Comments on: I'll be Learning to Learn at the Better Software conference http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/ It's all behaviour Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:28:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Ralf http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7977 Ralf Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:52:41 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7977 I agree that today's school system are flawed, systematically so. The most fundamental reason however is often overlooked, regardless of which method you do use. Students do not understand what they are being taught because of misunderstood words. How can a student understand his subject if the building blocks - the words - are not understood, or the teacher and the student use different meanings? It is like trying to argue that a program with failing unit tests should still work ... In DDD we learn about ubiquitous language and how critical it is that all stakeholders use the same words with the same meaning. Well, at http://www.AppliedScholastics.org we learn that the language and its elemental building block - the correctly understood word for a given context - are critical to learning (and a lot more). I've been using for more than 20 years with great success. I'd invite you take a look. I agree that today’s school system are flawed, systematically so.

The most fundamental reason however is often overlooked, regardless of which method you do use. Students do not understand what they are being taught because of misunderstood words. How can a student understand his subject if the building blocks – the words – are not understood, or the teacher and the student use different meanings? It is like trying to argue that a program with failing unit tests should still work …

In DDD we learn about ubiquitous language and how critical it is that all stakeholders use the same words with the same meaning.

Well, at http://www.AppliedScholastics.org we learn that the language and its elemental building block – the correctly understood word for a given context – are critical to learning (and a lot more).

I’ve been using for more than 20 years with great success. I’d invite you take a look.

]]> By: Claudio Perrone http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7976 Claudio Perrone Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:49:59 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7976 Ah thanks, Dan. I'll be unlikely around this year unfortunately. Our first baby is due in 2-3 weeks ;-) Pushed by Chris Hedgate, I'm writing a post called "what is the secret of a great presentation?", by the way. It will be ready next monday, and I'm confident you'll find it interesting ;-) Ah thanks, Dan. I’ll be unlikely around this year unfortunately.
Our first baby is due in 2-3 weeks ;-)
Pushed by Chris Hedgate, I’m writing a post called “what is the secret of a great presentation?”, by the way.
It will be ready next monday, and I’m confident you’ll find it interesting ;-)

]]> By: Dan North http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7975 Dan North Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:44:45 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7975 Hi Claudio That talk is still one of my favourite ever for the genius of the photos you chose! I checked the slideshare link and you're right - I hadn't seen the talk since you added the de Bono slides. I'm hoping I will get to catch up with you later in the year, either at JAOO or Øredev? Hi Claudio

That talk is still one of my favourite ever for the genius of the photos you chose! I checked the slideshare link and you’re right – I hadn’t seen the talk since you added the de Bono slides. I’m hoping I will get to catch up with you later in the year, either at JAOO or Øredev?

]]> By: Dan North http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7974 Dan North Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:30:11 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7974 Hi Stefan. I'm glad you enjoyed the talk. I had a lot of fun presenting it. I was lucky to have a good audience with lots of energy, which always makes it a pleasure! Hi Stefan.

I’m glad you enjoyed the talk. I had a lot of fun presenting it. I was lucky to have a good audience with lots of energy, which always makes it a pleasure!

]]> By: Claudio Perrone http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7973 Claudio Perrone Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:47:39 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7973 Hey Dan, I'm glad that you find this technique useful. It is part of my old agile tales talk and if you remember in Stockholm, I introduced it on the fly, since I had time available at the end. I now have a couple of slides for it and perhaps they could be useful to you: http://www.slideshare.net/cperrone/passionate-teams-cooperative-customers-388318 (slides 58 and 59). I agree with hgs' suggestions, and I found "Teach yourself to think" really good too, by the way. Hey Dan, I’m glad that you find this technique useful.
It is part of my old agile tales talk and if you remember in Stockholm, I introduced it on the fly, since I had time available at the end. I now have a couple of slides for it and perhaps they could be useful to you: http://www.slideshare.net/cperrone/passionate-teams-cooperative-customers-388318 (slides 58 and 59).
I agree with hgs’ suggestions, and I found “Teach yourself to think” really good too, by the way.

