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How can we help kids become more independent-minded and why does it matter?
3 ideas from @paulg that apply to kids
3 ideas from @paulg that apply to kids
Schools teach us that in order to succeed, our ideas need to be right.
But in the real world, it’s not enough to be correct. To differentiate ourselves, our ideas must be both right AND novel.
And the best way to come up with novel ideas is to *think differently* from others.
But in the real world, it’s not enough to be correct. To differentiate ourselves, our ideas must be both right AND novel.
And the best way to come up with novel ideas is to *think differently* from others.
I realized this while reading one of @paulg 's essays, “How to Think for Yourself.”
He lays out that different jobs require different levels of independent thinking, and we must acknowledge this distinction when deciding what kind of work we want to do.
http://paulgraham.com/think.html
He lays out that different jobs require different levels of independent thinking, and we must acknowledge this distinction when deciding what kind of work we want to do.
http://paulgraham.com/think.html
To be a successful scientist, you need to discover things that others haven’t realized yet.
To start a successful company, you need to go after something that others haven’t figured out.
To be a successful writer, you need to share insights that feel new to others.
But there are other kinds of work where it’s not necessary to think independently.
To be an administrator for example, all you need is to be “right” and follow directions. You don’t need to think differently from your peers in order to succeed.
So, where am I going with this?
To be an administrator for example, all you need is to be “right” and follow directions. You don’t need to think differently from your peers in order to succeed.
So, where am I going with this?
I’d argue that the most important jobs of the future will require us to think differently—to be creative, to think outside the box, and develop ideas others haven’t.
We know schools are not focused on helping kids magnify these qualities...
So what can *we* do?
We know schools are not focused on helping kids magnify these qualities...
So what can *we* do?
How can we help kids become more independent-minded?
@paulg argues that this quality may be largely inborn, but there are ways to magnify it, or at least to not suppress it.
Here are a 3 examples he shares that I believe are applicable to kids:
@paulg argues that this quality may be largely inborn, but there are ways to magnify it, or at least to not suppress it.
Here are a 3 examples he shares that I believe are applicable to kids:
1. Cultivate an attitude of skepticism 
Teach kids not to let anything into their head unexamined.
“When you hear someone say something, stop and ask yourself, is that true?”
Frame this habit for your kids as an exciting quest for novelty.
Teach kids not to let anything into their head unexamined.
“When you hear someone say something, stop and ask yourself, is that true?”
Frame this habit for your kids as an exciting quest for novelty.
2. Surround them with independent-minded people 
Having kids hear other people say surprising things will encourage them to do the same.
Help them find a community of other kids, older and younger, who crave creativity and learning new things.
@synthesischool @withprimer
Having kids hear other people say surprising things will encourage them to do the same.
Help them find a community of other kids, older and younger, who crave creativity and learning new things.
@synthesischool @withprimer
3. Cultivate curiosity 
Make sure kids are making time to explore the things they are interested in. Find out how much of the work they're doing in school engages their curiosity.
If the answer is “not much,” then they need to find something else—a complement—that does.
Make sure kids are making time to explore the things they are interested in. Find out how much of the work they're doing in school engages their curiosity.
If the answer is “not much,” then they need to find something else—a complement—that does.
I explore ideas like these in my weekly newsletter Fab Fridays.
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http://afabrega.com
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