Learning and Teaching

[dagibbs]

I don't usually do memes, but this one struck especially close to home.

From the altfriday5 by way of mycrazyhair.

1. What is the most recent thing you learned to do, physically speaking (e.g. dancing, juggling, singing, typing)? When was that? What physical skill would you like to learn?

2. What is the most recent thing you learned to do, intellectually speaking (e.g. speaking a language, using a piece of software)? When was that? What intellectual skill would you like to learn?

3. When was the last time you taught something to someone? What did you teach? How did it go?

4. What is the one thing that you didn't learn in school, that they should have taught you?

5. A law is passed saying everyone has to teach something to someone. What do you know that you could teach to others?



1) Physical thing is a tricky one. I can't place when I last learned a physical skill. I think I'm still learning how to ride a motorcycle, and other things like that, but not new. The physical skill I'm looking to learn right now is Scuba diving.

2) There have been a couple recently -- I've learnt (am learning) the balance between territory and influence in 13x13 Go. And I learnt a lot about designing inexpensive ships for TDZK (a massively multiplayer online game). I learn more about QNX on a nearly daily basis.

3) Teaching is my life. Almost literally. Last Sunday, I taught people how to play Settlers of Catan and Puerto Rico. In the last couple of weeks, I've taught people how to repair ships involved in a raid (how to RC) for TDZK. In the last months, I've taught dozens of customers how to program for QNX.

4) I don't know what they "should" have taught me, but I think two things that I really missed learning in school were:
a) How to know what I'm feeling, or even, how to feel, and b) How to communicate with the ones I love.

5) See (3). I am paid to teach how QNX works, how to program for QNX, and how to use our development environment. I frequently teach people how to play new games. I have taught people how to shift a standard car, how to play Go better, how to design ships for TDZK, and more. I have the knowledge to teach how to program in C, how to drive a car, how to skate or ski, the basics of cooking, and much more.

Comments

[mycrazyhair.livejournal.com]

I personally think that schools should teach communication. And not just "logical" or "non-emotional" communication. It's an essential tool for life, and for business. And it's not something you necessarily pick up on your own.