#Systematicthinking

A new article published in Psychology Today, titled “Why Systematic Thinking Creates Minds That Mirror Algorithms,” has sparked concern among educators and parents worldwide by suggesting that modern educational methods may be inadvertently stifling creative thinking in students. The research-backed piece points to the risks of prioritizing systematic, algorithm-like problem-solving approaches—a hallmark of many school curricula today—at the expense of nurturing originality and divergent thinking, skills crucial for thriving in a rapidly changing global economy.

A new discussion sparked by a Psychology Today feature questions whether Thai schools, alongside global systems, may overemphasize systematic problem-solving at the expense of creativity. The concern is that rigid, test-driven instruction helps students perform procedures efficiently but may limit divergent thinking and innovative capabilities essential in a fast-changing economy.

In Thailand, the Ministry of Education has long prioritized systematic thinking as a foundation for math and science success. Classrooms often rely on memorization, standardized tests, and formulaic problem-solving rather than open-ended inquiry and collaborative projects. While such methods help achieve solid regional scores, critics argue they can overlook the development of original ideas and flexible thinking needed for entrepreneurship, the arts, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.