Syllabus Lesson 140 of 141 · Ten doors and the field kit
Ten doors and the field kit

Studio: one real problem, the whole loop

Why it matters The course only pays off if the loop leaves the course. Here you run it once on something from your own work, with the tutor as a sparring partner.

Studio: this is checked only for being done, not for being good.

Pick a real problem you have now or had recently: a slow query, a design you are unsure of, a bug you patched and never trusted. Then go round the loop and write each step down:

  1. The first answer. What would you, or your assistant, do first? Ask it if you like, and write the answer in one line.
  2. The facts. What does the problem actually say about size, order, change, users, budget?
  3. Reframes. At least three: invert it, change the unit, move the work, delete a requirement, borrow a machine from another field.
  4. Spar. Ask the tutor to attack your favourite option, not to write it.
  5. Choose, and say why the first answer won or lost.

Recap First answer, facts, reframes, spar, choose. Written down, it takes 20 minutes; skipped, it is a habit you only meant to have.

Your turn

Fill in the variables: problem (one or two sentences), first_answer (one line), facts (a list of at least 2 strings), reframes (a list of at least 3 strings), attack (the strongest objection from sparring, one line), and choice (what you chose and why). Any honest content passes.

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