Survive on Mars - Options Explosion
Overview
This lesson uses the strategy "Options Explosion" to guide students through a problem solving exercise. In this example, students have a new mission: to visit and colonize Mars.
Objective
Standards: Iowa Agriculture
CRP.01.02.02.c. Make and defend professional decisions after evaluating their near- and long-term impacts on employers and community.
CRP.04.03.02.c. Model active listening strategies in formal and informal settings.
CRP.04. Communicate clearly, effectively and with reason.
-Students will generate possible solutions to guiding questions about survival on Mars.
-Students will work in groups to communicate effectively.
Introduction
I am designing this with the intention that this component will be projected for the groups of students to see. This activity could be completed individually and virtually if needed.
I would recommend that groups write their questions in a column on their paper so they have space to categorize their questions and potentially answer some of them before the end of the activity. I use this activity to start a Problem Solving unit. Eventually, many of the questions are researched and answered. It may help the group to know from the beginning of this activity that they will be using the question list for multiple days. Another option would be to create a GoogleDoc or other virtual question list.
Imagine that you and your team will be travling to Mars and building a colony there. There are so many things to think about! Take 2 minutes with your team and write down all the initial questions that you have about your new task.
After the two minutes are up, review the questions with your group. Can these questions be answered through quick research or will they require more problem solving? Categorize your questions into two groups: Research (R) and Problem Solving (PS).
Problem Solving Strategy - Options Explosion
I model this process using the question "Where will we live on Mars?". As a class we come up with basic solutions (the space ship, we will build a house) then we start to break those options apart and talk about how we would build a structure on Mars (will the soil support it? what materials should we use?)
Now we are going to try a problem solving method on a few of your more complex questions. As a group, choose 3 of the questions that you marked for Problem Solving (PS) that you want to focus on.
Use the "Options Explosions" Strategy to begin generating solutions to these problems. You will want a seperate sheet of paper for each question that you chose to help keep your group organized.
Options Explosion
1. List the obvious solutions.
2. List the hidden options. (Be imaginative, combine obvious solutions to create a more complex, better solution.)
3. Reflect by discussing in your group - what can we learn from this collection of options? Has our problem changed? Is the problem more or less complex than we originally thought?
Reflection
These questions could be used for a large group discussion, small group discussions or as an exit ticket reflection.
Did you find this problem solving strategy useful? Do you feel like it helped you analyze the questions in a different way? What is another situation where you could use this strategy?