Higher-Order, Open-Ended Problem Solving

If students are to succeed in the 21st century, they are going to need to be able to solve higher-order, open-ended problems. No longer are we living in an industrialized society, where workers are given concrete, close-ended tasks to complete in a specific time frame. Rather, we work in a world of rapid change, where being able to solve problems quickly is a must. By presenting students with higher-order, open-ended problem solving activities, teachers are able to set an authentic context within which to learn lower-order skills, while at the same time helping students develop the problem-solving strategies necessary for success in 21st century society.