Why is it so important to understand thinking?

My experience with Econ 302 (Intermediate Micro) gave me some personal insights. We spent 4 class periods each week learning some fairly advanced economic theories. Tests were given each Friday. And these were brutal tests. Our professor didn't want us to spew basic theory back at him, he wanted to see if we could synthesize the theory. In other words, we were required to think like economists. Not an easy task for untrained minds.

The first test was memorable. I scored a 50% and was horrified. I could see my 3.9something GPA slipping away. I felt somewhat better to learn that the high score for that test was in the low 70s. I also felt better after reviewing the test and talking my professor into another 10 points. But I was still bugged.

It's the first time in my life that I stood outside the professor's door prior to office hours just to have a chat. I was frustrated. I wanted to understand and didn't. Through our discussion I began to realize that he thought differently than I did. It wasn't that he was so much smarter (although he might have been.) It was that he had learned a way of thinking. He was able to think through information.

He gave me the theory. But I wanted more. I wanted to know how to think like an economist. I wanted the professor to teach me how to think like an economist.

I'm finally realizing that my task is the same as the professor's. Teaching people how to think. But how?.........
7:03:18 AM    comment []