Now that we've determined when procedures are necessary and how to not be entangled in the mindless following of said procedures. Let's go ahead and review a few simple key steps to making a good procedure.
First, when you are faced with a series of problems that appear to contain a hidden truth and consistency that will yield itself to a good old fashioned DIY process, consider these 5 questions:
- What do I see?
- What do I know?
- What can I figure out?
- How are things related?
- What do they want me to figure out?
Once you've identified your pattern and started your formal procedure, which is something that our science students learn in lab, keep these simple rules in mind:
- KISS : Keep it Simple Seriously 😉 : If you make it too complicated, it's too hard to follow. This is called Occam's Razor - usually the simplest explanation is the best.
- Write it down : this seems obvious right? Just write the steps, one at a time.
- Create a way to remember the steps. Creating a mnemonic device can help with this step. For example, PEMDAS for the order of operations.
- Practice. Again, maybe a little obvious, but incredibly important. Repetitively using the steps will help you remember the procedure.
- Edit. Each time you practice and test the procedure, keep watch to see if there are unnecessary steps or ways to clarify the process.
This seems so easy, but there are few things so uniquely human and so simply complicated than observing the apparent chaos in creation and ordering it into a cognitive peace. This is part of what makes us made in God's image.