Founded in 1974 by creativity pioneer, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) stimulates critical and creative thinking skills, encourages students to develop a vision for the future, and prepares students for leadership roles. FPSPI engages students in creative problem solving within the curriculum and provides competitive opportunities.  Future Problem Solving Program International involves thousands of students annually from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Future Problem Solving Program involves four competitive challenges including: (1) Community Problem Solving, (2) Global Issues Problem Solving, (3) Scenario Writing, and (4) Scenario Performance.   Community Problem Solving challenges students to think systematically about problematic situations, to gather information to understand the situation, and to evaluate multiple solutions in order to best address the situation? Students involved in Community Problem Solving (CmPS) learn powerful lessons about creating change, about dealing with local authorities and organizations, and about making a positive impact. Community Problem Solving students create and submit a Project Report that is reviewed by expert problem solvers from FPSPI. The top Community Problem Solving projects are invited to the FPSP International Conference in June each year.   Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS) is a competitive component of FPSPI which can be accomplished as a team (of 4) or individual activity in which participants research a series of global topics and learn a six-step creative problem solving process. Problem solvers apply their topic and creative problem solving knowledge to address a charge presented in an imagined situation, termed Future Scene. Trained evaluators score student work and return it with feedback including suggestions for improvement. The top scoring teams and individuals on the qualifying problem are invited to Affiliate FPS Competitions. The winners of each respective Affiliate FPS Competition advance to the FPSP International Conference in June. Four divisions are offered:Junior (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-9), Senior (grades 10-12), and Adult.   Scenario Writing is a competition in which individuals (grades 4 – 12) develop short stories related to one of five FPS topics for the year. The story (1500 words or less) is set at least 20 years in the future and is an imagined, but logical, outcome of actions or events taking place in the world today. The first place winner in each Affiliate Program is invited to the FPSP International Conference. Each Affiliate Director may submit its top three scenarios to the International Scenario Writing Competition. The top 5 international winners in each division are invited to the International Conference in June. Three divisions are offered: Junior (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-9), and Senior (grades 10-12).   Scenario Performance (ScP) was designed by FPSP Australia to develop and sustain the oral tradition of storytelling. Essentially, ScP is for students who enjoy telling stories. This option is ideally suited to students who show thinking abilities in different ways - particularly for those whose cultural heritage and/or learning styles prefer oral communication. Scenario Performances are connected to the annual FPSPI Scenario Writing topics as participants develop futuristic stories to present in a creative and entertaining manner. The stories do not have to be written, rather they are performed! Students are challenged to create a story that is between 4-5 minute duration, set at least 20 years in the future, and arises from any one of the topics set for Scenario Writing in the FPS year. Submission will take the form of a video file of the student delivering an oral telling of their story, undertaken in one take without any edits. The use of any props or aids, beyond the use of their voice, is forbidden. The performer may reference 15 cue cards (4x6 inches).  

Each of the FPSP's four competitive components are reviewed slightly different. An overview of each is provided here: Community Problems Solving projects are scored by trained evaluators who consider all elements of the project. At the Affiliate level, these assessments usually include evaluation of a six-page written report, supporting documentation within an addendum, and a scrapbook. Additional requirements for projects that qualify for International Competition include a CmPS Fair where the team shares their projects and presents a table-top display, an oral presentation, a media presentation, and an interview. In most Affiliate Programs, first place projects move on to the International Competition (IC). Global Issues Problem Solving booklets are scored by trained evaluators who carefully read and assess the written booklets. Some Affiliate Programs require that all coaches receive evaluation training and participate as evaluators. If yours does not, serving as an evaluator is highly recommended and always improves coaching skills! Quality teams from the qualifying competition move on to the Affiliate Bowl/National Competition and champion teams and individuals in each division at this level then advance to the International Conference competition. Scenarios Writing submissions are read and scored by experienced evaluators who consider these elements: creative thinking, futuristic thinking, idea development, style/voice, character development, mechanics/structure, and topic related research. Authentic evaluation and feedback is provided. See “Evaluation Guidelines for International Scenario Writing Competition” for more information. Scenario Performances are scored by experienced evaluators who consider these elements: storytelling techniques, audience, style/voice, the intended purpose of story, development of story, character development, creative thinking, and futuristic thinking. Authentic evaluation and feedback is provided via a rubric based score sheet.

Website: http://www.fpspi.org/

Managing Organization: Future Problem Solving Program International, Inc.

Contact:

kyla@fpspi.org, elizabeth@fpspi.org

Eligibility:
Each FPSPI Affiliate Program determines its own processes, fees, and due dates for registration and entries. Your Affiliate Director can provide you with registration and submission materials and may be able to put you in touch with experienced FPSPI Coaches. See the competition website for more details.

