Mifflin County School District
Gifted Support Program
Coordinator Jack R. Anderson

Future Problem Solving Teams Move on to the FPS State Affiliate Bowl!

For the last six months Mifflin County students have been reading researching and writing about some of the most likely future problems that will be facing our world. In 1974 The Future Problem Solving Program was created by the late Dr. Paul E. Torrance who was a well known author of the subject of creativity. Being very concerned about the decline of creativity in the United States, Dr. Torrance created the six step problem solving methodology which consists of (1) examining a future scene and writing a variety of challenges from different perspectives (2) Creating an underlining problem which narrows in on a sub problem within the future scene, (3) Writing a variety of solutions from different perspectives or categories (4) Creating what is know as select criteria, a method of evaluating the top ten solutions (5) Applying the criteria to determine the best solution and finally (6) Writing an action plan that will explain what the solution is, who will implement the solution, and how the solution will work while addressing the underlining problem and the future scene positively.

Each year FPS team members tackle real world issues. This year we examined the topics, Climate Threat /Climate Change, and Freedom of Speech. For each topic there was a separate competition which was evaluated by the FPS State Evaluators. In order to be selected to compete in the FPS Affiliate Bowl our teams must do well in what is know as the Qualifying Problem. To prepare for the qualifying problem on the topic of Nutrition all team members had to read articles from a suggested reading list and locate issues that may appear in the future scene. The Qualifying Problem presented a future scenario that takes place in the year 2030.

Future Problem Solving Program Nutrition
Middle/Senior Division 2005-2006 Qualifying Problem

Sun and Sand -Super-Sized!

Dear Future Problem Solvers,

As you can see by the advertisement, several Mexican resort hotels have been adapted to meet the needs of overweight or obese vacationers. These resort hotels have been adapted to meet the needs of overweight or obese vacationers. These resorts have proven to be very popular. However, as a team of doctors who advices Mexico’s Department of health officials, we are worried that "size acceptance" may be detrimental to the health of our citizens.

Recently, Mexico was designated as a country in nutrition transition by the World Health Organization – meaning that we are shifting from a high prevalence of malnutrition to a high prevalence of Over-nutrition. Over-nutrition has been known to cause a variety of many diet-related diseases. The term "nutrition transition" refers to the paradox that these two extreme situations exist at the same time. Like other poverty-stricken countries, we have focused on eradicating malnutrition. Today, in 2030, 20 million Mexicans are still living below the poverty level and many of these are undernourished. Forty thousand children died of malnutrition last year. That number is half of what it was thirty years ago, but certainly is not acceptable. We attribute much of the progress in our rural areas to major advancements in water purification and genetically altered plants, especially our major crop maize. We are importing molecular modified wheat from China and have great hopes for its use to battle malnutrition

Generally, our urban areas are further along in the nutrition transition than our rural areas. Cities offer a greater range of food choices, increased income, more women working outside the home, less free time, and an emphasis on convenience. Technology has led to reduce physical activity in both work and leisure, while our dietary intake is shifting to higher fat and refined carbohydrate intake. In addition, although we cherish traditional foods that reflect our heritage, traditional diets are being replaced with the increased consumption of imported processed food. Did you know that Mexico is the highest consumer of soft drinks of any country outside the U.S.?

All in all, we are a wealthier society. But, it is a widespread misconception that obesity is most prevalent in the wealthy. Obesity affects virtually all age and socioeconomic groups. Seventy percent of the Mexican population is now overweight or obese. Are we saving our people from malnutrition only to have them die from their eating choices?

At this time, we face the extreme range of public nutrition problems. I’m asking you to use your problem solving skills to identify possible challenges with Mexico’s nutrition situation. Select an underlying problem, produce solution ideas and develop an action plan. We appreciate any help you can give us.

Our teams had two hours to complete the six step process which required members to read the future scene, write 16 challenges from different perspectives, create an underlining problem, write 16 solutions from different categories, select five different criteria to evaluate the top ten solutions, evaluate and determine the best solution, and create an action plan.

In the Mifflin County School District we have students competing in three FPS divisions. Junior Division grades 4-6 Intermediate Division grades 7-9 and Senior Division grades 10-12. This year we are very pleased to report that there are two Junior Division Teams one Intermediate and one Senior Team that have earned the right to compete in the FPS Affiliate Bowl which will be held in Harrisburg April 21-22. These students are:

Junior Team #1 Junior Team #2 Intermediate Team Senior Team

The State Bowl topic is on Healthcare Access. These students will be preparing for the State Bowl by reading articles on the topic and improving on their critical thinking and writing skills.