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  3. Step 1: What are Global Issues Step 1 challenges?

Step 1: What are Global Issues Step 1 challenges?

Global Issues Problem Solving Process Step 1

After researching the topic and analyzing a future scene, students start the 6-step problem-solving process. In step 1, students identify challenges from the future scene. 

Challenges are issues, problems, and concerns connected to the details of the future scene. Students generate challenge ideas that have a logical connection to the scene. Teams write 16 challenges during competition. Individuals write 8 challenges.

The goal for students is to write relevant challenges, showcasing their creativity and writing skills. To be relevant, a challenge has to have a possibility of existing within the context of the future scene. Challenges that are not relevant do not earn any points. 

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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.