I Just Want to Get the Jokes!
Techniques for Teaching and Learning New Topics
Hi!
Why This Talk?
- Life Long Learner
- Shareable Ideas
- Getting the Jokes
Speaking of Jokes....
I was going to tell you all a UDP joke...
But I don't care if you get it.
A Quick Story
Do you ever get tired of learning?
My hopes...
- Validate Some Current Ideas
- Instill Some New Ideas
- Entertain
Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning
In Three Acts
- Research
- Curation
- Delivery
Act 1: Research
(Remember, Understand, Apply)
Do Not Learn to Learn.
Learn to Do.
Project Work Over Just Learning
Structure the work as a project but...ensure the learning is transferable past it.
Projects can fail, never take off or just get reprioritized.
Learning without application will be forgotten.
I Never Set Out to Learn HTML
-
HTML Programmer
March 27th, 2000 -
Web Programmer
July 12th, 2000
Break Down the Project in to Smaller Chunks
Small Chunks are Easier to Digest
If the original project can not be solved, find the smaller problem that can be solved.
Understand deeply those smaller chunks, tie them in to bigger webs of knowledge.
Asking Exploratory Questions
How do I learn Linux?
- The Scope of this Question is too Wide
- Usually responded with "What do you mean?"
- Linux From Scratch also a "good" answer
- Install Ubuntu
What do I need to know to be a Systems Administrator?
- Better Question
- More direct end goal
- Knowing enough to ask better questions
More on Exploratory Questions
Alternate Arguing Opposing Views
Being Honest with What You Don't Know
Being "wrong" is okay.
More on Opposing Views
Potentially having to implement a controversial change in process.
Spend 20 minutes beleving it could be done and describing what it would look like
Spend 20 minutes describing why it can not be done.
More on Opposing Views
After an hour or so we had solutions to research and obstacles to watch out for.
Also had some ideas which could serve as potentail improvements in other places.
Act 2: Curate
(Analyze, Evaluate, Create)
Start with the Questions People Should be able to Answer
Starting with Questions
You will want to curate down to a maximum effort / minimal time balance.
The questions will act as a fill in the blank guide.
You will already have a assessment if you need one.
Haikus Not Novels
Haikus Not Novels
What knowledge are you assuming?
Be concise with your text
Shorter is better; Break Up Ideas
Would you want to read it?
Get the "shitty" Version Out of the Way
Just DO IT!
Seriously just try it...
Nobody will read it
Easier to improve something already created
Act 3: Delivery
(Strengthen Analyze and Evaluate, and Create)
The Final Act is Sharing
Understanding Deeply
Presenting / Teaching = Practice
Are you able to explain the topic concisely?
Build a verbiage / sentence structure around the topic
Consider the Medium and the Audience
Length and Format
Is it in person or remote?
Video or Written Tutorial?
What knowledge are you assuming?
Remember What it is like to not know
You Didn't Always Know this Yourself
We forget the most fundamental things to us are new to others.
Be kind and be helpful to the learner
In Review
Act 1: Research
Learn to do. When researching a new topic, begin to build up a memory of jargon and technical terms and apply it to a project.
Act 2: Curate
In order to strengthen our knowledge we must practice talking about it or creating works. We must be able to evaluate how it fits together.
Act 3: Deliver
Remember what it is like to not know and practice talking about your topic.
Resources and Books
Resources and Books
Resources and Books
In Closing...
Contact Information
This hCard created with the hCard creator.
A short bio
Alex Juarez is a Principal Engineer at Rackspace, touting 8 years with the company. Alex enjoys all things Linux, especially training and mentoring others, and is incredibly qualified to do so as an RHCA/RHCI. When Alex isn't helping others he's crafting killer cocktails and finding the best spots to grub in San Antonio.
Thanks @jilljubsQ & A
(Or we can talk about Whiskey)
Thank You! / Cat Tax
