1、“Learn to Think Like an Expert”David C. Wisler, PhD, NAENotice that I said learn to thinklike an expertnot bean expert, although the latter is sound advice also. I concentratethis presentationon learning to think like an expert becausecultivatingthis skillis the pa
2、th to becoming an expert.It will reap vast rewards in the future. Having participated in many design projects, design boards, project analysis meetings, and program creation and evaluation activitiesas an engineering manager at GE Aircraft Engines (now GE Aviation)
3、, I’ve seen this skill in action. I’ve seen how highly effectiveand creative individuals think, approach problems and apply their knowledge to solvevery difficultproblems.Unfortunately, engineering students are rarely taught the skills needed to reason and think cr
4、itically like an expert would think. Too often they fall into the practice of memorizing formulas and procedures for examinations, searching forthe best computer programto useandthen‘pluggingand chugging’fora solution.Without logical connections between what is bei
5、ng memorized, such memorization is almost always lost in a few days or weeks as the student moves on to the nextcourse or examination. By employing this practice,studentscondition themselves to be novices.IntroductionRene Descartes (1596‐1650) said, “I think, there
6、fore I am”. What did he mean by this? Many conclude that he meant the following: My being able to think proves that I am “alive”.Prof. Richard McDermott of Harvard University concluded that“Expertise is a way of thinking”. This conclusion is significant.How are you
7、 trained to think? Is there a better way to think than you currently use?Understanding expertise and how experts differ from novices inthe way they think and inhow they store, retrieve and useinformation provides insight into the nature of thinking and problem solv
8、ing and shows what successful learning looks like.Having expertise in a discipline or subject area is not simply having general abilities like me