Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1087 - Learning Pyramid • Generalized Specialist • Reflective Learning

http://blog.longnow.org/02015/01/27/stewart-brand-pace-layers-thinking-at-the-interval/

Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1087 - Learning Pyramid • Generalized Specialist • Reflective Learning

Hi MOM, 

I like studying and thinking about learning. I am most interested in process, but I am always trying to improve my own ways of learning.

I attended two webinars today, both of which were trying to sell me things. The second one, about projects, was very useful and well worth my time. Plus the presenter was engaging, responsive, and funny. The first one -- a crash course from a coding bootcamp trying to get me to sign up -- was not useless but not exactly packed with information as the pitch started after about 30 minutes of "instruction."


I have shared from the e180 newsletter before. I never manage to read all the content shared in the e180, so this blog post is much for my own study of things to read as for you, Mom, and readers as a share that some of you may find useful.

Though there are links to many articles here, I like the main three the best. Passion is the basis for learning. If one has a passion for something, then one will strive to learn it.

But even more so the idea of the generalist is something that appeals to me. I like to think of myself as a polymath. I am not sure if I have actually achieved that level of deep and varied learning, but it's something I fancy as an intellectual who spends a great deal of time trying to learn new things.

From the article included in a link farther down:

A generalist is a person who is a competent jack of all trades, with lots of divergent useful skills and capabilities. This is the handyman who can fix your boiler, unblock the drains, replace a door hinge, or paint a room. The general practitioner doctor whom you see for any minor health problem (and who refers you to a specialist for anything major). The psychologist who works with the media, publishes research papers, and teaches about a broad topic.

A specialist is someone with distinct knowledge and skills related to a single area. This is the cardiologist who spends their career treating and understanding heart conditions. The scientist who publishes and teaches about a specific protein for decades. The developer who works with a particular program.

In his original essay, Berlin writes that specialists “lead lives, perform acts and entertain ideas that are centrifugal rather than centripetal; their thought is scattered or diffused, moving on many levels, seizing upon the essence of a vast variety of experiences and objects … seeking to fit them into, or exclude them from, any one unchanging, all embracing … unitary inner vision.”

But the last one, reflective learning, may be the one that strikes the most resonant chord. As I wrote, I love to examine process. I am always talking to people about their process because I am always working on mine. I was just discussing with a friend my struggles to achieve optimal work-life balance. He asked if I would consider stopping this blog's production. I said I would not do that because the loss of what I gain from it in study, self-care, enjoyment, activity, engagement are greater rewards than what I would save in time and attention. Besides, as regulars know, I fall behind when the demands of the rest of my life prove too great.

As described in the article, the reflective learning process is hardly revolutionary or paradigm-shifting, but just for these four process considerations, it is very valuable.

1. Thinks laterally. Considers that the data might be interpreted many different ways. We see this at the climactic points in certain movies where a “prophecy” appears to be fulfilled. But it is fulfilled in a way that is not expected. By thinking laterally we can envision the problem at different and unexpected angles. This gives rise to new solutions to old problems.

2. Lets time pass after a lesson or action, then reflects back upon it. For all our learning, there is an action. Afterward, there’s reflection upon the action. Then comes a transformation—we cannot go back, because we have changed in some way.

3. Uses journals and group discussion directed toward answering a defining question. Often we lose sight of the goal of our reflection. Reflective learning in its strictest sense involves drawing conclusions and solving problems.


4. Considers opposing historical, cultural, and political viewpoints and values beliefs with an open mind. Arrives at solutions that are practical and that encompass many viewpoints, which allows our brains to stretch.

Thanks for visiting today.

Learn Constantly, Be Future-Proof No.62 Learning Pyramid • Generalized Specialist • Reflective Learning Only one more issue left in 2017! Although I do look at Mailchimp stats (which we use for this newsletter) to know which articles are the most popular—informing some of my topic choices—any feedback as to what you especially enjoy or what you feel is missing would be greatly appreciated. Just reply to this email and tell me.

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— Mastering the Learning Pyramid John Hagel • 6 min read Those are not the skills you are looking for. Hagel considers what we usually think of has skills as ‘capabilities’ and places them within a learning pyramid which also takes into account knowledge and passion. He then looks at how this kind of framework should inform how we structure schools, learning on the job, and our careers. Btw, it’s not a direct transposition but the levels of his pyramid and the speed at which skills become useless vs capabilities vs passion reminded me of Stewart Brand’s pace layering. Rather than thinking about learning as something that occurs in the occasional training programs that support a scalable efficiency operation, we’ll need to re-imagine our work environments in ways that can support scalable learning, learning that occurs day to day, on the job, in the work environment. If we’re serious about scalable learning, we’ll need to find ways to cultivate and amplify the passion of everyone who participates in our institutions. — The Generalized Specialist Farnam Street Blog • 12 min read Those familiar with the neo-generalist will find this quite similar but still very much worth a read for Parrish’s analysis and comparison of generalists and specialists and for his conclusions. Because you have no idea of the big ideas, you start making decisions that don’t take into account how the world really works. These decisions ripple outward, and you have to spend time correcting your mistakes. If you’re not careful about self-reflection, you won’t learn, and you’ll make one version of the same mistakes over and over. — The psychology of collaboration Weavy • 9 min read Jory MacKay looks into collaboration and the four distinct ways in which we work together as well as the five key principles for successful collaboration—as proposed in a study by the London Business School. Rather than a formalized mentorship program, the researchers found that the most collaborative teams had less formal, yet on-going mentoring and educational processes baked into their everyday activities.

UnSchooling The Pioneers of Change We Seek • 14 min read “Dr. Leyla Acaroglu is focused on sustainability, on having an impact, on solving complex problems, and doing so by sharing knowledge and concentrating on teaching others the tools to change themselves and the world. She’s also 2016 UNEP Champion of the Earth.” Three Simple Learning Practices We Seek • 8 min read Reading, Attending a Learning Circle & Collaborating “Then I started being more mindful about the quality of articles I was reading and deleting more liberally when some pieces gathered too much dust or were just not that interesting to me anymore.”

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— No laptops in the lecture hall Seth Godin • 3 min read Short article in answer to a NY Times op-ed about banning laptops from class. Godin thinks that we should ban the lecture instead. The argument is interesting in itself but also, to me, hints at a variation on the MOOC and at a good model for out of school courses. As in the quote below. We’ve discovered that a focused 8-minute lecture, delivered by video, can lead to hours of useful interaction and discussion, enough to change the way professionals do their work. — The Most Important Things to Know About Reflective Learning Global Digital Citizen • 3 min read Very good short article about reflective learning, which you can work on by thinking laterally, reflecting, journaling, and considering opposing views with an open mind. Also includes / associates with their ‘6Ds’ (Define, Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, Debrief). Conscious reflective learning allows the mind to rest and reflect and revisit, bringing forth a deeper understanding of the experience and skills that we acquired. Speaking of lateral thinking, this one also offers some good pointers: How to Apply Lateral Thinking to Your Creative Work. — Explorations Consider Context, Not Just Skills • Harvard Business Review Why Curiosity Is Essential to Motivation • InformED How to Get Your Mind to Read • New York Times Teaching Lessons • Motivated Mastery How to Discover Your Genius • The Mission

Tom Gauld

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Reflect and connect.

Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you, Mom.

I miss you so very much, Mom.

Talk to you tomorrow, Mom.

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- Days ago = 1089 days ago

- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1806.27 - 10:10

NEW (written 1708.27) NOTE on time: I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of your death, Mom, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of your death, Mom. I know this only matters to me, and to you, Mom.