Mind Dump
 
Jan 9

Problem-solving: apps v. school

In a span of about 10 minutes she had confronted a new and novel problem, tested different solutions, found one that worked, demonstrated it, and refined the whole process.

It got me thinking...she did this all in 10 minutes with me and a free iPad app....did she get to do anything like this level of problem solving in her 7 hours at school today?

Brian Downing via http://thedadlifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-wonder.html

3 comments

Jan 09, 2012
John Williams said...
I work specifically with teenagers, and the one constant thread that I see is a need for more proactive problem solving as well as letting teenagers determine which problems they want to solve. The problem with traditional academia is that most things are spelled out for students. We're asking them to solve problems with known answers. It's way more interesting and useful to ask students to solve problems and create solutions that are still yet unknown.
Jan 09, 2012
rhp123 said...
Worth a look http://on.ted.com/8ktf
Jan 09, 2012
John Williams said...
Thanks!  Loved this video.  I started out experimenting in my Latin classes with Life Coaching skills.  I found out that the knowledge that students need the most isn't knowledge about the world and things "outside".  It was knowledge about themselves - or self knowledge.  With such powerful technology, self-discipline and self-knowledge are priceless. 


John Andrew Williams
Newsweek Contributor, College Consultant, and Certified Life Coach
Office: 503.288.5045
Cell: 503.709.6767
www.academiclifecoaching.com

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