Success Secret #1: Rid the "I Don't Know" Disease

Our brain constantly holds internal dialogues (questioning and answering) to lead us to figure things out.

Just like now, some of you might be asking yourself "Do I?" internally as you read the sentence above.

Some of my students have the habit of shrugging off questions or just replying "I don't know" even before thinking. Those who have contracted a severe case of "I Don't Know" Disease tend to leave their examination questions blank or just pluck numbers and calculate anyhow.

Whenever we say "I don't know", it's actually telling our brain to STOP THINKING. Hence, when it is done frequently, it prevents the brain from growing and form new neuro-connections. Learning becomes increasingly challenging.

When faced with a Math word problem, one tends to run a series of questions in his mind:
"What is the question asking for?"
"Which method or strategy can I use?"
"Is this method effective?"
"Have I seen similar question before?"
"What are the steps involved?"

For students who are good learners, they answer their own questions which will eventually help them to solve the word problem. This questioning-and-answering process happen in split seconds. Hence, it may appear that they solved the question without thinking!!

However, students who have the "I Don't Know" Disease have programmed their brain to answer "I don't know" in default. As this process happens in split seconds, it can be quite challenging to control themselves when it has already become a habit. Once they said the three words to themselves, the brain shuts down and stops thinking.

Here are some examples how this disease is encouraged:

FIRST DAY AT A WORKSHOP (Parent brings child to the room.)
Parent: Boy, where you want to sit.
Child: Here.
Parent: Aiyo... it's under the air-con. Very cold. Sit where?
Child: There.
Parent: Too far from the trainer. Where you want to sit?
Child: I don't know.

AT A FOOD COURT
Parent: Girl what you want to eat?
Child: Chicken rice.
Parent: So oily, not good.
Child: Laksa
Parent: Don't eat that at night. What do you want?
Child: I don't know.

When a child starts saying "I don't know", "whatever" or "anything" in their daily lives, it will start showing up in their learning as they are faced with more challenging thinking process. A child who does not have the habit of making choices, is usually quiet and of lower self-confidence and these will give the disease a chance to flourish.

PS: To balance between control and freedom to choose, parents can limit their choices like "Girl, do you want fishball noodles, wanton mee or duck rice?"

PPS: How do I help my students rid the disease? That will be revealed in further entries.