Problem solving methods

Steps
1. Discovering ,considering,discussing,selecting and stating
the specific problem or question.
2. Collecting,organising,comparing and judging significant
information in the in the light of the defined problem.
3. Exploring the problem and framing some possible
solutions.
4. Drawing preliminary conclusion for furthur exploration
and study.
5. Evaluating finding and establishing a conclusion.
6. Considering the summation with the possibility of furthur
study.
 Essential qualities of a problem
1. Should be in line with the need and interest
of the learner.
2. Valueable and timely.
3. Impart funtional and rich learning.
4. Learner should feel that the problem is their
own.
5. Learner should identify problem and its
means of execution.
6. Conclusions and generalisation once found
has to be stated very clearly.
 Major approaches

• Inductive
• Deductive
• Analytic
• Synthetic
 Inductive approach

• Child is enable to arrive at the general

conclusion,establish laws or formulate
generalisation through the observation of
particular facts and conctete examples
 Merits of inductive approach
• Easy to understand a grammatical or
mathematical principle
• Logical method
• Gives the opportunity of active
participation
• Based on actual observation,thinking and
experimentation.
• Reduces dependence on memorisation and
homework.
 Derits of inductive approach

• What “next” is not provided in it.

• Not absolutely conclusive

• Laborious and time consuming

• Not useful at the advance stage

 Deductive approach

• The learner proceeds from general to

particular,abstract to concrete and formula
to example
 Merits of Deductive approach
• Short and time saving
• Glorifies memory
• Adequate and advantageous
• Combine with inductive method to remove
the incompleteness and inadequacy of the
latter.
• Enhances speed and effeciency in solving
problems.
Demerits of Deductive approach
• Difficult for a beginner to understand an
abstract formula
• Require a formula for every problem
• Memory is more important than understand
and intelligence
• Student cant become active learner
• Not suitable for the development of
thinking,reasoning and discovery.
 Analytic approach
• Process of unfolding of the problem or
conducting its operation to know its hidden
aspects.
 Merits of analytic approach
• Logical method.
• Suitable method.
• Steps and procedure are developed in a
general manner.
• Student is throughout subjected with
questions and thus increses the power at
every step.
 Demerits of analytic approach
• Lenghty method
• Difficult to acquire efficiency and speed
• May not be applicable to all the topics
equally well.
 Synthetic approach
• It proceed form known to unknown.
• Place together things that are apart.
 Merits of synthetic approach
• Problem solving constiture a realistic
method