ERIC Number: EJ745994
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1096-2506
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Teaching the Use of a Problem-Solving Process to Early Childhood Educators
Ostrosky, Michaelene M.; Cheatham, Gregory A.
Young Exceptional Children, v9 n1 p12-19 2005
Preservice teachers and current teachers alike face daily challenges that necessitate problem-solving skills. Conducting problem solving as a part of a group of professionals and the child's family can be beneficial because it encourages the offering of many perspectives, which allows for better understanding of the problem context. However, a systematic approach to problem solving is not always used. In this article, the authors propose a six-step process for problem solving that can be implemented to address issues that preservice teachers face. Preparing student teachers to use this process in preservice programs has the potential to help future educators consider alternate ideas when confronting problems that need to be addressed or solved. These steps include: (1) Describing the problem; (2) Analyzing the problem; (3) Brainstorming ideas for addressing or resolving the problem; (4) Prioritizing and evaluating the suggestions in terms of what might work to resolve the problem; (5) Making a decision and implementing the decision; and (6) Reporting back to the group about the outcome of the solution.
Descriptors: Problem Solving, Preservice Teachers, Preservice Teacher Education, Brainstorming, Skill Development, Teaching Methods, Early Childhood Education, Decision Making, Special Education
Division for Early Childhood, Council for Exceptional Children. 27 Fort Missoula Road, Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59804. Tel: 406-543-0872; Fax: 406-543-0887; e-mail: dec@dec-sped.org; Web site: http://www.dec-sped.org/publications.html.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A