘How do you solve this?’ can work very well. You involve the students directly in your lesson, let them imagine themselves in the situation and ask them to respond from their own perspective. Use the working method to activate prior knowledge or use it in the middle of the lesson to check whether your students have understood the material.

The work form can be used for almost all subjects. The social subjects can start the group discussion with a stimulating, current image. But a photo of a bench that does not fit through a door or the stairwell can be a nice start to a math lesson. Do you want to stimulate the imagination of the students? Then start, just like in our example, with a playful image that can be solved in the most original ways.

Depending on the image (and your subject) you can also adjust the question to, for example, 'How would you react?', 'What would you do in this situation?' or 'How would you have prevented this situation?'. The point is to ask a question about an image that does not have a fixed answer. It is not about a right or wrong answer, but about activating the students and encouraging them to think.

Tip: Create a database for yourself. Save images you come across that can strengthen your subject in a folder immediately. That way you always have a source ready to quickly apply this work form.

How do you make it?

This activity uses an open question and the image component.

1. Create an open question in your lesson.
2. Create a background (16:9) for your slide with the desired image. Note: make sure you leave a third at the top for the question. 
3. Add the image as a slide image to your slide via the Image button. 
4. Then type your desired question in the appropriate text box.

How would you solve this?

Learning Technique

How would you solve this?

Oh NO!

The waiter might    lip on a banana peel...

How would you solve this in your own creative way?

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For the teacher

Lesson link

Challenge students to think creatively! What if this were a children's book? How could this situation be solved?

With devices:

Students type their answer on their device. Make sure you check 'Devices in class' and 'Show to student'.

Without devices:

Place the slide in the centre of the digital screen and have students write or draw their ideas.

• Who wants to share their answer with the group?
• Are the answers similar?
• Who would like to read a book about this situation?
• Who put that banana peel there? Was that done on purpose?
• Would this situation be the beginning, the middle, or the end of the story?

How would you resolve this?

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