391 Problem Solving courses

Revision and teaching of a selection of the most common key areas of difficulty across all three units of the course. A different selection of content will follow in the Easter Revision course.

Coverage of key areas from the Higher Maths course, exam technique and knowledge consolidation with a range of tutorial and revision exercises using past paper questions. A different selection of content will follow in the Easter Revision course.

Revision and teaching of a selection of the most common key areas of difficulty across all three units of the course. This course is a follow on, with new content, from the Grade Booster Day.

A full review of reading, writing, listening and talking skills with support to improve assessment technique. This course is a follow on, with new content, from the Grade Booster Day.

Introduction to Design Thinking Innovation is the cornerstone of highly successful companies, especially those that continue to be successful over the years and decades. Design thinking practices fuel this continual innovation, as they are the critical links from inspiration to delivery, concept to showroom floor, and start-up to global business. Design thinking is a structured approach to promoting innovation and creative problem-solving. It is not a new approach. It has been around for centuries, as the art, architecture, and inventions of mankind illustrate. By examining the steps to achieving great design and maximum utility of product, design thinking approaches provide a framework in which to develop new solutions to problems and new products to sell. This highly interactive course is designed to help participants think like designers to generate innovation, and to help teams to produce more innovation and creativity. Since design thinking is based on doing rather than thinking, we participants are challenged to apply the techniques, in the classroom, to create new ideas and solutions to a case study project. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the underlying principles and value of using Design Thinking for innovation Describe the basic concepts of the Stanford Model for Design Thinking Evaluate a set of basic Design Thinking techniques for application to your projects Apply tools, techniques, and skills aligned with the 5 stages of the Stanford Model Drive innovation through Design Thinking at some level in your work environment Foundation Concepts Problems and solutions The Design Thinking difference Design Thinking skills and abilities Design Thinking mindset Design Thinking frameworks Stages of Design Thinking Problems and solutions The Design Thinking difference Design Thinking skills and abilities Design Thinking mindset Design Thinking frameworks General Practices Team formation Visualization Improvisation Personalization Empathize Practices Overview of Empathize techniques Observation Engagement Interviews Define Practices Overview of Define practices Unpacking techniques Defining the customer techniques Integrating the Define experience Ideate Practices Overview of Ideate practices Reusable techniques for the Ideate stage New Ideate techniques to explore Prototype & Test Practices Overview of Prototype practices Examples of prototypes Overview of Testing practices Forms of testing techniques Adopt and Adapt Design Thinking Overview of Design Thinking implementation Design Thinking implementation challenges Success in implementing Design Thinking Summary and Next Steps Workshop summary Next steps: Personal Action Plans

Introduction to Design Thinking: In-House Training Innovation is the cornerstone of highly successful companies, especially those that continue to be successful over the years and decades. Design thinking practices fuel this continual innovation, as they are the critical links from inspiration to delivery, concept to showroom floor, and start-up to global business. Design thinking is a structured approach to promoting innovation and creative problem-solving. It is not a new approach. It has been around for centuries, as the art, architecture, and inventions of mankind illustrate. By examining the steps to achieving great design and maximum utility of product, design thinking approaches provide a framework in which to develop new solutions to problems and new products to sell. This highly interactive course is designed to help participants think like designers to generate innovation, and to help teams to produce more innovation and creativity. Since design thinking is based on doing rather than thinking, we participants are challenged to apply the techniques, in the classroom, to create new ideas and solutions to a case study project. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the underlying principles and value of using Design Thinking for innovation Describe the basic concepts of the Stanford Model for Design Thinking Evaluate a set of basic Design Thinking techniques for application to your projects Apply tools, techniques, and skills aligned with the 5 stages of the Stanford Model Drive innovation through Design Thinking at some level in your work environment Foundation Concepts Problems and solutions The Design Thinking difference Design Thinking skills and abilities Design Thinking mindset Design Thinking frameworks Stages of Design Thinking Problems and solutions The Design Thinking difference Design Thinking skills and abilities Design Thinking mindset Design Thinking frameworks General Practices Team formation Visualization Improvisation Personalization Empathize Practices Overview of Empathize techniques Observation Engagement Interviews Define Practices Overview of Define practices Unpacking techniques Defining the customer techniques Integrating the Define experience Ideate Practices Overview of Ideate practices Reusable techniques for the Ideate stage New Ideate techniques to explore Prototype & Test Practices Overview of Prototype practices Examples of prototypes Overview of Testing practices Forms of testing techniques Adopt and Adapt Design Thinking Overview of Design Thinking implementation Design Thinking implementation challenges Success in implementing Design Thinking Summary and Next Steps Workshop summary Next steps: Personal Action Plans

This half day or whole day course is designed to support both novice and experienced trustees in providing effective governance within their organisations. It considers their roles and responsibilities in general before looking at particular areas in more detail. The half day course covers all the essential information; the whole day session includes specific exercises and case studies to develop the participants’ problem-solving skills.

