Kilvington students achieve Silver on the world stage at the Future Problem Solving International Conference
Four Kilvington students have achieved remarkable international success, winning a Silver Medal at the Future Problem Solving International Conference held at Indiana University in Bloomington, USA.
Representing Australia in the Community Problem Solving division, Kilvington students competed against students from around the world, showcasing their creativity, collaboration and commitment to making a meaningful difference in their school community.
Turning a Community Need into a Solution
Community Problem Solving is part of the Future Problem Solving Program, which challenges students to identify a genuine issue within their school or local community and develop an innovative, sustainable solution. The program encourages critical and creative thinking, empowering young people to recognise their ability to create positive change.
The team’s project, SPEAK (Supporting Progress in English and Knowledge), addressed the need to support students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Their goal was to develop resources to strengthen English language skills and help younger students build confidence in their understanding, classroom engagement and communication with peers and teachers.
Through extensive research, including interviews with students and teachers and an investigation of existing support materials, the team developed a range of resources to support English language learning. These included bilingual flashcards and games, picture storybooks, digital games, outdoor activities and a lunchtime club.
Meeting with students two to three times each week, the team continually refined their resources in response to feedback and individual needs. Throughout the year, they regularly supported approximately 12 students from Prep to Year 2, with teachers and students reporting growing confidence in communicating in English.
Presenting on the International Stage
The international competition involved a rigorous judging process, with teams assessed through written reports, a portfolio, a board presentation, a video submission and an interview with a panel of judges. Reflecting on the experience, the participating students described the interview as an important but nerve racking part of the competition.
“We were all feeling nervous because this was an important part of the competition, and we wanted to do our best,” they wrote. “Although we had prepared beforehand, it was still quite scary speaking in front of experienced judges and answering their questions. However, as the interview continued, we became more confident and were able to explain our project more clearly.
“We worked together to answer the questions and present our project as a team. The judges were friendly and professional, which helped us feel a little more comfortable. Even though the interview was stressful, it was also a valuable experience because it gave us the opportunity to share our hard work and learn from the feedback we received.”
The team also spent three hours presenting their project at the international expo, answering questions from visitors, judges and fellow competitors.
“It was also a rewarding experience because we had the chance to show others what we had achieved,” they reflected.
A Silver Medal for Kilvington
The culmination of the week came at the results ceremony. After anxiously waiting to find out whether their project had been shortlisted, the students were announced among the top five projects in the world.
“As each team was called up from fifth place, we cheered each time we came closer to being the final team,” they wrote. “When we were finally called, we were thrilled to find out that we had come in second place.”
Winning Silver on the international stage was an outstanding achievement for the team. They were proud of what they had accomplished and saw how dedication, hard work and commitment can lead to meaningful results.
“Even though the journey home was tiring, I was grateful for all the memories I made with my teammates,” one student reflected.
Their success is a testament to their innovation and perseverance, as well as the impact that student led initiatives can have within a community. Through SPEAK, the team identified a genuine need at Kilvington and developed a practical solution that has already made a positive difference to younger students.
Extension and Enrichment at Kilvington
Kilvington’s Talent Development and Enrichment Program provides high ability students with opportunities to extend their learning and take part in a wide range of programs and competitions. The international success of our Future Problem Solving team is one example of how these opportunities allow students to apply their learning and achieve beyond the classroom.
Through the Student Enrichment and Extension at Kilvington (SEEK) Program, students can explore areas of interest beyond the mainstream curriculum, while the Enhanced and Differentiated Gifted Education (EDGE) Program offers tailored opportunities for students with exceptional abilities in academics, sport and the performing or visual arts. Alongside differentiated classroom learning, these programs encourage students to develop their skills and realise their potential.
