Archive for the ‘Problem solving’ Category
March 10, 2021
A classic framework suggests: Act righteously, just in case God exists
=============
Originally posted 11/29/2012
One of the few things I remember from Philosophy 101 is Pascal’s Wager.
In a nutshell, it says that God may or may not exist … and we all have the choice to live righteously or sinfully.
Naturally, that creates a 2 X 2 matrix …
If you choose to live on the wild side and God exists … uh oh.
If you choose to live a clean life, you score big if God exists … and don’t have much downside if she doesn’t.
I often find Pascal’s Wager to be a practical decision-making prop.
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May 31, 2018
Classical educators argued that these disciplines are the building blocks of reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.
=======
The courses that I teach contain a heavy dose of problem-solving skills.
Early on, I assert my belief that that problem-solving skills can be taught – and, more importantly, learned – and set about to prove the point.
=======
I’ve been doing some summer reading on the topic of reasoning & problem-solving and learned:
“For twenty-six hundred years many philosophers and educators have been confident that reasoning could be taught.”
(more…)
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Posted in Problem solving, Quant skills, Reasoning | 1 Comment »
May 25, 2018
Ran across an article by Eric McNulty — the CEO of LinkedIn: Journaling Can Boost Your Leadership Skills .
As the title suggests, he was advising busy managers to to take some time each day to record their deep thoughts in a journal.
Seems like a reasonable idea … but that’s not what caught my attention.
As a teacher, I’ve had to adapt approaches to leverage the ways that students process information … especially as the world goes all-digital.
One of my conclusions: digital provides many benefits, but also seems to restrict our capability “go deep”, to “connect the dots” and to draw insights.
Why might that be true?
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive Skills, Journals, Problem solving | 2 Comments »
April 23, 2018
Discussing creativity in class, I casually mentioned that I seem to do my best thinking when I’m asleep.
Specifically, I reported that I like to get to work as soon as I jump out of bed (literally) … and that I often find myself doing a brain dump of thoughts that weren’t top of mind before I’d gone nite-nite.
The revelation initially got some chuckles … then some folks started nodding and chiming in with “me, too” variants on the story.
Of course, some remained unconvinced.
=======
For the skeptics, here some science …
(more…)
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Posted in Creativity, Problem solving, Sleep - Sleep Disorders | Leave a Comment »
April 10, 2018
Here’s a classic “framing” question from Kahneman’s Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow …
Here’s the situation:
A woman has bought two $80 tickets to the theater.
When she arrives at the theater, she opens her wallet and discovers that the tickets are missing.
$80 tickets are still available at the box office.
Will she buy two more tickets to see the play?
Most (but, not all) survey respondents answer that the woman will go home without seeing the show.
Let’s try another situation …
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive biases, Decision Making, Kahneman, Daniel, Kahneman, Daniel - Thinking Fast, Slow, Problem solving, Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow | 1 Comment »
September 11, 2017
Classical educators argued that these disciplines are the building blocks of reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.
=======
The courses that I teach contain a heavy dose of problem-solving skills.
Early on, I assert my belief that that problem-solving skills can be taught – and, more importantly, learned – and set about to prove the point.
=======
I’ve been doing some summer reading on the topic of reasoning & problem-solving and learned:
“For twenty-six hundred years many philosophers and educators have been confident that reasoning could be taught.”
(more…)
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May 19, 2017
Classical educators argued that these disciplines are the building blocks of reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.
=======
The courses that I teach contain a heavy dose of problem-solving skills.
Early on, I assert my belief that that problem-solving skills can be taught – and, more importantly, learned – and set about to prove the point.
=======
I’ve been doing some summer reading on the topic of reasoning & problem-solving and learned:
“For twenty-six hundred years many philosophers and educators have been confident that reasoning could be taught.”
(more…)
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Posted in Problem solving, Quant skills, Reasoning | 1 Comment »
May 4, 2017
Discussing creativity in class, I casually mentioned that I seem to do my best thinking when I’m asleep.