Founded in 1974 by creativity pioneer, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) stimulates critical and creative thinking skills, encourages students to develop a vision for the future, and prepares students for leadership roles. FPSPI engages students in creative problem solving within the curriculum and provides competitive opportunities.  Future Problem Solving Program International involves thousands of students annually from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Future Problem Solving Program involves four competitive challenges including: (1) Community Problem Solving, (2) Global Issues Problem Solving, (3) Scenario Writing, and (4) Scenario Performance.   Community Problem Solving challenges students to think systematically about problematic situations, to gather information to understand the situation, and to evaluate multiple solutions in order to best address the situation? Students involved in Community Problem Solving (CmPS) learn powerful lessons about creating change, about dealing with local authorities and organizations, and about making a positive impact. Community Problem Solving students create and submit a Project Report that is reviewed by expert problem solvers from FPSPI. The top Community Problem Solving projects are invited to the FPSP International Conference in June each year.   Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS) is a competitive component of FPSPI which can be accomplished as a team (of 4) or individual activity in which participants research a series of global topics and learn a six-step creative problem solving process. Problem solvers apply their topic and creative problem solving knowledge to address a charge presented in an imagined situation, termed Future Scene. Trained evaluators score student work and return it with feedback including suggestions for improvement. The top scoring teams and individuals on the qualifying problem are invited to Affiliate FPS Competitions. The winners of each respective Affiliate FPS Competition advance to the FPSP International Conference in June. Four divisions are offered:Junior (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-9), Senior (grades 10-12), and Adult.   Scenario Writing is a competition in which individuals (grades 4 – 12) develop short stories related to one of five FPS topics for the year. The story (1500 words or less) is set at least 20 years in the future and is an imagined, but logical, outcome of actions or events taking place in the world today. The first place winner in each Affiliate Program is invited to the FPSP International Conference. Each Affiliate Director may submit its top three scenarios to the International Scenario Writing Competition. The top 5 international winners in each division are invited to the International Conference in June. Three divisions are offered: Junior (grades 4-6), Middle (grades 7-9), and Senior (grades 10-12).   Scenario Performance (ScP) was designed by FPSP Australia to develop and sustain the oral tradition of storytelling. Essentially, ScP is for students who enjoy telling stories. This option is ideally suited to students who show thinking abilities in different ways - particularly for those whose cultural heritage and/or learning styles prefer oral communication. Scenario Performances are connected to the annual FPSPI Scenario Writing topics as participants develop futuristic stories to present in a creative and entertaining manner. The stories do not have to be written, rather they are performed! Students are challenged to create a story that is between 4-5 minute duration, set at least 20 years in the future, and arises from any one of the topics set for Scenario Writing in the FPS year. Submission will take the form of a video file of the student delivering an oral telling of their story, undertaken in one take without any edits. The use of any props or aids, beyond the use of their voice, is forbidden. The performer may reference 15 cue cards (4x6 inches).  

Each of the FPSP's four competitive components are reviewed slightly different. An overview of each is provided here: Community Problems Solving projects are scored by trained evaluators who consider all elements of the project. At the Affiliate level, these assessments usually include evaluation of a six-page written report, supporting documentation within an addendum, and a scrapbook. Additional requirements for projects that qualify for International Competition include a CmPS Fair where the team shares their projects and presents a table-top display, an oral presentation, a media presentation, and an interview. In most Affiliate Programs, first place projects move on to the International Competition (IC). Global Issues Problem Solving booklets are scored by trained evaluators who carefully read and assess the written booklets. Some Affiliate Programs require that all coaches receive evaluation training and participate as evaluators. If yours does not, serving as an evaluator is highly recommended and always improves coaching skills! Quality teams from the qualifying competition move on to the Affiliate Bowl/National Competition and champion teams and individuals in each division at this level then advance to the International Conference competition. Scenarios Writing submissions are read and scored by experienced evaluators who consider these elements: creative thinking, futuristic thinking, idea development, style/voice, character development, mechanics/structure, and topic related research. Authentic evaluation and feedback is provided. See “Evaluation Guidelines for International Scenario Writing Competition” for more information. Scenario Performances are scored by experienced evaluators who consider these elements: storytelling techniques, audience, style/voice, the intended purpose of story, development of story, character development, creative thinking, and futuristic thinking. Authentic evaluation and feedback is provided via a rubric based score sheet.

Website: http://www.fpspi.org/

Managing Organization: Future Problem Solving Program International, Inc.

Contact:

kyla@fpspi.org, elizabeth@fpspi.org

Eligibility:
Each FPSPI Affiliate Program determines its own processes, fees, and due dates for registration and entries. Your Affiliate Director can provide you with registration and submission materials and may be able to put you in touch with experienced FPSPI Coaches. See the competition website for more details.