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Step 5: What is the Global Issues Step 5 top solutions grid?

Global Issues Problem Solving Process Step 5

After students write their five criteria, it is time to apply the criteria to their top solutions. In step 5, students use the criteria to rank solutions and determine the best solution. 

Students use the provided evaluation matrix grid to write their top solutions and record the rankings for each solution against each criterion. The best solution is then used as the basis for the step 6 action plan.

Procedure

  1. Students determine which solution ideas are the best to include in the grid. Teams pick 8 ideas, and individuals choose 5. 
  2. Then, students discuss their solutions against each criterion and rank each. Teams rank from 8 (best solution for the criterion) to 1 (worst solution for this criterion). Individuals do the same, but from 5 (best) to 1 (worst). 
  3. Next, students add the numbers in each row and enter the totals in the last column of the grid. Team grids total to 180. Individual grids total to 75. 
  4. The solution idea with the highest points wins! Teams use this to build their step 6 action plan.

Example: Individual grid

Step 5 grid
Step 5 Criteria Grid

Example: Team grid

Step 5 Solution Criteria Grid

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April Michele

April Michele Bio

Executive Director

A seasoned educator, April Michele has served as the Executive Director since 2018 and been with Future Problem Solving more than a decade. Her background in advanced curriculum strategies and highly engaging learning techniques translates well in the development of materials, publications, training, and marketing for the organization and its global network. April’s expertise includes pedagogy and strategies for critical and creative thinking and providing quality educational services for students and adults worldwide.

Prior to joining Future Problem Solving, April taught elementary and middle grades, spending most of her classroom career in Gifted Education. She earned the National Board Certification (NBPTS) as a Middle Childhood/Generalist and later served as a National Board Assessor for the certification of others. She was trained and applied the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Humanities, which helped widen the educational scope and boundaries beyond the U.S. In addition, April facilitated the Theory and Development of Creativity course for state level certification of teachers. She has also collaborated on a variety of special projects through the Department of Education.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and the University of South Florida with a master’s in Gifted Education, April’s passion is providing a challenging curriculum for 21st century students so they are equipped with the problem solving and ethical leadership skills they need to thrive in the future. As a board member in her local Rotary Club, she facilitates problem solving in leadership at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute and earned her certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Edyth Bush Institute at Rollins College.