Student Achievement Assessment Committee

Creative Problem Solving - producing through original artistic or imaginative effort a result or conclusion. "Creative problem solving" can be shown in synthesizing knowledge within and across courses and programs, integrating theory and practice, linking academic and life experiences, and relating one's self and culture to diverse cultures within the U.S. and globally.

Stage 1
• Understands basic elements of problem at hand
• Reorganizes information at hand and incorporates into knowledge base
• Articulates problem solving process
• Uses problem solving vocabulary appropriately
• Demonstrates understanding of either a generic or discipline-specific problem solving process

Stage 2
• Applies a problem solving process using a framework of the discipline
• Applies instructor selected discipline concepts to a problem situation
• Uses discipline vocabulary appropriately

Stage 3
• Refines self-awareness as a problem solver (meta-cognitive emphasis)
• Recognizes alternative constructions and consequences related to problem solving
• Uses the language of problem solving within the disciplinary framework
• Uses disciplinary frameworks to develop solutions
• Brings together analytic thinking and problem solving

Stage 4
• Examines various approaches to define the problem
• Evaluates and selects the most effective approach to define the problem
• Uses selected problem solving approach to solve the problem
• Evaluates solution to the problem
• Explains the relationship between approach selection and problem definition and solution
• Approaches issues and problems integrating from multiple frameworks and finding commonality
• Uses alternative disciplinary and cultural perspectives when approaching problem solving tasks