Competency Objectives

1. Identify and define creative and critical thinking processes.

2. Identify a problem and propose a solution using creative and critical thinking processes.

Purpose of this Assessment

The final assessment of this competency is to demonstrate your ability to use critical and creative thinking to solve a real world problem. Items Required for Submission This assessment requires you to write an 8-11 page paper that consists of three different components:

1. Summary of complex problem.

2. Demonstration of the critical thinking process.

3. Implementation plan of a solution

Step 1: Preparation - Selection of a Problem Identify a complex problem that may have many solutions. The problem you select may be related to your personal, community, and/or work life.

Examples include: • School District X has limited programs for gifted children. • Company X needs to increase market share. • Co-workers at Company X are not working well together as a team. • Person X has been passed over for promotion three times. • The needs for the homeless in your community are not met.

The problem must include at least two of the following factors: historical, social, ethnic, economic, technological, or geographic. For example, School District X is facing economic troubles and is forced to cut programs (economics), but is challenged to develop Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs that require a need for computers and iPads (technology). In another example, there is an increase of homeless in your home town (community), and, at the same time, a major business has downsized (economic) resulting in a shortfall in the city budget for social services.