Dan Pink’s “Problem Finding”

At Edutech, I heard Dan speak, not for the first time, about the need for students to become “problem finders” as opposed to just “problem solvers”. This phrase was echoed by several others in keynotes too. Perhaps it’s just semantics, but I couldn’t get my head around the phrase. The post at www.brainpickings.org/index.php/tag/dan-pink/ has really helped crystallise my thinking. If we reframe the words “problem” solving” into something more appreciative – “looking for opportunities” or “possibility thinking” then immediately I can grasp the intent of the phrase. I love the example given of the artists considering subjects – some paint what they see, whilst some consider what they might paint, given what is before them.
If we remove the base notion of a scenario as something that needs solving, and shift to considering what might or could be, then I think we could be working in Dan Pink’s “Problem Finding” mode.