Yep. There's nothing wrong with presenting them with a problem and asking how they would solve it, and giving them constraints as they go. Making them write c

Yep. There's nothing wrong with presenting them with a problem and asking how they would solve it, and giving them constraints as they go. Making them write code is much more challenging because it brings up things irrelevant to their ability to think.... but talking to them about it works because they don't have to break the verbal mindset they are already in.