Problem solving is a method where the teacher and students make a conscious effort to find explanations or solutions to educational difficulties. A problem occurs when there is a recognized difficulty that needs to be addressed. Effective problem solving requires teachers to help students clearly define the problem, keep it in mind, generate many suggestions, carefully evaluate each suggestion, and organize materials. There are inductive and deductive procedures for problem solving. The method stimulates thinking, develops reasoning and knowledge, improves study habits, and allows students to appreciate different perspectives. However, it primarily involves mental activity rather than physical, some students lack background to participate, and it is time-consuming for teachers.

1. SUBJECT: THEORETICAL BASE OF SOCIAL
SCIENCE EDUCATION-2
TOPIC: PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD
Submitted by ,
AKHILAKUMARY C M

2. MEANING OF PROBLEM SOLVING
Problem solving may be defined as a planned attack upon a difficulty or
perplexibility for the purpose of finding a solution. It is a method in
which a person to exercise control over his activities and environment. It
is an instructional device where by the teacher and the pupils attept in a
conscious, planned purposeful effort to arrive at explanation or solution
to some educationally significant difficulty
A problem occurs in a situation in which a felt difficulty that is
clearly present and recognised by the thinker. It may be purely
mental difficulty or it may be physical and involve the manipulation
of data.

3. DEFINITIONS
Dewey; “when ever no matter how slight and common place in
character plexerps and
challenges the mind so that it makes belief at all uncertain there is a
genuine problem”
GATES; “A problem exists for an individual when he has a definite goal
he cannot by the behavior pattern which he already has available”.
YOAKAM AND SIMPSON; “A problem occurs in a situation in which a felt
difficulty that is clearly present and recognised by the thinker. It may be
a purely mental difficulty or it may be physical and involve the
manipulation of data. The distinguishing thing about a
problem.however.is that an individual who meets it as needing solution
he recognizes it as a challenge”.

4. TEACHERS ROLE IN PROBLEM SOLVING
1.get them (the students) to define the problem clearly.
2.aid them to keep the problem in mind.
3.get them to make many suggestions by encouraging them
4.get them time to evaluvate each suggestion carefully by encouraging
them.
5.get them to organize the material by proceeding
PROCEDURE IN PROBLEM SOLVING
There are two procedures in problem solving and they are,
•Inductive
•deductive

5. MERITS OF PROBLEM SOLVING
1it helps in stimulating thinking
2,it develops reasoning power
3. it helps to improve knowledge
4it helps in developing good study habits.
5 it affords opportunities for participation in social activities.problems
are solved with the joint efforts of many students.the students learn to
appreciate the different points of view and thus become tolerant.
6.the student learn to be self dependent.
7.discussions help to develop the power of expression of the students.
8.The method provides opportunities to the teachers to know in detail
their pupils.they learn which students are shy in nature and which are
very active accordingly they assist the students.
9.it gives the power of critical judgement.
10,it helps to verify an opinion

6. DEMERITS OF PROBLEM
SOLVING
1 generally speaking problem solving involve mental activity only.there is less of bodily activity.
2small children do not possess sufficient back ground information and therefore they fail to
participant in discussions.
3 there is a lack of suitable reference and source books for children.
4.it involves a lot of time and the teachers find it difficult to cover the prescribed syllabus