It's OK to learn from books

I have seen many recent posts about "Do-it-yourself" learning management systems, including Harold Jarche's recent post. It is OK to learn from a book. Yes, the Internet is a great resource; however, I find that I need something to help me find direction. The Internet often provides too many choices for me. (BTW, a great book about the impact of too much choice is The Paradox of Choice by Bary Schwartz).

As I reflect on how I learn, it is interesting that I find I often need a book to get me started. When I tackle a new software package or instructional design concept, I go searching for a book to get me going. I get the book, and crack it open. Sometimes, I will not get beyond the first chapter or two ... then the learning seems to occur more by osmosis than by reading. At some point, the book gets put down (usually, less than half read). The first chapter was enough to get me started and then I am off ... learning by doing.

Maybe that is the key. The Internet often has lots of detailed information, but lacks the overview that the book gives me. Or, maybe it is just that I need the print in a space that isn't in front of my computer (without the pressures and distractions that come with the computer).

Either way you slice it, I find my best learning occurs when I have a book on the topic, even if I don't read it!

This is by far my favourite photo from our November 2006 vacation in Hawaii. The picture is taken from the top of Mauna Kea at sunset. What you are seeing is the shadow of Mauna Kea in the cloud layer which is below us.

If you ever get a chance to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, a sunset expedition up to the summit of Mauna Kea for star gazing is a must. The moonscapes above the tree line are amazing. It feels like you are on another planet.

Being grateful

In my brief moments of reflection (while soaking in the tub or sauna) I'm reading the book "The Progress Paradox" by Gregg Easterbrook. I'm finding the book a great source of reflection. As a result, I only read a small portion each night. The book makes me look at the world in a much more positive light.

In tonight's reading, I learned that

"People who describe themselves as feeling grateful to others, and either to God or to creation in general, tend to have higher vitality and more optimism, suffer less stress, and experience fewer episodes of clinical depression than the population as a whole." (page 238).

One exercise that is recommended is to write down (daily or weekly) what you are grateful for. This practice is said to help you keep things in perspective, and in general make you feel better about yourself and your place in the world.

So, what am I grateful for today ...

• I am grateful that work is going well.
• I am grateful that I am almost ready for the training sessions I'm presenting next week.
• I am grateful that my husband loves me.
• I am grateful that I have friends.
• I am grateful that I am part of a supportive community.
• ....

It's amazing how well that works at the end of the day. It certainly put a smile on my face (specially the things I'm grateful for that I will not post for everyone on the Internet to read!).

What are you grateful for?

Blogging and Karaoke

So, how is blogging like karaoke you ask?

Have you ever been to a karaoke party where everyone that gets up and sings is really excellent? I have, and it was a real drag. On the other hand, I've been to a karaoke party where a couple of really courageous people get up and belt one out -- and really suck at it. That is the recipe for an awesome karaoke party. Why? Because then everyone in the room feels like they can get up and give it a try.

Blogging is similar. If all the blogs out there were amazingly well written and contained only amazing content, then most people would be afraid to even try it. The blog community is an amazing place full of dynamic thoughts. This works because some blogs suck.

So blogging is like karaoke because you need a few people that suck at it but are willing to give it a try with all their heart. This encourages everyone else to participate, cause well, anyone can do better than that right? And, the more you blog, the better you get at it.

The Internet Generation

I've been wondering lately, how the Internet will affect the next generation of kids. Their entire lives are stored on the Internet. Parents start blogs with the kids names from the moment they enter the world. It's a great way to tell family and friends what's happening without having to make numerous phone calls. But I wonder what it will mean to the kids when they get older? Us older folks are often still hesitant to share much on the Internet, because the Internet is permanent. Today's kids don't get to make that choice, as they are displayed right from birth. Guess it will make it easier to find those embarrassing baby photos for their wedding! But how will it affect their search for a job? Will an Internet presence be necessary?

The other side effect of this, is does it cause to call home less? To stay less connected. We blog, so we keep everyone up-to-date on our lives, but is that a healthy way to maintain communication with family and friends?

In the beginning

I recently attended an Informal Learning Unworkshop facilitated by Harold Jarche. It has inspired me to investigate further blogging and to jump onto the blogging bandwagon.

When blogs first came out, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. I really didn't see how they could be applied as a learning tool. I dismissed the idea as a passing fad that would likely die off, as many new technologies are wont to do. The Information Learning Unworkshop helped me re-examine blogging. It has come a long way in the last few years. I think the RSS services have made the technology viable. Without the RSS feeds, you'd have to keep checking websites. I'd never have the patience to keep re-looking. I need the technology to be more of a push then a pull.

Blog + RSS is a pull-push technology. I still need to go to a website to see my feeds, but I don't need to go to each blog, and I don't need to remember which blogs I care about. I go to one site, my Internet based RSS reader, and all the blogs I care about are available. What's great about that, is that I only need to remember one URL! ... So, the blog is a pull and the RSS is a push (ish) ... hence pull-push.

Now, I have one more URL to remember, the URL to post to this Blog!

The Human Internet
Whilst skiing in the Gatineau Hills yesterday, it occurred to me that blogging makes the Internet human. Actually, it makes the websites on the Internet human. Before the blogging craze, you had static websites that people occasionally updated. They were very impersonal, and typically contained information, but didn't contain things like, "this is what I did on my vacation". When you read a persons blog, you see some of their personality. They are human. So blogs make the Internet human.