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Having read Petra Rivero's article on thinking about a question and working out the answer, I am drawn back to a drum that I have been beating for a long time.

In recent years, far too much emphasis has been placed on learning facts and ticking boxes without any thought for rationalisation and logical thought.  I think that there are few things more satisfying than looking at a question, not knowing the answer, but then working it out for yourself.

The example that Petra quoted was classic.  I did not know the answer but it was, as Petra said, just a matter of considering four options and selecting the one that was most likely. Once you homed in on the solution, the more obvious it becomes and the feeling of achievement is genuine.

Unless we re-address this problem in teaching, we will end up with a large proportion of the population that are unable to think effectively. They will be able to answer the qustions that they have learnt but will not be able to re-use fundamental analytical skills.

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