Are there any subject areas that really do not lend themselves to problem solving?
Consider this diagram:
So, really, it isn’t an intrusive or imposed aspect of a lesson. It is the way in which information/content is presented to students. If your presentation is only factual with no room for questions, exploration, or discovery, then it is linear. That kind of information can be memorized but not necessarily understood as knowledge. However, when you present content with possible connections to different subject areas or relevant but different situations, then questions may be asked. Questions may lead to potential problems related to the “if -> then” trajectory. So, I hear you say this, but what if that happened? Then what would be involved? What would be needed to complete the task? What else do we need to know/have/understand in order to solve this problem?
It is about thinking through and around the full scope of a topic. It is about thinking through a fuller scope and with the potential of new possibilities and new solutions. It leads to a deeper understanding and ultimately, new knowledge.
TIP: Problem solving is about thinking in the pursuit of new knowledge.