Educators at all levels must be able to work with diverse learners whose academic needs vary. Being a subject matter expert and having a love for teaching are great foundations for a teacher. However, successful educators need many core skills to help students reach their full potential. Learning various instructional strategies and managing student behavior are important competencies for a teacher. It’s also essential to assess student progress, incorporate technology and lead classroom instruction. Instructional design and curriculum development are also essential skills.
Regardless of grade level or subject matter, problem-solving skills will benefit students throughout life. Teachers who can apply these skills are not only better prepared to create a productive learning environment for their students but also to teach those essential skills.
For those pursuing teacher certification, the online Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching program from Lamar University is a valuable opportunity. The program prepares students for certification while providing advanced knowledge and practical experience necessary for success.
The Role of Problem-solving Skills for Teachers
Each student has unique abilities and requirements, which requires educators who can meet their various needs in a classroom setting. Teachers with problem-solving skills can adapt and improve instructional methods as they work to help students achieve their academic potential.
Encouraging problem-solving begins with fostering critical thinking skills. Recognizing a problem or challenge, analyzing it, evaluating possible solutions and developing the most appropriate action teaches students to adopt a proactive approach to challenges.
Resiliency is another attribute of problem-solving. Teaching students to face obstacles head-on helps them learn that challenges lead to personal growth. Embracing technology to aid in teaching and encouraging collaboration also enhances problem-solving abilities.
How to Improve Students’ Problem-solving Skills
A straightforward way to build problem-solving skills is to engage students in problem-solving scenarios. Divide the class into small groups and present the whole class with a common problem scenario. This should be something they can all relate to, like a disagreement among friends or a scheduling conflict.
The groups then discuss the problem, suggesting various ways to resolve it. Each group shares its solution and reasoning. The class discusses all the proposed solutions, exploring the potential outcomes of each. This is an opportunity to encourage students to consider the feelings of others and the possible consequences of their actions.
Preparing discussion questions in advance will help guide the students as they review potential solutions. Creating opportunities like this for students to practice problem-solving skills also improves communication, active listening, empathy and self-regulation.
Fostering Critical Thinking in Students
Self-directed learning is one way to allow students to exercise critical thinking using their creative and imaginative sides. Following instructional delivery, students need some independent thinking time to develop original ideas to solve the problem. The time needed to complete tasks varies from student to student, which is beneficial when students are self-paced.
Decision-making is a crucial component in problem-solving, so exercises that help students make choices about everyday basic things like food, books, movies or sports help them learn to weigh advantages and disadvantages and make decisions. Creating a positive learning environment where students feel free to voice their opinions without criticism or judgment will help them become confident problem-solvers. Brainstorming in this environment allows students to come up with innovative responses.
The Role of Instructional Design and Assessment
Instructional design is about achieving results. The best way to ensure its effectiveness is to encourage learner participation. Part of this is assessing their current level of comprehension and mastery and continuing to modify as results require and assessments indicate. Instructional design includes learning objectives, activities and assessments of the effectiveness of the design in meeting goals.
Instructional design is the foundation for this process. One problem-solving concept is the ADDIE model, which means analyzing the need, designing and developing a solution, and implementing and evaluating it. Educators can directly apply this model to instructional design.
Expanding Your Career Opportunities in Teaching
Gain the knowledge and skills needed to become an effective teacher and obtain Texas teaching certification through Lamar University’s online M.A. in Teaching program. This program includes courses covering topics such as classroom management, multicultural teaching practices, outcomes-aligned instructional design, and pedagogy research and theories.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online Master of Arts in Teaching program.
