Creative Problem Solving, Students’ skills in tackling real-life problems. OECD

Problems are situations with no obvious solution, and solving problems requires thinking and learning in action. Problem solving “involves initiating, usually on the basis of hunches or feelings, experimental interactions with the environment to clarify the nature of a problem and potential solutions”, so that the problem-solver “can learn more […] about the nature of the problem and the effectiveness of their strategies”, “modify their behaviour and launch a further round of experimental interactions with the environment” (Raven, 2000, p. 54).

[…]

In most problems that students practice in class or when studying for an exam, the information needed to solve the problem is provided at the outset. By contrast, solving real-life problems often requires identifying the pieces of information available in the environment/context that would be most useful for solving the problem.

[…]

All teachers can create opportunities to develop problem-solving competence. For instance, thinking habits, such as careful observation, awareness about one’s working process, or critical self-evaluation, can be instilled in students … Because the skills and dispositions that underpin successful problem solving in real life are not specific to particular subjects, students who learn to master them in several curricular contexts will be better equipped to use them outside of school as well.

Creative Problem Solving, Students’ skills in tackling real-life problems. OECD

For students to be prepared for tomorrow’s world, they need more than mastery of a repertoire of facts and procedures; students need to become lifelong learners who can handle unfamiliar situations where the effect of their interventions is not predictable. When asked to solve problems for which they have no ready-made strategy, they need to be able to think flexibly and creatively about how to overcome the barriers that stand in the way of a solution.

Creative Problem Solving, Students’ skills in tackling real-life problems. OECD

In modern societies, all of life is problem solving. Changes in society, the environment, and in technology mean that the content of applicable knowledge evolves rapidly. Adapting, learning, daring to try out new things and always being ready to learn from mistakes are among the keys to resilience and success in an unpredictable world.

Mejores habilidades, mejores empleos, mejores vidas: Un enfoque estratégico a las Políticas de Habilidades. Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos

Para crear cualquier programa de educación y capacitación deben tomarse decisiones sobre la combinación correcta de conocimientos y habilidades, pero también sobre los comportamientos, actitudes y valores que deben impartirse para servir a los resultados deseados, tanto económicos como sociales. Debido a los cambios constantes en los requerimientos de habilidades y a la necesidad que esto produce en las personas de adaptarse y adquirir nuevas capacidades durante sus vidas laborales para garantizar su movilidad profesional, el término de la enseñanza obligatoria es cuando las personas deberían desarrollar las habilidades básicas, así como también el deseo general y la capacidad para participar en diversos procesos de aprendizaje durante toda la vida.

Mejores habilidades, mejores empleos, mejores vidas: Un enfoque estratégico a las Políticas de Habilidades. Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos

En definitiva, las habilidades y las capacidades personales se han convertido en la moneda global de las economías del siglo XXI. Pero esta "moneda" se puede depreciar en la medida en que evolucionan los requerimientos de los mercados de trabajo y las personas pierden las habilidades que no utilizan. Para que estas habilidades y capacidades puedan conservar su valor, ellos deben desarrollarse continuamente durante toda la vida.