]]> By: Stefan Verstege http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7972 Stefan Verstege Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:50 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7972 Hi Dan, Went to your talk on the Better Software Conference and i think it was great.. A great sidetrack beside all the other talks, but still with a link to everything i have learned last week! Thnx! Hi Dan,

Went to your talk on the Better Software Conference and i think it was great.. A great sidetrack beside all the other talks, but still with a link to everything i have learned last week!

Thnx!

]]> By: hgs http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7971 hgs Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:21:59 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7971 His stuff on "CORT" [??] thinking tools, for example, "Teach your Child to Think" is good, and different from Six Hats, and the various lateral thinking books of his are good too. There are large overlaps in his books, but as a whole they make a good collection. I didn't find the one on simplicity to be very practical; it's more like a manifesto. "Po: Beyond Yes and No" is good. "Mechanism of Mind" is excellant: hard to tell if he'd read up on Hebbian learning, the work of McCulloch and Pitts, but if it is independently reasoned, then it is brilliant. His stuff on “CORT” [??] thinking tools, for example, “Teach your Child to Think” is good, and different from Six Hats, and the various lateral thinking books of his are good too. There are large overlaps in his books, but as a whole they make a good collection. I didn’t find the one on simplicity to be very practical; it’s more like a manifesto. “Po: Beyond Yes and No” is good. “Mechanism of Mind” is excellant: hard to tell if he’d read up on Hebbian learning, the work of McCulloch and Pitts, but if it is independently reasoned, then it is brilliant.

]]> By: Dan North http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7970 Dan North Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:33 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7970 Hi Jeremy! Great to hear from you. I would say just try it in the next internal meeting you have. Read the book - it's very readable and you'll get through it in no time - and cut yourself about 10 minutes at the beginning of your next meeting to explain the hats, then just start. You can tell them it's your first time if you like, but I didn't worry and it seemed to work out ok. The first time I used it was for an internal ThoughtWorks session about quite an emotive topic, and it was amazing to watch how the dynamics changed in the room due to parallel thinking. Another significant part of the puzzle for me as far as schools go is Systems Thinking. Take a look at <a href='http://tinyurl.com/pdhzr8' rel="nofollow">Joseph O'Connor's excellent book</a> and think about how most schools are focused on exam results and GPAs, and you'll see what I mean. If you can avoid getting caught up in the fixation on results and focus instead on the child's learning journey you are on to a winner. Hi Jeremy! Great to hear from you.

I would say just try it in the next internal meeting you have. Read the book – it’s very readable and you’ll get through it in no time – and cut yourself about 10 minutes at the beginning of your next meeting to explain the hats, then just start. You can tell them it’s your first time if you like, but I didn’t worry and it seemed to work out ok.

The first time I used it was for an internal ThoughtWorks session about quite an emotive topic, and it was amazing to watch how the dynamics changed in the room due to parallel thinking.

Another significant part of the puzzle for me as far as schools go is Systems Thinking. Take a look at Joseph O’Connor’s excellent book and think about how most schools are focused on exam results and GPAs, and you’ll see what I mean. If you can avoid getting caught up in the fixation on results and focus instead on the child’s learning journey you are on to a winner.

]]> By: Jeremy Lightsmith http://blog.dannorth.net/2009/06/02/ill-be-learning-to-learn-at-the-better-software-conference/#comment-7969 Jeremy Lightsmith Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:16:03 +0000 http://dannorth.net/?p=104#comment-7969 Hey Dan, This sounds awesome - I need to figure out a place to try this out. I'm also beginning to collect ideas for how to do school right so we should talk. Karissa and I are planning on starting a Montessori school in a couple years that will eventually be for kids 3-9(ish). Exciting times, mate! Hey Dan,

This sounds awesome – I need to figure out a place to try this out. I’m also beginning to collect ideas for how to do school right so we should talk. Karissa and I are planning on starting a Montessori school in a couple years that will eventually be for kids 3-9(ish).

Exciting times, mate!

]]>