Specifically, I reported that I like to get to work as soon as I jump out of bed (literally) … and that I often find myself doing a brain dump of thoughts that weren’t top of mind before I’d gone nite-nite.
The revelation initially got some chuckles … then some folks started nodding and chiming in with “me, too” variants on the story.
Of course, some remained unconvinced.
=======
For the skeptics, here some science …
(more…)
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Posted in Creativity, Problem solving, Sleep - Sleep Disorders | 1 Comment »
February 23, 2017
Yesterday’s post prompted some questions re: what exactly is left-brained and right-brained thinking, so …
For decades cognitive psychologists has characterized folks as being either left brain dominant – logical – or right brain dominant – creative.
Browse the lists below and pick your dominant brain side – left or right.
= = = = =
So what? What to do?
= = = = =
(more…)
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Posted in Brain - thinking, Decision-making, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
February 10, 2017
Classical educators argued that these disciplines are the building blocks of reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.
=======
The courses that I teach contain a heavy dose of problem-solving skills.
Early on, I assert my belief that that problem-solving skills can be taught – and, more importantly, learned – and set about to prove the point.
=======
I’ve been doing some summer reading on the topic of reasoning & problem-solving and learned:
“For twenty-six hundred years many philosophers and educators have been confident that reasoning could be taught.”
(more…)
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Posted in Problem solving, Quant skills, Reasoning | 1 Comment »
December 1, 2016
They are the building blocks of reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.
=======
The courses that I teach contain a heavy dose of problem-solving skills.
Early on, I assert my belief that that problem-solving skills can be taught – and, more importantly, learned – and set about to prove the point.
=======
I’ve been doing some summer reading on the topic of reasoning & problem-solving and learned:
“For twenty-six hundred years many philosophers and educators have been confident that reasoning could be taught.”
(more…)
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Posted in Problem solving, Quant skills, Reasoning | Leave a Comment »
November 30, 2016
Discussing creativity in class, I casually mentioned that I seem to do my best thinking when I’m asleep.
Specifically, I reported that I like to get to work as soon as I jump out of bed (literally) … and that I often find myself doing a brain dump of thoughts that weren’t top of mind before I’d gone nite-nite.
The revelation initially got some chuckles … then some folks started nodding and chiming in with “me, too” variants on the story.
Of course, some remained unconvinced.
=======
For the skeptics, here some science …
(more…)
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Posted in Creativity, Problem solving, Sleep - Sleep Disorders | Leave a Comment »
September 30, 2016
Discussing creativity in class, I casually mentioned that I seem to do my best thinking when I’m asleep.
Specifically, I reported that I like to get to work as soon as I jump out of bed (literally) … and that I often find myself doing a brain dump of thoughts that weren’t top of mind before I’d gone nite-nite.
The revelation initially got some chuckles … then some folks started nodding and chiming in with “me, too” variants on the story.
Of course, some remained unconvinced.
=======
For the skeptics, here some science …
(more…)
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Posted in Creativity, Problem solving, Sleep - Sleep Disorders | Leave a Comment »
May 27, 2016
Classical educators argued that these disciplines are the building blocks of reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.
=======
The courses that I teach contain a heavy dose of problem-solving skills.
Early on, I assert my belief that that problem-solving skills can be taught – and, more importantly, learned – and set about to prove the point.
=======
I’ve been doing some summer reading on the topic of reasoning & problem-solving and learned:
“For twenty-six hundred years many philosophers and educators have been confident that reasoning could be taught.”
(more…)
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May 3, 2016
I teach problem-solving in my courses and preach that intuition is a good thing – not flying by the seat of your pants — but rather, sub-consciously tapping into your cognitive storehouse of education, experiences and emotions.
The more you learn, the more you practice and the more you discipline yourself mentally … the better you get as a problem-solver.
=========
Digging deeper, I came across an interesting article in Inc., positing that intuition is evident in 4 distinct types of “thinking preferences” which are naturally intuitive in different ways…
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive behavior, Gut feel, Intuition, Problem solving, Thought process | 1 Comment »
July 2, 2015
A classic “framing” question from Kahneman’s Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow …
Here’s the situation:
A woman has bought two $80 tickets to the theater.
