How to think, not what to think | Jesse Richardson | TEDxBrisbane

Summary

The speaker advocates for a shift in education from teaching students 'what to think' to 'how to think,' emphasizing the importance of fostering creativity and critical thinking. He discusses the historical context of the education system and proposes a platform, the School of Thought International, to teach these skills for free. The speaker also highlights the need for engaging educational resources, drawing parallels with effective advertising techniques.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The importance of teaching children how to think rather than what to think is emphasized, as traditional education often lacks instruction on critical thinking skills.
• 🏫 The speaker suggests that the current education system is a product of industrialization and has become a hard-to-change bureaucracy.
• 📚 It is argued that creativity and critical thinking are essential for innovation and problem-solving, and should be taught in schools.
• 🤔 The speaker highlights the need for students to be engaged in their learning process, fostering curiosity and self-motivation.
• 🔄 The idea that creativity is not just about artistic expression but also about making new connections and solving problems is presented.
• 🚫 The potential dangers of being open only to new connections without critical thinking are discussed, such as susceptibility to cognitive biases.
• 🤓 Critical thinking is defined as the ability to question rigorously, form coherent thoughts, and identify flawed arguments.
• 💡 The concept that it's okay to be wrong and that changing one's ideas can be liberating is introduced as a key aspect of critical thinking.
• 🌐 The speaker's experience in advertising is used to illustrate the power of simplicity and genuine engagement in effective communication.
• 📈 The success of the 'Your Logical Fallacy Is' website and poster demonstrates the demand for simple, engaging educational resources.
• 🏛️ The launch of the School of Thought International is announced as a platform for free learning of creative and critical thinking skills.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the script regarding education?

The main argument is that the education system should focus on teaching children how to think rather than what to think, emphasizing the importance of fostering creativity and critical thinking skills.

Why does the speaker suggest that the current education system may not be conducive to teaching how to think?

The speaker attributes this to the system's historical development in response to industrialization, creating a bureaucratic structure that is hard to change, and to past practices that were not based on a sophisticated understanding of learning.

What does the speaker propose as an alternative to traditional knowledge-based education?

The speaker proposes involving children in their own learning process by encouraging them to question, understand, and engage their minds, rather than just memorizing correct answers.

How does the speaker describe the role of curiosity in learning?

Curiosity is described as a spark that keeps children engaged and motivated to learn. When curiosity is ignited, children become self-powered learners who seek understanding on their own.

What is the relationship between creativity and the ability to think, as discussed in the script?

Creativity is presented as an essential part of learning how to think, as it involves making new connections and being innovative in solving problems, which is a fundamental aspect of human progress.

How does the speaker differentiate between art and design in the context of creative thinking?

Art is described as an expression, while design is about solving problems. The speaker advocates for teaching creative thinking that is more akin to design, focusing on adaptability and innovation.

What is the importance of critical thinking skills, according to the script?

Critical thinking skills are important for questioning things rigorously, forming sound arguments, identifying fallacies, and being open to the possibility of being wrong, which is liberating and transformative.

What is the speaker's view on the role of being wrong in the learning process?

The speaker views being wrong as a positive aspect of learning, emphasizing that it is not tied to one's identity and that changing one's ideas can be a liberating experience.

How does the speaker describe the combination of creative and critical thinking?

The speaker describes the combination as two sides of the same coin, which when used together, can lead to a dynamic interplay that fosters a deeper understanding and genius-level insights.

What is the purpose of the School of Thought International mentioned in the script?

The School of Thought International is a not-for-profit online school aimed at teaching creative and critical thinking skills for free, making educational resources available under a creative commons license for anyone with an Internet connection.

What is the speaker's suggestion for the future of education in terms of teaching thinking skills?

The speaker suggests incorporating thinking as its own subject in school curricula, dedicating as much time to teaching kids how to think for themselves as is done for traditional subjects like English and Math.