INDIVUDAL PROGRAMS
Scenario Writing
Short Story
Students in grades 4-12 write a up to 1,500 word short story based on one of the yearly topics used in 4 Person Team competition. As information is gathered and integrated into the short stories, students personally experience the impact of applying what they have learned on the topic to the characters in their own story. Student scenarios are completed and sent to Illinois-FPSB by the middle of January each year. The first place students in Illinois are invited to attend the International Conference, in June each year, and represent Illinois. Students may submit Young Author's stories as long as they meet the Illinois-FPSB criteria. Grade levels are Junior (4-6), Middle (6-8), and Seniors (9-12)
Individual Community Problem Solving
Individual Community Problem Solving (CmPS) an individual student from a school or classroom applies the 6 STEP problem solving process to real community challenges. This student gains networking skills as they experience the process of change. School and community are linked more closely together as this student reaches out to solve issues in the real world. A recent winner from Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale Illinois coordinated the gathering of old cell phones for redistribution to the elderly in the community. These phones were pre-set to 911 enabling the elderly in an emergency to call for help. The cell phones were distributed by local law enforcement agencies. Grade levels are Junior (4-6), Middle (6-8), and Seniors (9-12)
Global Issues Problem Solving
Individuals
This Individual competition is the same 6 steps as the GIPS (4 person) TEAM competition only students compete as individuals. Students qualify by submitting an individual booklet at a regionals for scoring. A single first place State of Illinois student in the Junior, Middle and Senior Division, advances to the INTERNATIONAL BOWL. This competition takes place on a single Saturday date in March of each year. There is NO Individual State Bowl Competition. All advancement is now done through the Individual Regional Competitions starting in March 2007. Grade levels are Junior (4-6), Middle (6-8), and Seniors (9-12)
Scenario Performance
Scenario Performance is a relatively new Future Problem Solving component with the inaugural competition at the 2015 International Conference. Scenario Performance (ScP) was designed by FPSP Australia to develop and sustain the oral tradition of storytelling. Essentially, ScP is for students who enjoy storytelling. This option is ideally suited to students who show thinking abilities in different ways - particularly for those whose cultural heritage and/or learning styles prefer oral communication. It is also ideal for developing the thinking skills of students. The stories do not have to be written; rather they are "told" or "performed." ScP is about storytelling, as opposed to story writing, using a story outline that has been developed in a creative and entertaining manner by the student prior to the performance.
In Scenario Performance, students use the FPS annual topics as the basis for their ideas. From these topics, they choose one that interests, think about how it might have changed twenty years into the future, and then create their story. This story does is not written out in full, as it is going to be "told" and should be more "natural" and "spontaneous" in nature. First Place students from Illinois are advanced to the International Competition. Grade levels are Junior (4-6), Middle (6-8), and Seniors (9-12).
Visual Arts
The Illinois Visual Arts Component is designed to offer students with artistic ability an opportunity to participate in a futuristic program. Students, dealing with the same problem topics as those selected for GIPS teams for the year, develop a piece of artwork on their own.
The study and research of the topic is still present, but the format for presenting conclusions and impressions is a one, two, three, or four-dimensional piece of artwork rather than a problem solving booklet. Students may choose to address any of the four GIPS team topics for the year.
Each submission will have an official cover sheet. The Art Component is open to all students, whether they participate on a GIPS team or not. Divisions for this program correspond to those of GIPS teams. Grade levels are Junior (4-6), Middle (6-8), and Seniors (9-12). This component started the Fall of 2018.
