The author argues that it is not always beneficial to provide students with immediate answers when they ask questions. Instead, they suggest fostering an environment where students are encouraged to figure things out on their own. They emphasize the importance of the struggle and knowledge gained through it, which may be difficult in a society that values easy solutions. The author also reflects on the challenges of incorporating AI technologies like chat GPT into education, as it may hinder students' ability to truly understand and analyze information. They believe that evaluating students based on their ability to figure things out is more important than testing their memorization skills. Multiple-choice tests, in their opinion, give the wrong impression that knowledge is arbitrary and should only serve the teacher's purposes.
How much do we remember of what we learn in school or from conversation? Psychologist Adam Mastroianni says: from little to nothing much. What do our brains retain? Mastroianni argues that often it's a mix of emotions, meanings, and values that end up shaping who we are, what Mastroianni calls "vibes." Listen as he and EconTalk's Russ Roberts discuss the role of vibes in knowledge acquisition and the implications for how we teach, learn, and speak to those around us.