The Mystery of the Missing Actor
In our previous episode of Problems as Homework, P. A. Rant dealt with Lesson 2 of elementary problem solving: Turning Subjective Values into Objective Goals. But P. A. has not finished learning why children need help in solving problems.
Take, for example, the apparent goal offered by the child:
“They should make it more interesting.”
P. A. may have some ideas about how the homework could be made more interesting to this particular child. But that would only teach the child that complaining about a problem will get somebody to fix it.
Complaining really does work for children. “They” (the parents) will try to fix things. “They” (the parents) may also be hoping that the child will outgrow complaining and grow into fixing. Otherwise, “they” (the parents) will start complaining about how the kid always expects somebody else to fix things.
P. A. long ago discovered that complaining is easier that fixing. And lasts longer. That’s why P. A. is teaching the kid to do problem soling. Because otherwise, complaining that the kid doesn’t solve problems could last a long time.
At this point, then, P. A. is ready to take another step in showing the kid how to translate complaints into solutions. Back to the Semi-Structured Brainstorming sheet on the wall. Near the box labeled “MY GOALS.” P. A. marks in a new box: “WHO will do this?”
This is a theme I put in the Thinkerer as a Head Player, the Owl (that says “Who?”). The role is not big. Just essential. The language of complaint starts with they. The language of solutions starts with “I.” As in “What will I do?” (Intellectuals please note: this is Existentialism 101.)
P. A. also reviews the standard complaints brought out by the who question:
Complaint: I can’t do it all by myself.
P. A.: Of course not. So who do you want to help you? What you want them to do? How will you get them to do it?
P. A. writes these more specific questions in the WHO? box.
Complaint: I don’t know what to tell them to do.
P. A. You may need to figure out the route to the solution before you know that. You don’t have to finish the boxes in order. It is just like a puzzle. Sometimes the solution on one part tells you something about how to handle another part.
Complaint: I don’t know where to start.
P. A. Start by looking at how other people have handled the problem. Who can tell you how other people have handled the problem?
P. A. writes that question in the WHO? box. Then P. A. attaches another box to the WHO? box. P. A. gives this box the name: RESOURCES that could help me.
P. A. You can usually start thinking with your resources. That’s probably where you will have to start doing.
(To be continued)
Take, for example, the apparent goal offered by the child:
“They should make it more interesting.”
P. A. may have some ideas about how the homework could be made more interesting to this particular child. But that would only teach the child that complaining about a problem will get somebody to fix it.
Complaining really does work for children. “They” (the parents) will try to fix things. “They” (the parents) may also be hoping that the child will outgrow complaining and grow into fixing. Otherwise, “they” (the parents) will start complaining about how the kid always expects somebody else to fix things.
P. A. long ago discovered that complaining is easier that fixing. And lasts longer. That’s why P. A. is teaching the kid to do problem soling. Because otherwise, complaining that the kid doesn’t solve problems could last a long time.
At this point, then, P. A. is ready to take another step in showing the kid how to translate complaints into solutions. Back to the Semi-Structured Brainstorming sheet on the wall. Near the box labeled “MY GOALS.” P. A. marks in a new box: “WHO will do this?”
This is a theme I put in the Thinkerer as a Head Player, the Owl (that says “Who?”). The role is not big. Just essential. The language of complaint starts with they. The language of solutions starts with “I.” As in “What will I do?” (Intellectuals please note: this is Existentialism 101.)
P. A. also reviews the standard complaints brought out by the who question:
Complaint: I can’t do it all by myself.
P. A.: Of course not. So who do you want to help you? What you want them to do? How will you get them to do it?
P. A. writes these more specific questions in the WHO? box.
Complaint: I don’t know what to tell them to do.
P. A. You may need to figure out the route to the solution before you know that. You don’t have to finish the boxes in order. It is just like a puzzle. Sometimes the solution on one part tells you something about how to handle another part.
Complaint: I don’t know where to start.
P. A. Start by looking at how other people have handled the problem. Who can tell you how other people have handled the problem?
P. A. writes that question in the WHO? box. Then P. A. attaches another box to the WHO? box. P. A. gives this box the name: RESOURCES that could help me.
P. A. You can usually start thinking with your resources. That’s probably where you will have to start doing.
(To be continued)
posted by Selby Evans at 1:05 PM
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