When she arrives at the theater, she opens her wallet and discovers that the tickets are missing.
$80 tickets are still available at the box office.
Will she buy two more tickets to see the play?
Most (but, not all) survey respondents answer that the woman will go home without seeing the show.
Let’s try another situation …
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive biases, Decision Making, Kahneman, Daniel, Kahneman, Daniel - Thinking Fast, Slow, Problem solving, Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow | Leave a Comment »
June 29, 2015
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we finish the list … ending with an old standby: The Grass Looks Greener …
(more…)
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June 26, 2015
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reason #10 to the list. we all think we’re above average
(more…)
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June 25, 2015
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reason #9 to the list. Men shoot first, then …
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
June 24, 2015
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, I’m excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reasons 6, 7 and 8 to the list.
(more…)
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June 23, 2015
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, I’m excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reason #5 to the list: the myth of multi-tasking…
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
June 22, 2015
In this and a couple of subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from a summer read:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, the first 4 reasons on the list …
(more…)
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June 12, 2015
According to ChinaSmack.com, most Hong Kong elementary school applicants are able to answer this admissions test question in the allotted 20 seconds.
Can you?
Psst: It’s ok to use scratch paper and a pen or pencil.
Stumped? Here’s the answer and the teaching point …
(more…)
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Posted in Biases, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
May 26, 2015
OK, here’s a test for you …
Rank the the following by the odds that somebody who is in the group or who is exposed to the risk is likely to die.
Make #1 the highest risk of dying in the next year; make #7 the lowest risk circumstance
- For women giving birth
- For anyone thirty-five to forty-four years old
- From asbestos in schools
- For anyone for any reason
- From lightning
- For police on the job
- From airplane crashes
And the answer is …
(more…)
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Posted in Biases, Cognitive biases, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
March 17, 2015
OK, here’s a test for you …
Rank the the following by the odds that somebody who is in the group or who is exposed to the risk is likely to die.
Make #1 the highest risk of dying in the next year; make #7 the lowest risk circumstance
- For women giving birth
- For anyone thirty-five to forty-four years old
- From asbestos in schools
- For anyone for any reason
- From lightning
- For police on the job
- From airplane crashes
And the answer is …
(more…)
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Posted in Biases, Cognitive biases, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
February 26, 2015
According to ChinaSmack.com, most Hong Kong elementary school applicants are able to answer this admissions test question in the allotted 20 seconds.
Can you?
Psst: It’s ok to use scratch paper and a pen or pencil.
Stumped? Here’s the answer and the teaching point …
(more…)
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Posted in Biases, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
February 22, 2015
According to ChinaSmack.com, most Hong Kong elementary school applicants are able to answer this admissions test question in the allotted 20 seconds.
Can you?
Psst: It’s ok to use scratch paper and a pen or pencil.
Stumped? Here’s the answer and the teaching point …
(more…)
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Posted in Biases, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2015
Excerpted from Think Better …
Among the many discoveries NASA made when it began sending people into space was that the astronauts’ pens did not work well in zero gravity.
The ink wouldn’t flow properly. You can simulate the effect at home by trying to write with the business end of your pen pointing up.
Pretty soon, the ink stops flowing and the pen won’t write.
The solution – giving astronaut’s a way to write upside down — depends on how you frame the problem …
(more…)
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Posted in Framing problems, Patterns -patterning, Problem solving | 3 Comments »
November 13, 2014
HITS: HomaFiles’s Ideas To Share
For decades cognitive psychologists has characterized folks as being either left brain dominant – logical – or right brain dominant – creative.
Browse the lists below and pick your dominant brain side – left or right.
= = = = =
So what? What to do?
= = = = =
(more…)
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Posted in Brain - thinking, Decision-making, Problem solving | 2 Comments »
November 10, 2014
A classic “framing” question from Kahneman’s Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow …
Here’s the situation:
A woman has bought two $80 tickets to the theater.
When she arrives at the theater, she opens her wallet and discovers that the tickets are missing.
$80 tickets are still available at the box office.
