Founded by creativity pioneer Dr. E. Paul Torrance in 1974, Future Problem Solving celebrates its 50 years of offerings, marking half a century of fostering creative and critical thinking among nearly a million students.

 

As we look back on this organization’s inspiring journey, we can’t help but feel excited for a future where Future Problem Solving students around the globe are tackling the complex challenges we face today. What this program offers is so much bigger than the comprehensive academic support they provide to students—it’s hope for better solutions to the issues that plague our communities.

 

A Legacy of Impact

As you read this article, right now, Future Problem Solving alumni are making the world a better place.

 

Over the past five decades, Future Problem Solving has helped students discover not what to think, but how to think. Each year, more than 30,000 K-12 students from at least 34 U.S. states and 14 countries engage in a variety of challenges designed to turn curiosities into real, actionable change. These problem solvers have gone on to apply the skills and experiences gained  in their professional and personal lives, making significant contributions to society.

 

The program’s proven model ignites interest in real-world issues and equips students with complex problem-solving skills that they can carry with them throughout all subject areas—and throughout their future careers. By preparing young people to search for solutions, take action, and be a force for positive change, Future Problem Solving addresses the needs of a world where educators and students are confronted with unprecedented challenges.

 

The Program

The 5cs are Future Problem Solving’s core values, and are central to their approach to learning: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Caring.

 

The program believes in treating current students as the future leaders they are, recognizing the potential in all young minds and helping them gain the skills they’ll need to become successful global citizens. Among those skills? Remaining open to new ideas, embracing innovation and new perspectives, working together to spur change, and caring for others.

 

Future Problem Solving’s topics represent important challenges from business, civics, society, science, and technology, providing thematic bases for students to explore. Additionally, students are encouraged to address local community concerns, ensuring that their problem-solving efforts are grounded in real-world relevance.

 

Rubric-based evaluations provide learner-focused feedback through authentic assessment at each step of the problem-solving process. Certified evaluators assess students on multiple topics each year, offering feedback that drives improvement over time. This structured approach ensures that students continue to hone the skills they gain from their experience during the their years in the program.

 

Voices of the Future Problem Solving Community

The impact s best understood through the testimonials of those who have experienced it firsthand. Larry Taylor, Ph.D., an educator, describes Future Problem Solving as the largest co-curricular program his school participates in, highlighting its comprehensive educational approach. “It embeds all the different skills we want in our students. We love Future Problem Solving. We think it takes every student, whether it’s an average learner or a gifted learner, to an entirely different level in their learning,” Taylor states.

 

Parents also recognize the transformative power of the program. Erwin Hosono, a parent, notes, “It is a much more super-powered product. Kids who can do well at Future Problem Solving have virtually no upper boundary in what they can achieve in the future in a multitude of disciplines.”

 

And students themselves express deep appreciation for the program. Michelle, a student who has been part of FPSPI since the fourth grade, shares, “I’m truly privileged to have been a part of the program. It has taught me invaluable problem-solving skills as well as grown my creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking. The Future Problem Solving community is incredibly nurturing.”

 

A Vision for the Future

Future Problem Solving Program International stands as a testament to the power of innovative education, building a lasting legacy of educational impact as their growth continues. As the program celebrates  50 years in 2024, it also looks forward to the next chapter in its journey. Over the next five years, the program aims to empower over 150,000 young changemakers with new problem-solving skills, and to give them the opportunity to demonstrate these skills to solve real-world challenges.