The Bright Bird A Problem-Solving Allegory Created by Brian Armour Redlands College, Qld

Created by

Brian Armour

Redlands College, Qld

The Bright Bird A Problem-Solving Allegory Years ago, a pair of Bright Birds lived in the forest. You can see why they were called ‘Bright Birds’. People came from afar just to catch a glimpse of them and tell the tale to their friends and family.

Years ago, a pair of Bright Birds lived in the forest. You can see why they were called ‘Bright Birds’.

People came from afar just to catch a glimpse of them and tell the tale to their friends and family.

Bright Bird’s Problem Sadly, the female Bright Bird crashed into a tree while hunting, and suffered brain damage. She lost the instinct for making nests , and that’s a problem for a bird.

Sadly, the female Bright Bird crashed into a tree while hunting, and suffered brain damage.

She lost the instinct for making nests , and that’s a problem for a bird.

Happily, the news was not all bad. She could now think logically - like a human being. So, in Spring, when it came time to make a nest, she tried the Information Skills Process. But The Good News is ... 1. DEFINING 2. LOCATING 3. SELECTING 4. ORGANISING 5. PRESENTING 6. EVALUATING

Happily, the news was not all bad. She could now think logically - like a human being.

So, in Spring, when it came time to make a nest, she tried the

Information Skills Process.

DEFINING She worked out the basic needs a nest should provide for. ( Strong + Safe + Sheltered + Snug ) NEST = …Healthy Brood of Chicks Bright Bird thought deeply about the problem.

DEFINING

She worked out the basic needs a nest should provide for.

DEFINING … but how do you design a nest to satisfy these needs? She thought, “Why not go and see how the other birds build their nests?”

… but how do you design a nest to satisfy these needs?

She thought, “Why not go and see how the other birds build their nests?”

2. LOCATING Bright Bird studied the crow’s nest. She noted the strong sticks placed high in a tree, away from ground-based predators. But, how could the untidy bundle of sticks withstand strong winds?

Bright Bird studied the crow’s nest. She noted the strong sticks placed high in a tree, away from ground-based predators.

But, how could the untidy bundle of sticks withstand strong winds?

LOCATING She liked the solid swallow’s nests made of mud. But it was obvious the mud would dissolve if heavy rain fell on it.

She liked the solid swallow’s nests made of mud.

But it was obvious the mud would dissolve if heavy rain fell on it.

LOCATING The busy weaver bird impressed her with its cleverly woven stalks of grass and animal hair. The nest looked soft and comfortable, yet tough.

The busy weaver bird impressed her with its cleverly woven stalks of grass and

animal hair.

The nest looked soft and comfortable, yet tough.

3. SELECTING Bright Bird inspected 10 types of birds’ nests in all, but she based her solution on the nests of the crow , the swallow and the weaver . CROW’S NEST High, away from predators Strong sticks Needs more careful construction SWALLOW’S NEST Firm mud Needs shelter WEAVER’S NEST Soft & Snug Strongly woven Attached to branch

Bright Bird inspected 10 types of birds’ nests in all, but she based her solution on the nests of the crow , the swallow and the weaver .

CROW’S NEST

High, away from predators

Strong sticks

Needs more careful

construction

SWALLOW’S NEST

Firm mud

Needs shelter

WEAVER’S NEST

Soft & Snug

Strongly woven

Attached to branch

4. ORGANISING She borrowed ideas from the crow, the swallow and the weaver and added her own ideas to make the finished product: A NEST THAT SATISFIED HER NEEDS Sheltering Foliage Woven to branch Woven grass lining Mud holds sticks together High Branch

She borrowed ideas from the crow, the swallow and the weaver and added her own ideas to make the finished product:

A NEST THAT SATISFIED HER NEEDS

5. PRESENTING To show others that she had borrowed some ideas, she added feathers from a crow , a swallow and a weaver to the nest.

To show others that she had borrowed some ideas, she added feathers from

a crow ,

a swallow and

a weaver

to the nest.

6. EVALUATING The nest finished, Bright Bird couldn’t wait to try it out. She snuggled deep into its soft lining and felt safe and comfortable - just what her chicks would need!

The nest finished, Bright Bird couldn’t wait to try it out.

She snuggled deep into its soft lining and felt safe and comfortable - just what her chicks would need!

EVALUATING She felt very satisfied with the nest and was proud of the thoughtful way she had gone about designing and making it. She announced to her mate that all was ready for their family to be laid and raised.

She felt very satisfied with the nest and was proud of the thoughtful way she had gone about designing and making it.

She announced to her mate that all was ready for their family to be laid and raised.

SUCCESS! Now, there are many pairs of Bright Birds in the forest. People are glad that the first mother was such a good solver of problems; for she had many successful broods of chicks.

Now, there are many pairs of Bright Birds in the forest.

People are glad that the first mother was such a good solver of problems; for she had many successful broods of chicks.

The Really ‘Bright’ Bird In fact, you could say that the first female was a ‘bright‘ bird in two ways. Can you tell what these two ways are? THE END Produced by Brian Armour of the Redlands Independent College Acknowledgements: Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz for Big 6. Corel for the clipart used in this production.

In fact, you could say that

the first female was a ‘bright‘ bird

in two ways.

Can you tell what these

two ways are?

THE END

Produced by Brian Armour of the Redlands Independent College

Acknowledgements:

Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz for Big 6.

Corel for the clipart used in this production.