Adult Global Issues Problem solving

Have you ever regretted missing out on Future Problem Solving because it wasn’t available when you were in school? Now, as a resident of Virginia, you have a second chance. VAFPS is one of a few affiliates in the Future Problem Solving International Program to offer an adult competition. If you and your friends, relatives, colleagues, or fellow college students, seniors, or members of an organization have grown beyond high school age, you can compete using the same methods and materials as students in the 4th-12th grade program. All it takes is four interested adults and someone willing to coach.

"As a retired educator with some experience as an FPS coach, participating at the adult level has been a genuinely rewarding experience. I have a deeper understanding of both the problem solving process and of my personal strengths and weaknesses as a team member. The shared discourse about the interesting topics and research and their implications for our future has been fulfilling. My team and I are a work-in-progress, but the opportunity to learn new things and grow from the experience has been a lot of fun!"

Lynne Barrett, adult team member

The Virginia Beach Adult team preparing a booklet

The yearlong adult program is structured exactly like the school-based program, with two practices and a qualifying problem. The highest ranking teams will compete against one another at the state bowl, and the winning team will receive an invitation to this year’s International Conference in Colorado.

The concept of group autonomy, organic to FPS, extends to the adult program as well. Teams are free to meet in homes, schools, restaurants, libraries, or on park benches for that matter.

Our FPS group is now a tight group of good friends and that's worth a great deal to me. I highly recommend Adult FPS to those who love to increase their knowledge
of leading edge concepts and content as well as to thrash out ideas
with thoughtful people to further the common good.

Joanne Funk, adult team member

The benefits of engaging in the adult program are manifold. Perhaps no cognitive activity is as diverse in scope as FPS with its emphasis on rationality, creativity, research, teamwork, and multi-step problem solving.Adult sessions become an outlet for life-long learning.

When adults compete in Future Problem Solving, they engage in a complex and demanding intellectual task that pushes them out of their comfort zone. This kind of continuous and rigorous mental challenge has proven to result in significant gains in brain functioning and memory management. What is helpful and productive for children
can dramatically contribute to mental fitness for adults.

Dan Baise, adult team coach

Now is the time to organize your team. Contact the state director for additional information. If you're ready to join up, register online.