Think Small to Solve Big Problems, with Stephen Dubner | Big Think

Summary

The speaker advocates for 'thinking small' as a more effective approach to problem-solving than 'thinking big.' They argue that large problems are complex and often resistant to change due to historical and institutional inertia. Instead, focusing on smaller, manageable issues can lead to tangible solutions, as illustrated by examples like the School of One's personalized learning model and the impact of providing glasses to students with poor eyesight, demonstrating significant improvements in academic performance.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The speaker advocates for thinking like children, suggesting it can lead to fresh and innovative perspectives.
• 🧐 Acknowledgment of inherent biases, including the potential bias towards 'thinking like children' due to the speaker's own tendencies.
• 🔍 The emphasis on 'thinking small' as a counter to the prevailing 'thinking big' philosophy, with the argument that smaller problems are more manageable and solvable.
• 📚 The complexity and difficulty of solving big problems, such as education reform, due to their size, history, and deeply rooted institutions.
• 💡 The idea that history is filled with examples of brilliant minds failing to solve large-scale problems, suggesting that a different approach might be necessary.
• 🚀 Encouragement for those who wish to tackle big problems to continue doing so, while proposing that others might find success in focusing on smaller issues.
• 🔑 The benefits of addressing smaller problems, such as the ease of gathering data, understanding incentives, and implementing solutions.
• 🌐 The potential for incremental improvements through the aggregation of small solutions to larger problems.
• 🏫 A critique of the education reform narrative, suggesting it is biased towards the supply side (schools) rather than considering the demand side (students).
• 🎓 The example of the 'School of One' program in New York City, which personalized learning methods for students based on their individual learning styles and preferences.
• 👓 The revelation that poor eyesight can be a significant barrier to education, with an example of how providing glasses to students in need can dramatically improve academic performance.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the transcript?

The main argument is that we could all benefit from thinking more like children, particularly by thinking small instead of trying to solve big problems.

Why does the speaker believe that thinking small is beneficial?

Thinking small is beneficial because big problems are complex and hard to solve, involving many people and perverse incentives. Solving smaller problems is more manageable and can lead to practical solutions.

What are some challenges associated with solving big problems, according to the speaker?

Big problems involve many people, cross incentives, historical calcification, and require significant resources like time, money, and optimism. They are also difficult to solve due to entrenched systems and traditions.

Can you provide an example the speaker uses to illustrate the difficulty of solving big problems?

The speaker mentions education reform as a big problem, highlighting the complexity of changing long-established institutions and the many variables involved, such as class size, technology, and curricula.

How does the speaker suggest approaching education reform differently?

The speaker suggests focusing on the student side of education, looking at how students learn and addressing smaller, manageable issues like poor eyesight among students.

What is the 'School of One' program mentioned in the transcript?

The 'School of One' program is an initiative in New York City that customizes learning for each student by offering various learning formats and using daily assessments to determine the best learning method for each student.

What was the outcome of the experiment conducted in rural China regarding students' eyesight?

The experiment showed that providing glasses to students with poor eyesight significantly improved their academic performance compared to those who did not receive glasses.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of addressing small problems?

Addressing small problems is often easier, less complicated, and more likely to result in practical solutions that can be implemented effectively, leading to incremental improvements.

What does the speaker mean by 'thinking like a child'?

'Thinking like a child' involves asking simple, obvious questions and considering straightforward solutions without overcomplicating the issues.

How does the example of providing glasses to students relate to the concept of 'thinking small'?

Providing glasses is a simple, low-cost solution to a small but significant problem (poor eyesight) that had a big impact on students' academic performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of 'thinking small.'