TEDxWilliamsport - Dr. Derek Cabrera - How Thinking Works

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker discusses the shortcomings of the current education system, focusing on the lack of critical thinking skills in students. Despite excelling at tests and following instructions, students struggle with unstructured tasks and problem-solving. The speaker stresses the importance of teaching thinking skills, such as making distinctions, understanding systems, recognizing relationships, and taking multiple perspectives. The message calls for a bottom-up reform in education, empowering students to structure information meaningfully and fostering their natural ability to think critically, ultimately preparing them for the challenges of life and society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Educational success is not just about memorization; it's about developing critical thinking skills.
• 😀 Many top students excel at standardized tests but struggle with unstructured or novel problems, showing a gap in actual thinking skills.
• 😀 The ability to structure and use knowledge to solve problems is a key component of 'thinking,' not just recalling facts.
• 😀 Education should focus on teaching thinking skills such as critical thinking, creative thinking, systems thinking, and emotional intelligence.
• 😀 Today's education system often over-engineers content, removing the opportunity for students to think for themselves, which can be compared to the way modern Lego kits are designed with too much reliance on instructions.
• 😀 There's a global issue with the lack of thinking skills, as seen in a range of societal issues, from parenting to politics and business.
• 😀 The solution to improving education lies not in top-down reforms but in teaching thinking at every desk through more engaging, methodical approaches.
• 😀 Educators should focus on four key thinking skills: making distinctions, recognizing systems, understanding relationships, and taking multiple perspectives (DSRP).
• 😀 Teaching kids to think involves giving them the tools to structure information in meaningful ways rather than simply memorizing facts.
• 😀 Encouraging students to take multiple perspectives not only enhances their critical thinking but also develops emotional intelligence, empathy, and conflict resolution skills.
• 😀 Teaching thinking skills has shown positive outcomes in various educational settings, from preschool to graduate school, and provides hope for addressing global educational challenges.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial expectation about Ivy League students?

The speaker expected Ivy League students to be exceptionally capable, given their high GPAs, SAT scores, and AP courses. They anticipated that these students would excel in all areas of learning.

What did the speaker realize about these students' ability to think critically?

The speaker realized that while Ivy League students excelled at structured tasks, such as tests and assignments with clear instructions, they struggled with unstructured assignments and novel problems. They lacked the ability to think critically and apply knowledge to real-world situations.

What does the speaker believe is the reason for this issue?

The speaker believes the issue stems from the education system focusing on students becoming good at 'doing school' rather than developing critical thinking skills that would be transferable to real life.

How does the speaker describe thinking?

Thinking is described as the process of structuring information in meaningful ways to solve problems. It involves organizing information to create something meaningful or solve a novel problem.

What are the different types of thinking mentioned in the script?

The script mentions several types of thinking: creative thinking, critical thinking, systems thinking, interdisciplinary thinking, scientific thinking, and emotional or pro-social thinking.

How does the speaker describe the effect of the current education system on students?

The speaker describes the education system as over-engineering the curriculum, which removes opportunities for students to engage in critical thinking. Instead, students are taught to follow instructions and memorize facts, leading to a lack of deeper understanding or problem-solving abilities.

What is the metaphor the speaker uses to illustrate the issue with current education?

The speaker uses the metaphor of modern Lego kits to illustrate the problem. Unlike when the speaker was a child and could create anything with Legos, today's kits come with instructions that limit creativity. This reflects how education today often discourages independent thinking and problem-solving.

What solution does the speaker propose for improving education?

The speaker proposes that education should focus on teaching students how to think through four key skills: making distinctions, understanding systems, recognizing relationships, and taking multiple perspectives. These skills, known as DSRP (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives), can help students become better thinkers.

How are the four key thinking skills, DSRP, important for students?

The four skills—making distinctions, understanding systems, recognizing relationships, and taking multiple perspectives—are essential for structuring information meaningfully. These skills help students not only understand the world better but also solve problems and navigate complex situations in life.

What evidence does the speaker provide to show that teaching these thinking skills can be successful?

The speaker shares examples from preschool to graduate school, where students are already being taught these four thinking skills with positive results. The speaker also shares the example of their own son, Carter, who naturally engages in DSRP at a young age, demonstrating that children are hardwired to think in these ways.