Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

How can a problem be solved before it happens?

Students from around the world will meet in Ft. Collins, CO to figure out just that.Among them will be Beth Kellen, a sixth grade student at St. Peterís Catholic school.

Kellen is a state champion in the junior individual competition for Future Problem Solvers Program (FPSP).

Future Solvers

FPSP is a competition that asks students, in a variety of grade levels, how to solve a problem that could possibly happen in the future.

Possible topics include anything from artificial intelligence to health care.

ìWe are given a scene from the future that poses a problem,î Kellen said. ìThen we have to figure out an answer to the problem.î

The competition starts when each competitor is told to research a general topic.

The students are given roughly two months to research any information they can find on the topic.

ìThe problems the kids research exist now,î Amos said. ìThese kids will probably be the ones dealing with the problem in the future.î

The competition heats up when the participants all gather and are given a specific scene.

For instance, in another competition Kellen researched the topic ìnutrition and obesityî and was then asked to solve the growing obesity problem in the United States.

Once the specific scenes are given out, the students are given a booklet and six steps to follow to find the best solution to the problem in the scene.

ìOne of the most difficult parts about the competition is that the students only get two hours to complete the booklet,î said Mrs. Amos, FPSP coach.

The six steps involve finding additional problems surrounding the scene, singling out the biggest problem and then finding 16 solutions to the biggest problem.

When those solutions have been identified the students then have to figure out the criteria for the solution, pick the best 10 solutions and apply the criteria.

An action plan is created for which ever solution has the highest possibility rate.

ìWe have to solve the problem and describe how it will be done, what will be done and how long it will take,î Kellen said. ìThe booklet is then given to the evaluators.î

One to two evaluators will then read through the booklets, giving each step a score, and narrow down the booklets until the ìbest solutionî has been found.

Kellenís solution to ìrage and bullying in the workplaceî at state earned her a spot at the international competition in Colorado.

Internationals

Kellen, who has been in the program for two years, is the first St. Peterís student to go to internationals in the three year program.

From June 1 through June 4 students will gather to compete for the title Future Problem Solver World Champion.

ìIím excited and nervous,î Kellen said, ìbut more excited.î

Kellenís topic for internationals will be finding a way to redistribute wealth.

The topics the students cover are meant to challenge not only their problem solving skills, but researching skills.

ìIím very proud of what these kids are doing,î Amos said. ìSome people may think the program is for ëgiftedí students, but really the process fits everybody.î

Although Kellen did the research and filled out the booklet, she credits her win in state to her teammates.

ìI have to thank my teammates, I really owe it to my team,î Kellen said, ìand of course Mrs. Amos.î

For more information about the Future Problem Solvers Program visit the web site at www.fpsp.org.

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