Collaborative Solution Discovery: A Problem Solving Process

Abstract

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has developed a new approach to problem solving, Collaborative Solution Discovery (CSD), to help practitioners in a school system leverage their individual passions in a way that grows students’ positive math identity through mathematical thinking, problem solving, and self-regulation. By focusing on how students and teachers interact with each other in real-time in an ideal classroom, practitioners take ownership of a process to guide their students in growing their positive math identity and thus taking ownership of their own math learning. Practitioners measure progress along the way through metrics that are created, defined, used, and continually refined by themselves to attain their ideal math learning environment. The entire CSD process results in a system that owns ist improvement efforts—improvement efforts that are flexible, adaptable, and sustainable.