A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO PROBLEM-SOLVING – APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

• The question is, “How might youth learn to solve problems?”

• There is an approach, Appreciative Inquiry, that appears to have potential.

• In this post, we share information about this approach.

Recently I have been reviewing approaches on how youth might learn to solve problems.

Ravi in Nepal, with whom I collaborate on youth programs, prompted this review.

Ravi has implemented Student Quality Circles for over the past 15 years.

Yet this process can be very complex. This prompted the question, “Is there a simpler way to approach problem solving?”

Recently, we gathered with a group of youth from Romania, Nepal, and Canada. We reviewed some ideas about problem solving with them.

However, this did not appear to be of great interest to them.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH:

In a later discussion, Ravi mentioned Appreciated Inquiry as a possible approach.

This approach appears to have many positive aspects.

It might appeal more to youth than traditional problem-solving methods.

Here are some reasons it could be more appealing.

• Children are more sensitive to their self-worth and thrive on what makes them feel good. This can make them feel accepted, included, and recognized.

• This approach can stimulate new ideas and stories which can generate possible action.

• The aim is to build actions around what works, rather than trying to fix what doesn’t.

• Improvement is more engaging when based on the strengths rather than the weaknesses.

• Youth discover what is good about them and dream of what they can do with this knowledge.

• The approach promotes a cooperative search. They look for what has worked best for them, their school, teachers, classmates, and parents.

• Positive discoveries influence and help shape their image of the future.

• The process begins where the child talks about an area in which he/she had the best experience such as in reading, writing, or passing exams, for example. 

• With a flow of energy from past experiences, the child is poised for a similar experience in the future.

• This can boost the motivation of youth and help them become more involved and effective.

• It brings about social change in youth.  The emphasis is on what is good rather than what they are not happy about.

• They review what is good about themselves and dream of how they can capitalize on this goodness.

• They are encouraged to do more good things in their environment and in the world.

• It allows them to feel free from control.

• Youth have an opportunity to showcase their innovative side rather than rote memory.

• This makes them become independent learners.

• It amplifies the existing positive energy.

• It empowers participants to learn from others and better understand the world.

• It brings a dream to reality by motivating future action based on past success.

WHAT IS APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY?

You can learn more about Appreciative Inquiry in the Wikipedia article found at 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appreciative_inquiry

In that article, there is the following comparison between problem-solving and Appreciative Inquiry

Below is a short (4 min 47sec) video that outlines an overview of the Appreciative Inquiry Model process. It is from Champlain eLearning.

I see there could be many BENEFITS including :

• Turning to friends to connect and discuss what is working;

• Helping build deep meaningful relationships;

• Learning it takes patience and time to find and implement effective processes and systems;

• Using a cyclic approach for continuous improvement;

• Focusing on the positive becomes inspirational and motivational; and

• Realizing there is always room for improvement to make things better.