It’s Academic – Problem Solved
SOME of the nation’s best problem solvers live right here in Dubbo!
The Central West Leadership Academy’s Global Issues Problem Solving Team has qualified for the National Finals for Future Problem Solvers for the third consecutive year.
The Year 9 team will be up against some stiff competition, with more than 240 teams in that age bracket in Melbourne on October 15.
Future Problem Solving is a competition where teams research a problem and are then presented with a future scenario that they need to solve. Students have just two hours to identify 16 problems from a variety of categories, identify an underlying problem, create 16 solutions,
evaluate and rank their solutions and make an action and implementation plan.
The Year 9 team, Imogen Bassett, Jake Spinks, Will Munro and Joey Besser, has competed for two years and are considered one of the best Future Problem Solving teams in the nation.
Academy principal Mandi Randell said the whole school community couldn’t be prouder.
“This is the core of Academy learning: challenging rigorous content in real world scenarios that takes hard work and dedication to achieve,” she said.
“For four years our team has tirelessly practiced and refined their skills and now have been acknowledged as some of the best creative and critical thinkers in the country.”
The Academy also had other
success. Two of its Year 10 teams entered the Community Problem Solving category where students identify a problem in their community and make and enact a community change project.
One team – George Ashcroft, Carrigan Baker and Noah Randell – completed a project trying to support young people to run for local government.
Finn Randell entered in the Individual Category for Community Problem Solving for his project in collaboration with Charles Sturt University (CSU) to create a podcast series to capture local elders’ lived experiences.
In the Scenario Writing category, Finn Randell has also qualified for the Nationals, the second time the school has entered this event and the second time a student from the Central West has made the National finals for this futuristic creative writing event.
“We focus on critical thinking, creativity and community mindedness,” Mandi Randell said.
“We entered three competitions and have Nationals level qualifying entries in all three categories.
“These students have worked very hard to hone their skills and Dubbo should be very proud that we are so well represented on the national stage.”
FPS is a research-based, academic program that teaches problem solving strategies, collaboration, critical and creative thinking, and effective communication. The interdisciplinary approach helps develop ethical leadership skills and provides a unique opportunity for students to learn and apply essential life skills in the 21st century.