How to be a creative thinker | Carnegie Mellon University Po-Shen Loh

EO15 minutes read

Po-shen Loh emphasizes problem-solving skills, shares a math puzzle, advocates for mental flexibility in education, and offers a paid teaching platform. His program focuses on fostering critical thinking skills, empowering independent learners, and prioritizing customer satisfaction in social entrepreneurship.

Insights

  • Po-shen Loh promotes problem-solving skills over rote memorization, encouraging mental flexibility and creative thinking in education.
  • Emphasizing interactive learning and personal experience, Loh's social entrepreneurship approach prioritizes critical thinking and innovation to prepare students for success in an AI-driven world, focusing on customer satisfaction and value creation.

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Recent questions

  • How does Po-shen Loh advocate for problem-solving skills?

    By emphasizing mental flexibility over memorization in education.

  • What kind of math puzzle did Po-shen Loh share?

    A puzzle involving arranging matchsticks to form triangles.

  • How did Po-shen Loh's teaching experience vary?

    From coaching the US International Math Olympiad team to instructing sixth graders.

  • What is the focus of Po-shen Loh's teaching program?

    Algebra, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory to foster critical thinking skills.

  • What is Po-shen Loh's ultimate goal in education?

    To empower students to become independent learners.

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Summary

00:00

"Math educator promotes problem-solving skills"

  • Po-shen Loh, a mathematician and educator, emphasizes the importance of problem-solving skills in today's world.
  • Loh shares a math puzzle involving arranging six matchsticks to form four triangles, showcasing creative thinking.
  • Loh's teaching experience ranges from coaching the US International Math Olympiad team to instructing sixth graders.
  • He criticizes the prevalent focus on test preparation and memorization in education, advocating for mental flexibility.
  • Loh's initiative, starting with a free website for math and science explanations, evolved into a paid teaching platform.
  • Recognizing the value of live human interaction in education, Loh developed an ecosystem involving expert coaches.
  • Loh's ecosystem benefits high school students, math enthusiasts, and drama professionals, creating a win-win scenario.
  • Through improvisational comedy classes, Loh learned to communicate effectively, leading to collaborations with drama experts.
  • Loh's program focuses on algebra, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory to foster critical thinking skills.
  • Loh's ultimate goal is to empower students to become independent learners, eliminating the need for continuous classes.

12:09

Fostering Collective Thinking for Future Success

  • The speaker developed the idea of teaching middle school students to think collectively, aiming to help them become successful in the future. They emphasized the importance of personal experience in generating ideas and highlighted the significance of hands-on involvement in sectors of interest, such as education.
  • The speaker's focus on social entrepreneurship was evident in their approach to problem-solving, prioritizing customer satisfaction over profit. They stressed the value of encouraging people to enjoy critical thinking and creating new things, especially in the evolving landscape of AI, where creating value will be crucial for societal advancement.
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