Photo story: This photo was taken in December 2018 during a family trip to Tainan, where we visited the Tainan Judicial Museum. The cardboard figure, presumably a convict awaiting trial, is seated inside a prison cell that is part of the museum’s exhibit. I chose this picture for two reasons. Firstly, the cutout appears deep in thought, which aligns well with the theme of “Think Again.” Secondly, it suggests a deeper idea about constraint: being resource-strapped often forces us to think again and come up with more creative solutions (I’m not referring to jail breaking).
The learning gap I observed in my teaching journey shaped the philosophy behind The Tide Pool methodology. It is best captured in the following quote:
"I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think". - Socrates
The Philosophy Behind The Tide Pool
As a consultant and business owner, I’ve learnt there is rarely a clear right or wrong answer in business. Decisions and outcomes depend on dynamic factors like resource availability, macro-environmental shifts, and unpredictable market responses. Therefore, my philosophy is to empower students to think critically when confronted with business problems.
This philosophy aligns with what Adam Grant describes in his book, Think Again [1]. He advocates for thinking like a scientist, which means constantly challenging assumptions and grounding conclusions in solid evidence, rather than adopting the fixed mindsets of a preacher, politician, or prosecutor [2]. For students, this means feeling comfortable challenging their own hypotheses and staying open-minded.
From Classroom To Life
“Making” my students think requires me to shift my role from being a typical teacher to facilitator.
When students ask me for direct answers, I probe them, ask them to explain their thought processes, and guide them back to the fundamental principles we’ve explored in class. This approach represents a significant mindset shift for students, who are accustomed to professors having all the answers. Over time, most students come to appreciate that they are empowered to find answers on their own, though a few may initially feel frustrated that they need to "read between the lines" for guidance. Many tell me my approach is atypical, but they come to see its value both in the course and in their professional lives.
What brings me the most joy is witnessing this mindset shift in students. It is rewarding to see them question their assumptions and watch their thinking evolves. Though I first noticed this as a learning gap in my teaching, I also realised these thinking skills are essential far beyond the classroom. Ultimately, developing critical and scientific thinking benefits students not only in their careers but also in overcoming personal obstacles and achieving breakthroughs.
My greatest reward as an educator is to impart this fundamental life skill: the ability to think critically and creatively, question assumptions, and seek the truth without clinging to preconceived notions.
This is the desired outcome of The Tide Pool: to bridge the learning gap and prepare students to think for themselves.
[1] Grant, A. (2021). Think again: The power of knowing what you don’t know. Viking.
[2] According to Grant, the preacher, prosecutor and politician exhibit fixed mindset as follows:
- Preacher defends their beliefs as sacred truths and resists questioning them.
- Prosecutor focuses on proving others wrong instead of examining their own thinking.
- Politician seeks approval and support by adapting their message to please others, rather than pursuing truth.
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