Thinking and language
How do we organize ideas and use them to solve problems?
The basic idea
Thinking involves representing information and working with it. Concepts group related examples, while language helps express relationships between ideas. When solving a problem, a systematic procedure or a practical shortcut can guide the next step. The way information is presented can also influence a judgment.
- Organize an idea
- Represent the problem
- Compare possible solutions
How we form a category
Explore how varied examples can belong to one category.
- Category
- A concept groups related examples.
- Prototype
- Some examples come to mind more readily.
- Variation
- Category members can look and behave differently.
Picture this
Original teaching example
You are looking for a missing key. You could check every drawer in a fixed order or start where you last used it. Each strategy organizes the search differently. Describing the problem clearly helps you decide where to look next.
Your turn
What makes checking the last-used place a useful shortcut?
Show the explanation
It uses a relevant clue to prioritize a likely location. If the key is elsewhere, you can update the search using what you have learned.
Take the idea further
Choose a strategy in relation to the task, the available information and the cost of checking a possible answer.
Explore another angle
Word order changes meaningSee how word order helps convey who does what in English.Read the illustrated guide
Two ways to search for a solutionCompare two strategies for searching for a missing key.Read the illustrated guide
Finding a new use for an objectExplore how a familiar object can serve another purpose.Read the illustrated guide
A starting number can shape an estimateExplore how an initial number can influence an estimate.Read the illustrated guide
One outcome, two descriptionsCompare two descriptions of the same arrangement.Read the illustrated guide
How norm groups help interpret a scoreExplore how a norm group gives a test score a comparison context.Read the illustrated guide