MS Future Problem Solvers Program, Inc.
FPS Competition Components
There are five options or "components" that are offered by Mississippi FPSPI in the Future Problem Solving Program. Click on the corresponding name for more detailed information on that particular component.
Under the guidance of a teacher/coaches, teams of four students in grades 4-12 use the FPSP six-step model to explore challenges and propose action plans to complex societal problems, such as fads, financial security, amateur sports, the Internet and genetic engineering.
Teams are divided into four divisions:
Grades 4-5 (Novice)
Grades 4 - 6 (Junior)
Grades 7 - 9 (Middle)
Grades 10 - 12 (Senior)
Teams complete two practice problems and one qualifying problem throughout the school year. Trained evaluators score student work and return it with feedback including suggestions for improvement. The top scoring teams on the qualifying problem are invited to State FPS Bowls held each spring.
Students compose futuristic short stories (1,500 words or less) related to one of the current year's topics. The first place winner in each state program is invited to the FPSP International Conference.
Additionally, each affiliate director may submit its top three essays to the International Scenario Writing Competition.
Teams apply their FPS skills to real problems in their community. A community problem is a problem that exists within the school, local community, region, state or nation. Implementation of the action plan is included in this component. Teams move from hypothetical issues to real world, authentic concerns. The top Community Problem Solving Team projects are invited to the FPSP International Conference in June.
The Visual Arts Component is designed to offer students with artistic ability an opportunity to participate in a futuristic program. Students, dealing with the same problem topics as those selected for Global Issues Problem Solving teams for the year, develop a piece of artwork on their own.
The study and research of the topic is still present, but the format for presenting conclusions and impressions is a two or three-dimensional piece of artwork rather than a problem solving booklet. Students may choose to address any of the four Global Issues Problem Solving team topics for the year. You are encouraged to tell other teachers about this program as they may wish to incorporate it into their classroom curriculum.
Embrace the age old tradition of storytelling.
Scenario Performance is a new and exciting element recently added to the Future Problem Solving Program. Scenario Performance (ScP) was designed by FPSP Australia to develop and sustain the oral
tradition of storytelling. Essentially, ScP is for students who enjoy storytelling. 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. It is also ideal for
developing the thinking skills of students. The stories do not have to be written; rather they are “told” or “performed.” ScP is about storytelling, as opposed to story writing, using a story outline that has been developed in a creative and entertaining manner by the student prior to the performance.
Description Courtesy of West Virginia FPS