Online Course now available via Teachable Platform – How do People Learn? Learn at your own pace… with text and videos to support your learning experience. Inclusive Education: Neurodiversity Course Presented by Inclusive Solutions  About This Course: Designed for educators, psychologists, and teachers, this course offers an immersive experience in inclusive education strategies specifically for neurodivergent children. Two leading experts—Dennis Rollins MBE, celebrated trombonist and teacher, and Colin Newton, an experienced inclusive educational psychologist—will guide you through practical approaches and proven techniques to improve inclusive education.  Key Benefits of the Course:  Understand learning processes tailored to neurodivergent students with learning differences. Explore dominant psychological models of learning and their practical, real-world applications. Participate in engaging, hands-on activities to reinforce inclusive teaching strategies. Gain strategies to foster motivation, confidence, and a sense of autonomy in learners Meet the Instructors: Dennis Rollins MBE Dennis Rollins MBE is a renowned trombone player and award-winning educator with over three decades of experience. Known for his unique approach, Dennis has collaborated with top artists worldwide and has received prestigious awards for both performance and jazz education.   Some of Dennis’ recognised lifetime achievements are as follows:  Worked with artists such as Jamiroquai, Courtney Pine, Maceo Parker, The Brand New Heavies, Blur, US3 and Monty Alexander. Won BBC Best Band with Badbone & Co, 2006. Trombonist of the Year, British Jazz Awards and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Awards, 2007. X2 nominated in the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards: Musician of the Year and Jazz Education, winning the latter category. JazzYorkshire Award Best Band for his band Velocity Trio, 2012. British Trombone Society (BTS) Player of the year Award, 2013. Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, 2022. Recently honoured with an MBE, Dennis brings a creative, real-world perspective to teaching music, particularly for learners with complex needs.  Learn more about Dennis Rollins: Dennis Rollins Website   Colin Newton Colin Newton is a seasoned educational psychologist and passionate advocate for inclusive education. With over 40 years in the field, working across the UK and internationally. Colin is known for his passion for promoting the inclusion of all children in mainstream schools, and for his practical applied work around person-centred planning, restorative justice and in-depth problem-solving. His work has inspired a shift toward inclusive practices across the UK, as he brings both experience and innovative thinking to the world of education.  Colin says: ‘Instinctively from an early age I was against children being sent away to boarding schools and later to special schools and settings. Later I was inspired by disabled activists and Canadian and North American inclusionists who were working to change the world of education with radical innovative thinking and approaches - the work was political, social and spiritual - I was in and never looked back!’  Colin’s career has been values-driven, but also practical using applied psychology in training and real-life problem-solving with schools, families and individual children and young people.     Learning Objectives: By participating in this course, you’ll be able to:  Gain a deeper understanding of inclusive learning processes for all children and adults Differentiate approaches to address the emotional complexities of teaching and learning Master techniques to support effective teaching and meaningful learning Explore the role of relationships and engagement in successful learning Analyse psychological models and identify their real-world applications in education Reflect on the practices of outstanding teachers to inspire deeper learning   Course Topics: Learning Through Imitation Learn how social learning theory (Bandura) highlights the power of imitation. Discover how learners naturally gravitate toward peers and key adults as role models, absorbing skills and behaviours. Contextual Learning Explore Jerome Bruner’s view on context in learning. Understand how learning is always connected to a broader context, which makes it meaningful and applicable. Motivation and Structured Steps Discover techniques to ignite motivation in learners. We’ll discuss how structured, step-by-step support and person-centred encouragement can make a profound difference, particularly for those with learning barriers. Building Self-Efficacy in Learners Understand how educators can nurture self-efficacy, encouraging learners to set their own goals and take charge of their learning journey. Who Should Attend? This course is ideal for:  Educators and psychologists aiming to enhance their understanding of learning processes Teachers who want to develop inclusive teaching strategies for neurodivergent and learning-different students Format A dynamic, hands-on workshop blending lectures, real-world insights, and practical exercises. 

