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Problem Solving |
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Problem Solving |
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Skillfull
Problem Solving
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There are many ways to solve problems. Geographic Information Systems is a tool to help ask and answer many problem questions. This is where the thinking behind the tool becomes evident. The computer will not do this for you. You are the "thinking explorer" behind the tool. The thinking map below is a good place to begin when solving problems well. In addition, the templates will help guide you through the problem solving process.
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Problem
Solving Thinking Map
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Scientific
Method
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| Why is there a problem? |
Background |
| What is the problem? |
Problem Question
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| What would happen if you solved the problem in this way? |
Hypothesis/Procedure
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| What is the best solution to the problem? |
Data/Results
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What are the possible solutions to the problem? If you did it again, what would you do differently? |
Conclusion
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Source for skillful problem-solving: From Infusing the Teaching of Critical and Creative Thinking Into Content Instruction (p. 78), by R. Swartz and S. Parks, 1994, CA: Critical Thinking Press and Software. The National Center for Teaching Thinking |
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Problem
Organizer
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What is the problem? |
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Facts about
the problem
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Ideas of ways to solve the problem |
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What would
happen if you solved the problem each of these ways?
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Best statement
of the problem:
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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OUTLINE
FOR THE WRITTEN DOCUMENT
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Using Data
to Answer a Problem Question with GIS:
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Using the study site project from your group and considering what other information you might need to collect, formulate a question that you could answer using these six themes (five from your group plus the one you are going to design). An example of a good problem would be: What environmental conditions are important to abundance and diversity of ground dwelling animals? An example of a bad question would be: How many ants are found in the study site? The question should not be too general nor too narrow. |
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My problem
question is:
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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HYPOTHESIS:
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| Now formulate a hypothesis in IF/THEN form that explains what you think the answer might be. You will have to look at the data layers and search for possible answers. This is ONLY an educated guess and your answer will probably be different from your hypothesis. | |
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My hypothesis
is:
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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PROCEDURE:
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| Explain the method you will use to solve your problem. Be specific. Describe which data you will use and why. If you use other data from other places, be sure to explain it here. Describe the ArcView steps you used to create the ENTIRE project. It should be in list form and detailed. For example: 1. Open a NEW project in ArcView 2. Set the map units and the distance units by …….. | |
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My procedure
is:
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________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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MAP:
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| Create a map that includes the information that you need to illustrate your solution to the problem. Be sure you can see all the data. You may have to change the textures of the colors or reclassify the data. Remember to include cardinal directions, your name, a title for your map, a scale, a date, and the source of the data. |
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PLACE YOUR MAP LAYOUT IN THE DOCUMENT
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CONCLUSION:
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| What is the best solution to the problem? Write two or three paragraphs explaining the answer to the problem question. Did you prove or disprove your hypothesis? WHY? Carefully explain all your findings and results. If you did this project again what would you do differently? Why? How could this project be used to communicate information about your study site to others? For example the area has been rezoned to build a parking deck. |