What is it?
Problem solving appears in many factions of our lives as we interact with different people or things in our daily lives. Merriam Webster's Dictionary (n.d.) defines problem solving as: "the process or act of finding a solution to a problem" (Problem-solving. (n.d.). Retrieved March 08, 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/problem-solving). Although this may seem rudimentary and straight forward, the act of problem solving is not and presents itself in different ways. In an educational context problem solving can be broken down into 2 categories: social and academic. These are issues that students will face everyday in school and are skills that are worked into the student the moment they walk into elementary school.
Self-regulation at least for the purpose of this resource aligns with the definition provided in Developing Self-Regulating Learners where Butler, et al. (2017) state self-regulation as "the ability to control thoughts and actions to achieve personal goals and respond to environmental demands" (pg.2). This extremely broad term and concept applies to virtually every interaction that humans have on a daily basis and focusses on how we regulate our responses.
In an educational context, the young minds that are found within a classroom are constantly working on building these self-regulating skills to further their ability to problem solve. It is indisputable that today's most intriguing and celebrated thinkers are brilliant problem solvers and have dealt with the issue of self-regulation throughout their career. For every great mind in today's world, it had to start somewhere so for the purpose of this resource we have focussed on the education system and what the teacher's role is in establishing self-regulation within their students. Throughout this resource we have aligned the concepts of problem solving and self regulation to answer one crucial question: What is being done in today’s schools to help students acquire the necessary skills to problem solve and self-regulate in their daily interactions?
Self-regulation at least for the purpose of this resource aligns with the definition provided in Developing Self-Regulating Learners where Butler, et al. (2017) state self-regulation as "the ability to control thoughts and actions to achieve personal goals and respond to environmental demands" (pg.2). This extremely broad term and concept applies to virtually every interaction that humans have on a daily basis and focusses on how we regulate our responses.
In an educational context, the young minds that are found within a classroom are constantly working on building these self-regulating skills to further their ability to problem solve. It is indisputable that today's most intriguing and celebrated thinkers are brilliant problem solvers and have dealt with the issue of self-regulation throughout their career. For every great mind in today's world, it had to start somewhere so for the purpose of this resource we have focussed on the education system and what the teacher's role is in establishing self-regulation within their students. Throughout this resource we have aligned the concepts of problem solving and self regulation to answer one crucial question: What is being done in today’s schools to help students acquire the necessary skills to problem solve and self-regulate in their daily interactions?
How will this website help you?
On this website we have connected the concept of self-regulation and directly tied it to the management of executive functions in an educational context. For some background knowledge we have provided some evidence and information on executive functions that guided the creation of the strategy toolbox. The strategy toolbox is a compilation of strategies that are actually being used in today's classrooms and have demonstrated their effectiveness in aiding students in the development of their self-regulation abilities. Each strategy has been sorted into a category of executive functions and serves as a possible solution for the student. It is important to emphasize the fact that each of these strategies are suggestions and possibilities, not a defined solution. Self-regulation will appear differently in every student and as will the strategy, whether or not it needs to be adapted is entirely up to the educator. As educators it is our responsibility to help our students develop the skills and abilities to navigate life both in school and after school, here is a fantastic place to start.