Facilitation Skills for Business Analysts This course is part of IIL's Business Analysis Certificate Program (BACP), a program designed to help prepare individuals pass the IIBA® Certification exam to become a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™). Business analysts are communicators who bridge the gap between people with business needs and knowledge and the people who will provide solutions. Business analysts are continuously involved in communications with stakeholders and developers as they create the solution to business problems. They participate in information-gathering sessions including interviewing, joint requirements definition, and Joint Application Design (JAD) workshops which are used to streamline information gathering and get immediate validation from user representatives. The business analyst is also involved with negotiating the solution with the stakeholders, upper-level management, and the developers, mediating among the groups when disagreements take place, and influencing the results of decisions during the solution cycle. This course teaches the methods needed to organize and run information-gathering events. It combines the basics of graphic decision making and modeling with facilitation, communication, and meeting management skills. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Identify the major touch points between key BABOK® Guide knowledge areas and business analysis communication Describe the facilitation skills that are most supportive of those intersections Improve your ability to apply these skills in the context of your business analyst functions Foundation Concepts The role of the Business analyst (BA) An Introduction to the BABOK® Guide Business analyst roles and the product / project life cycle (PLC) Facilitation skills for the business analyst The BABOK® Guide and Communication An introduction to the communication process Addressing basic communications challenges Planning business analysis communication Communication and BABOK® Guide tasks Targeted Elicitation Techniques Synergy between communication and targeted elicitation techniques Preparing for elicitation Cornerstone targeted technique: interviews Other targeted elicitation techniques Related general communication skills Group Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and group elicitation techniques Cornerstone group elicitation technique - requirements workshops Other group elicitation techniques Related general communication skills - meeting management best practices Related general communication skills - facilitating best practices Process / Model-Based Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and process / model-based elicitation techniques Process / model-based elicitation techniques Related interpersonal skills - problem solving and decision making Investigative Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and investigative elicitation techniques Cornerstone investigative elicitation technique - document analysis Other investigative elicitation techniques Summary of elicitation techniques by usage in the requirements process Using Presentations, Structured Walkthroughs, and Influencing Structured walkthroughs, presentations, and influencing within BABOK® Guide tasks Cornerstone technique - structured walkthroughs General communication skill - presenting Related interpersonal skill - influencing Special Facilitation Skills - Negotiating and Mediating Negotiating Mediating

Facilitation Skills for Business Analysts: In-House Training This course is part of IIL's Business Analysis Certificate Program (BACP), a program designed to help prepare individuals pass the IIBA® Certification exam to become a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™). Business analysts are communicators who bridge the gap between people with business needs and knowledge and the people who will provide solutions. Business analysts are continuously involved in communications with stakeholders and developers as they create the solution to business problems. They participate in information-gathering sessions including interviewing, joint requirements definition, and Joint Application Design (JAD) workshops which are used to streamline information gathering and get immediate validation from user representatives. The business analyst is also involved with negotiating the solution with the stakeholders, upper-level management, and the developers, mediating among the groups when disagreements take place, and influencing the results of decisions during the solution cycle. This course teaches the methods needed to organize and run information-gathering events. It combines the basics of graphic decision making and modeling with facilitation, communication, and meeting management skills. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Identify the major touch points between key BABOK® Guide knowledge areas and business analysis communication Describe the facilitation skills that are most supportive of those intersections Improve your ability to apply these skills in the context of your business analyst functions Foundation Concepts The role of the Business analyst (BA) An Introduction to the BABOK® Guide Business analyst roles and the product / project life cycle (PLC) Facilitation skills for the business analyst The BABOK® Guide and Communication An introduction to the communication process Addressing basic communications challenges Planning business analysis communication Communication and BABOK® Guide tasks Targeted Elicitation Techniques Synergy between communication and targeted elicitation techniques Preparing for elicitation Cornerstone targeted technique: interviews Other targeted elicitation techniques Related general communication skills Group Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and group elicitation techniques Cornerstone group elicitation technique - requirements workshops Other group elicitation techniques Related general communication skills - meeting management best practices Related general communication skills - facilitating best practices Process / Model-Based Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and process / model-based elicitation techniques Process / model-based elicitation techniques Related interpersonal skills - problem solving and decision making Investigative Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and investigative elicitation techniques Cornerstone investigative elicitation technique - document analysis Other investigative elicitation techniques Summary of elicitation techniques by usage in the requirements process Using Presentations, Structured Walkthroughs, and Influencing Structured walkthroughs, presentations, and influencing within BABOK® Guide tasks Cornerstone technique - structured walkthroughs General communication skill - presenting Related interpersonal skill - influencing Special Facilitation Skills - Negotiating and Mediating Negotiating Mediating