I always give a fairly simple problem, pencil and paper, a soda, and leave them alone for 15 to 30 minutes. Before I leave the room, I make sure they clearly understand what's expected.
What they do isn't important. Our discussion about what they did is. I don't care what syntax or mannerisms they use; I do care if they understand what was needed and what they did well enough to explain what they did and why they did it.
Almost every time some good follow-up questions and segues ensue. What about this? What about that? I've learned more about people in the discussion after the problem than from anything else.
I always give a fairly simple problem, pencil and paper, a soda, and leave them alone for 15 to 30 minutes. Before I leave the room, I make sure they clearly understand what's expected.
What they do isn't important. Our discussion about what they did is. I don't care what syntax or mannerisms they use; I do care if they understand what was needed and what they did well enough to explain what they did and why they did it.
Almost every time some good follow-up questions and segues ensue. What about this? What about that? I've learned more about people in the discussion after the problem than from anything else.