An 8-yr old boy wonders what's the best way to score a goal and decides the best way is to kick the ball into the goal. He tries. He misses. Then he gets the ball and works again.
18-yr old youth wonders what's the best way to score a goal and decides he needs to check his distance from the target, the direction of the breeze, his angle to the goal, the force he needs to exert, and the right placement of his foot on the ball. He kicks the ball. He misses. Then he tries to refine his calculations.
Children with their uncomplicated lives and uncluttered minds think simple solutions to the same problems that often over-complicate. As we mature, we saturate our minds with our experiences that impact out outcomes. As adults, we tend to draw on more information than what is needed to complete the task and achieve the goal.
I recently experienced this first hand. Neerja was teaching Eka grade 5 math and had to explain the difference between prime numbers and composite numbers. While innately knowing the answer, she wasn't able to structure it into a response for Eka, and so she asked me to help. Similarly, I had trouble articulating an explanation on composite numbers, so I looked up the internet for assistance.
The internet is a fantastic aid that can provide a lot of data. But the ability to distil data into useful information is still better for us humans. I took the most straightforward definition of a composite number and tried to explain the fundamental to Neerja. Again, though she broadly understood the explanation, it did not give her enough to justify the concept to Eka.
A while later, with frustration and fatigue creeping in Neerja asked me to pause. She took a moment to recompose herself and jig her mind a bit. Promptly came the question, "So is a composite number one that is not a prime number"? And it immediately dawned on me, that was the simplest way to begin the conversation about the fundamental concept regarding prime and composite numbers. I realised what I often tell others to do; while communicating, reference the listeners' knowledge to provide your inputs to be best understood. Had I approached the issue the same way, perhaps I would have saved all of us the angst of getting the answer and annoyance of being able to explain it to Eka in a way he could best understand it.
Darling Neerja,
Happy Valentine's Day.
Thanks for reintroducing me to the power of simplicity.
KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
