Comments on: The goal of productive failure is not to get the correct answer faster and more easily via shallower learning https://www.isegoria.net/2023/06/the-goal-of-productive-failure-is-not-to-get-the-correct-answer-faster-and-more-easily-via-shallower-learning/ From the ancient Greek for equality in freedom of speech; an eclectic mix of thoughts, large and small Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:05:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Shadeburst https://www.isegoria.net/2023/06/the-goal-of-productive-failure-is-not-to-get-the-correct-answer-faster-and-more-easily-via-shallower-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3612686 Shadeburst Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:17:55 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=50149#comment-3612686 In golf that’s called grooving your slice. Seven classes to learn to calculate average speed! And how many classes did the direct method students get? I suspect that statistics and an agenda got interwoven here.

]]> By: Felix https://www.isegoria.net/2023/06/the-goal-of-productive-failure-is-not-to-get-the-correct-answer-faster-and-more-easily-via-shallower-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3612419 Felix Sat, 24 Jun 2023 19:11:52 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=50149#comment-3612419 Zero surprise.

A core to my own method of working is that, given a problem, the thing to do is to thrash around (not knowing the “right” solution) way, way longer than justified. The idea is to not pollute your mind with the “right” way to solve the problem. Instead, try to accidentally come up with a better solution than the “right” solution. True, that rarely happens, but:

1) I come out knowing the landscape around the “right” solution. In the future that can be handy.

2) Sometimes, a sub-optimal solution is, in fact, better than the “right” solution for the particular problem at hand.

3) It’s remarkably satisfying to discover, yourself, the “right” solution.

4) It’s way more fun.

Honestly, #4 is the real reason for using this method.

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