Page 162 - Learning to Learn

READING EXPERIENCE 6: M ETHODOLOGIES: UNLOCKING PROCESS KNOWLEDGE
162 L EARNING TO LEARN: BECOMING A SELF-GROWER
problems you’ve seen in this chapter so far have been quantitative: that is, they have been numbers-based.
Not all problems are quantitative, though, so here’s a problem without numbers. The following qualitative
problem is fairly common, finding an address or location for the first time.
Problem Solving Example: Feeling a Little Lost
Scenario: You live in Albany, NY, and your friend has invited you to visit her in Syracuse, NY.
She’s given you the address of her house, and you’ve printed out detailed point-to-point
driving directions from Google® maps. Unfortunately, as you stop for gas approximately 15
miles from her house, you receive a text message on your cell phone: “Leaving the house
now; meet me at Charley’s instead.” When you try to phone your friend for directions to
“Charley’s,” you hear an automatic message which informs you that the party you are
trying to reach has turned off their phone.
Step Explanation
1 Define the
problem
You need to meet your friend but don’t know what or where “Charley’s” is.
2 Identify key
issues
You need to find out what “Charley’s” is so that you can figure out how to get there.
3 Collect data and
information
You’re at a gas station, so you know you can purchase a map of the area. The station
has a phone book that you can use as you try to figure out what Charley’s is. You can
also ask if the clerk knows what/where Charley’s is.
4 Identify
assumptions
You’re assuming that there’s little point to continuing trying to reach your friend’s cell
phone. Because she lives alone, you know that phoning her house will do no good.
You’ve also decided to assume unless you learn differently that “Charley’s” refers to
a business of some sort rather than a person’s house.
5 Break the
problem apart
First, you need to determine what Charley’s is. Then you can potentially look it up in
a phone book to get an address and phone number. You can either ask for directions
to get there from the gas station, or you can buy a map that may help.
6 Model sub-
problems
You look through the phone book and sure enough, Charley’s is a bistro. There is an
address and phone number listed. (The phone number gives you an additional idea;
if you’re unable to figure out how to get there, you could always phone Charley’s and
ask to have your friend paged. That will at least put you back in contact with her.) The
address doesn’t help you yet as it’s not part of your driving directions. You pay for your
fuel and purchase a map of the area, and decide to ask the clerk if he is familiar with
“Charley’s”. He says, “Yeah. It’s about 8 miles west of here. Great food.”
7 Integrate
solutions
You have your map and can see the street signs for the intersection where the gas
station is located. You now know where you are on the map. You use the map index to
locate the street Charley’s is on. Sure enough, it’s about 8 miles away. You further note
the location of your friend’s house on the map; Charley’s appears to be right on your
way to her house. With the route to Charley’s in mind, you set off again.
8 Test and validate You find Charley’s Bistro without further problems. Your friend is there, waiting for you!
9 Generalize the
solution
These same steps can be applied the next time you find yourself having to locate a
new business or location and you don’t have driving directions. Between using the
phone book and the map, you did well!
10 Communicate the
solution
Charley’s was great, so you’ve sent an e-mail to a couple of other friends in Albany,
recommending they visit Charley’s the next time they go to Syracuse. Your e-mail
includes driving directions, a link to a map, and the URL for the bistro’s website.