Booklet Teams:  The Future Problem Solving Program begins with an imagined future, a “future scene”, based on a given topic.  After researching the topic and analyzing the future scene, students employ the six-step FPS process:

 

                Step 1:  Brainstorm problems of the fuzzy situation

                Step 2:  Identify an underlying challenge

                Step 3:  Brainstorm solutions to the underlying challenge

                Step 4:  Select criteria to evaluate solutions

                Step 5:  Evaluate solutions

                Step 6:  Describe the best solution

 

 Students work in four-person teams.  The regular program has three grade level divisions (Junior – grades 4-6; Middle – grades 7-9; and Senior – grades 10-12) and is both competitive and instructional.  A booklet for each problem is completed in the home school and submitted to our State Evaluation Director.  The evaluations, provided by trained evaluators, provide excellent feedback on the strengths of each team’s work as well as areas for improvement.  The registration fee for team problem solving is $80 for the first team and $60 for each additional team registered per school.  In the Individual Component, a student works individually rather than as a member of a team.

 Scenario Writing: Students compose futuristic short stories (1,500 words or less) related to one of the current year's topics.   A registration fee of $25 entitles the registrant to submit one scenario in the third round of the program.  Coaches may use Scenario Writing with one student, some students, or an entire class.  For evaluation, one submission per registration is allowed.  There is no limit to the number of scenarios a coach may register.  The first place winner in each affiliate program is invited to the FPSP International Conference.

 

Community Problem Solving: Teams apply their FPS skills to real problems in their community. A community problem is a problem that exists within the school, local community, region, state or nation. Implementation of the action plan is included in this component. Teams move from hypothetical issues to real world, authentic concerns.   Projects will be judged at State Bowl.  Results of State Bowl will be based entirely on preliminary evaluation of addendum and scrapbook, and team members who qualify for State Bowl will be interviewed on site.  The Novice Division will still be an open division this year, but we look forward to including it as part of State Competition.  The top Community Problem Solving Team projects are invited to the FPSP International Conference in June.  Materials and guidelines may be obtained from FPS International by telephone or internet.