bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Paul McGuire

TEENAGE STUDENTS DO not normally attend school voluntarily on Saturday morning; much less spend two hours creating and solving taxing intellectual problems in strict exam conditions. But prick-up-the-ears comments such as 'it's fun to challenge your brain' and 'this is the best thing we've done' merit further investigation.

The occasion was the inaugural competition  in Hong Kong of the Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving Programme (FPSP), held at King George V School on April 24. Four teams of four students from Hong Kong International School and  KGV were  presented with the same possible scenario of the future,  based  on the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence'.

Their daunting task was to  find 16 potential problems arising from the scenario,  write them in sentences conforming to a set format, choose the most significant underlying problem and find up to 16 solutions and present the best one, judged against a rigorous set of criteria.

'It is a good way of addressing the needs of gifted kids,' says Catherine Wiebusch,  FPSP convenor in Hong Kong. 'Students are encouraged to be creative and innovative; to come up with original thoughts and ideas about the world they will live in as adults.'

The rewards, however, are tangible and based more in the present. 'The winner  has the right to compete in the Australian National finals in Melbourne in October and the winner of that can go to the United States for the big final after that,' Ms Wiebusch says.

She was encouraged to promote the programme in Hong Kong by Valerie Volk, deputy director of FPSP Australia. 'Valerie was the head of my English department at Immanuel College, Adelaide, a private, co-educational boarding school. I was aware that she was a very successful FPSP coach who won the national competition.

'When I came to Hong Kong I attended a conference for gifted education and met a colleague, Audrey Young, who was interested in FPSP and had experience of it in Australia. She also knew Valerie, and we were keen to see it started here.'

The first step was to set up a workshop to train about 40 coaches at HKIS, where Ms Wiebusch works as a teacher of humanities. 'I was surprised by the interest and it was really encouraging. And from that group we formed a steering committee that tends to meet about once a quarter to monitor progress and make plans.'

Future Problem Solving is the brainchild of Dr E. Paul Torrance who died last year. In 1974, he accepted an invitation to work with a group of gifted students at Clarke High School in Athens, Georgia. The resulting six-step process he devised for creative problem-solving to design and promote positive futures for the society in which the students lived has grown into an international programme involving hundreds of thousands of students of various ages in a growing number of places throughout the world.

The steps Torrance's model advocates are that students first identify challenges in a future scene, then select an underlying problem inherent in it. They produce ideas for a solution, generate criteria to justify their ideas and then select the best criteria. Finally, and most importantly, they develop a feasible action plan.

The aims of the programme are to get students to think more creatively, develop research skills, relate effectively, improve oral and written communication skills, become interested in the future, solve problems and think critically and analytically.

'An important aspect is the research element,' says Ms Wiebusch. 'Once the students get the future scene then they have to find out as much as they can about the topic to help them generate problems and solutions. This is especially difficult in the competitions as students only get two hours to read the specific scene and use this research as best they can.'

Before competition day there were two practice sessions  in which teams tackled sample themes of the future to practise competitive techniques and strategies. This year's themes were 'Smart Clothes' and 'Rage/Bullying'.

It's not all about competition, however. As well as the competitive  programme, schools can opt for alternatives that promote the same intellectual and social virtues. Groups can learn and practise advanced thinking skills using a similar standardised scenario booklet without looking to vanquish other teams. Others may wish to develop their ability to write 1,500-word scenarios enlarging and enriching  their own images of the future.

Alternatively, students can undertake a real-life  activity called community problem solving in which teams or individuals investigate a problem in their community and develop a plan to implement their best solution. There is even a simplified version for  lower primary classrooms.

Some schools embed the FPSP approach to problem-solving into their curriculum, while others offer it as an  extra-curricular activity.

One teacher said:  'It really works as an encouragement to a pool of more able students. Because the FPSP structure is quite prescriptive, they need to be able to follow the rules while being able to cope with the technical, social and political aspects.'

Although the programme originally was designed for school groups, there is  provision for independent students and their peers in, for example, family or youth groups to go it alone. Students can be of different ages and their coach could be a parent or even an older student.

There are costs, but these are kept to a minimum. The international Future Problem Solving Program based in Lexington, Kentucky, US, and its affiliates are non-profit making bodies that rely heavily on sponsorship and the efforts of volunteer teachers. Schools pay to register teams in the various categories, but even the most expensive competitive division costs HK$150. This charge is inclusive of research materials, guidance and marking, support for coaches and evaluation of students' work by experts where necessary. FPSP also makes available a comprehensive catalogue of resource materials designed to further support schools, teams and coaches. During 2004, FPSP estimates that more than 6,500 students from throughout Australia and Southeast Asia will participate. Ms Wiebusch was disappointed that there were teething problems  with fewer than expected numbers, but is hopeful for the future. 'We have made a really good start and I am sure we can build on solid foundations,' she says. 'We have an enthusiastic steering committee and there are a whole lot of international schools out there who would benefit from the programme.

'These students are high-powered people who will go to top colleges and be movers and shakers in society. If they can be empowered to think more critically and laterally, the planet benefits from their leadership and initiative.'

But she sees specific value close to home. 'I think Hong Kong is an international city that is future-looking with particular problems of its own. They are significant and include social, political, economic and environmental challenges. We need to develop students in our schools in all the different sectors who can be proactive in identifying and generating possible solutions to these and empower them to make a difference. It is all about self-motivated learning rather than regurgitation or rote-learning. We need to educate people to think for themselves.'

Ms Wiebusch believes  schools which teach in languages other than English should  participate.  'It is important to give as many students as possible access to FPSP skills and strategies, and with the growing interest we should not restrict ourselves solely to English speakers.'

She is aware of various other initiatives in Hong Kong for educating gifted and talented students.  'We can all learn from each other and help each other,' she says. 'It is an exciting field to explore at the moment and particularly relevant to our high-achieving students.'

She is at pains to point out the intellectual demands and the rigour of the FPSP programme by declaring, 'It is not a fluffy feel-good club. To get the most from this, you have to be committed, open-minded and enjoy a real challenge.'

Not that this is a complete damper on fun. One youngster, entering the room for the gruelling two-hour contest, was seen to playfully punch a fellow team member and say with a wide grin: 'Off we boldly go then into the future, we may never come back.'

For information visit the Future Problem Solving Programme at www.fpsp.org



A creative step into the future