Group Problem Solving

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Group Problem Solving

• John F. vonEschenbach
• State Univ. of West Georgia

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Group Problem Solving Matrix
Problem What are the first and last names, years
of birth, years of death, names of wives,
nicknames, years of office, and order of two
presidents.
First Last Names Year of Birth Year of Death Name of Wife Nick name Years of Office Order of Presidency


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Fact Sheet One

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON IS THE NAME OF ONE OF THE TWO
   PRESIDENTS.
2. GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS THE 1ST PRESIDENT OF OUR
   COUNTRY.
3. "ABE" IS A SHORT NAME FOR ABRAHAM.
4. MARY TODD WAS MARRIED TO A PRESIDENT.
5. LINCOLN STARTED HIS PRESIDENCY IN 1861.
6. PRESIDENTS ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY.
   (IRRELEVANT)

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Fact Sheet Two

1. ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS THE NAME OF ONE OF THE TWO
   PRESIDENTS.
2. ONE PRESIDENT DIED IN 1799.
3. A FIRST WORD IN A NICKNAME IS FATHER.
4. MARY TODD'S HUSBAND DIED IN 1865.
5. ONE PRESIDENT DIED IN 1865 WHILE HE WAS STILL
   PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY.
6. THE WHITE HOUSE IS WHERE OUR PRESIDENTS LIVE.
   (IRRELEVANT)

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Fact Sheet Three

• A. LINCOLN WAS BORN IN 1809.
• B. LINCOLN DIED IN 1865.
• C. ONE PRESIDENT WAS THE 16TH PRESIDENT.
• D. ONE PRESIDENTS WIFE HAD INITIALS OF M.W.
• E. ONE PRESIDENT WAS IN OFFICE FROM 1789 TO 1797.
• F. SOME PRESIDENTS WERE IN THE MILITARY.
  (IRRELEVANT)

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Fact Sheet Four

• A. WASHINGTON WAS BORN IN 1732.
• B. "HONEST ABE" IS A NICKNAME FOR ONE PRESIDENT.
• C. THE OTHER WORDS IN A NICKNAME ARE OF OUR
  COUNTRY.
• D. MARTHA WAS A PRESIDENTS WIFE.
• E. WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAYS OF THESE TWO
  PRESIDENTS DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
  (IRRELEVANT)
• F. A PRESIDENTS TERM IS FOUR YEARS. (IRRELEVANT)

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Group Problem Solving Matrix
First Last Names Year of Birth Year of Death Name of Wife Nick name Years of Office Order of Presidency
George Washington 1a-fact 1732   4a-fact 1799   2b-visual deduction Martha 3d 4d inference Father of Our Country 2c 4c inference 1789-1797 3e-visual deduction First 1st 1b-fact
Abraham Lincoln 2a-fact 1809   3a-fact 1865   3b-fact Mary Todd 1d 2d inference Honest Abe 1c 4b inference 1861-1865 1e 2e inference Sixteenth 16th 3c-visual deduction