Will she buy two more tickets to see the play?
Most (but, not all) survey respondents answer that the woman will go home without seeing the show.
Let’s try another situation …
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive biases, Decision Making, Kahneman, Daniel, Kahneman, Daniel - Thinking Fast, Slow, Problem solving, Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow | Leave a Comment »
September 15, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reason #10 to the list. we all think we’re above average
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
September 10, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we finish the list … ending with an old standby: The Grass Looks Greener …
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
September 8, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reason #9 to the list. Men shoot first, then …
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
September 5, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, I’m excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reasons 6, 7 and 8 to the list.
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
September 4, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, I’m excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, we add reason #5 to the list: the myth of multi-tasking…
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
September 3, 2014
In this and a couple of subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from a summer read:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books
Today, the first 4 reasons on the list …
(more…)
SHARE THIS POST WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY
Like this:
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
July 31, 2014
A classic “framing” question from Kahneman’s Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow …
Here’s the situation:
A woman has bought two $80 tickets to the theater.
When she arrives at the theater, she opens her wallet and discovers that the tickets are missing.
$80 tickets are still available at the box office.
Will she buy two more tickets to see the play?
Most (but, not all) survey respondents answer that the woman will go home without seeing the show.
Let’s try another situation …
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive biases, Decision Making, Kahneman, Daniel, Kahneman, Daniel - Thinking Fast, Slow, Problem solving, Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow | Leave a Comment »
July 23, 2014
Here’s a classic test of intuitive skills excepted from Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow…
As you consider this question, please assume that Steve – the subject — was selected at random from a representative sample.
Steve has been described by a neighbor as follows: “Steve is very shy and withdrawn, invariably helpful but with little interest in people or in the world of reality. A meek and tidy soul, he has a need for order and structure, and a passion for detail .”
* * * * *
Is Steve more likely to be a librarian or a farmer?
(more…)
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Posted in Cognitive biases, Decision Making, Kahneman, Daniel - Thinking Fast, Slow, Problem solving, Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow | 1 Comment »
June 27, 2014
Excerpted from Think Better …
Among the many discoveries NASA made when it began sending people into space was that the astronauts’ pens did not work well in zero gravity.
The ink wouldn’t flow properly. You can simulate the effect at home by trying to write with the business end of your pen pointing up.
Pretty soon, the ink stops flowing and the pen won’t write.
The solution – giving astronaut’s a way to write upside down — depends on how you frame the problem …
(more…)
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Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in Framing problems, Patterns -patterning, Problem solving | 1 Comment »
June 20, 2014
According to ChinaSmack.com, most Hong Kong elementary school applicants are able to answer this admissions test question in the allotted 20 seconds.
Can you?
Psst: It’s ok to use scratch paper and a pen or pencil.
Stumped? Here’s the answer and the teaching point …
(more…)
SHARE THIS POST WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in Biases, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »
April 4, 2014
OK, here’s a test for you …
Rank the the following by the odds that somebody who is in the group or who is exposed to the risk is likely to die.
Make #1 the highest risk of dying in the next year; make #7 the lowest risk circumstance
- For women giving birth
- For anyone thirty-five to forty-four years old
- From asbestos in schools
- For anyone for any reason
- From lightning
- For police on the job
- From airplane crashes
And the answer is …
(more…)
SHARE THIS POST WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY
Like this:
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Posted in Biases, Cognitive biases, Problem solving | 3 Comments »
January 28, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books 2009
Today, we finish the list … ending with an old standby: The Grass Looks Greener …
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
January 24, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books 2009
Today, we add reason #10 to the list. we all think we’re above average
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
January 23, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, i’ll be excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books 2009
Today, we add reason #9 to the list. Men shoot first, then …
(more…)
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Posted in Decision-making, Problem solving, Psychology | Leave a Comment »
January 22, 2014
In this and a couple of preceding and subsequent posts, I’m excerpting the 13 reasons from:
Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph T. Hallinanm, Broadway Books 2009
Today, we add reasons 6, 7 and 8 to the list.
(more…)
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