Over the last week, my oldest son – he will be referred to as “The Oldest Boy” – has been fascinated by the age-old question of who would win in a battle between Star Wars vs. Harry Potter. Not only has exploring, and debating, this question generated super-fun family dinner conversations, but it is also cultivating critical thinking, curiosity, and persuasion for all of us.
The future of work is full of amazing opportunities, many of which cannot be imagined today. Futurist Heather McGowan argues that robots are better at completing tasks, so humans should focus on the skills required to ask great questions to the AI with which we are augmenting our work.
Once a question has an answer, well, the answer turns into a task that can be replicated, automated, and continuously improved by robots. So humans should be in the business of asking powerful questions and generating ideas, not completing tasks. A question like “who would win: Star Wars or Harry Potter?” is also perfect because it is a deeply human question. Kids on playgrounds, teammates on a bus, or dudes in a bar have probably debated this question four hours. Such creative ridiculousness is a wonderfully human trait.
Robots just wouldn’t get it.
Maybe R2-D2.
Here is the oldest boy’s question and his argument for wizardry:
Who would win star wars or harry potter?
The wizards and witches have magic
And think of all the magical monsters and
Beasts and Harry Potter has dragons too. But
Star wars has
The force and lightsabers. Star wars has a
People advantage too.so who would win
Harry potter or star wars!
Well the wizards and witches have an endless
Supply of food ,water and weapons.
But Star Wars has thousands of people and guns.
But Harry potter has the giants too.
Harry potter also has dementors and basilisks.
And don’t forget about the house elves.
But star wars also has the death star.
I think harry potter would win but what do you
think?
And here is the video we co-created:
Unlock curiosity
When you ask questions, it’s like opening a door to a world of wonders! Curiosity is all about being curious, wanting to know more, and exploring the things around you. By asking questions, you can discover new ideas, learn exciting facts, and become a super learner!
Become super-thinkers
Asking good questions helps you become a super thinker! It’s like putting on your thinking cap and becoming a detective. You can analyze problems, find solutions, and think for yourself. By asking questions, you become smarter and better at making decisions.
Embrace creativity
Did you know that robots can’t be creative like humans? It’s true! Asking questions allows you to be creative and come up with amazing ideas. When you think differently and ask “What if?” or “Why not?” , you become an inventor, an artist, or a problem solver.
Two examples for kids
Example 1: Imagine you love outer space. By asking questions like “How do stars form?” or “What’s the biggest planet?”, you can explore the mysteries of the universe. Who knows, you might even become an astronaut or space pirate!
Example 2: In the future, there will be jobs and tasks that don’t exist yet. That might sound a little scary, but don’t worry! When you learn how to ask good questions, you’ll be ready for anything. You’ll be a lifelong learner and adapt to new challenges, making your future bright and exciting!
Asking questions is like having a superpower. It helps you satisfy your curiosity, become a super thinker, and unleash your creativity. Remember, the world is changing, and you need to be ready for the future. So, how might you unleash creative potential with awesome questions?