Red Squirrel Reflections
Dave Hoover explores the psychology of software development
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Red Squirrel Reflections
Dave Hoover explores the psychology of software development
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Sat, 19 Feb 2005Jason posted a great quote from an interesting article about Low Teck Seng (gotta love that name) and what he's doing with Problem-Based Learning at Republic Polytechnic in Singapore."At the rate that content and knowledge are developed today, I think we must emphasize the process of learning, rather than content delivery."This reminds me of my favorite quote from A Pattern Language: "In a society which emphasizes teaching, children and students -- and adults -- become passive and unable to think or act for themselves. Creative, active individuals can only grow up in a society that emphasizes learning instead of teaching." p. 100In the summer of 2002 I read Software Craftsmanship. That book has had a huge influence on my career as a software developer, perhaps even more than Extreme Programming Explained or The Psychology of Computer Programming. While Beck provided me with a vision for how I wanted to do my job and Weinberg showed me that programming has a timeless quality, it was Pete McBreen that fundamentally altered the course of my career. Upon reading his book, my quest to apprentice under a master craftsman began. It has been a rewarding journey. Having no formal training in computer science, or anything close to it, like say, math, physics, or electrical engineering, I was at a loss for how I was ever going to get ahead in the world of programming. The concept of craftsmanship, though, gave me hope. It's simple: software developers are not scientists or engineers, they are craftsmen and craftswomen...um, craftsfolk. Regardless of whether that is true for you, it is true for me. Because dude, I am not, nor will I ever be, a scientist or an engineer. But I could be a craftsman. The fundamental learning situation is one in which a person learns by helping someone who really knows what he is doing. --A Pattern Language, p. 413Since 2002, I have worked hard to put myself into situations where I could help someone who really knew what he was doing. I am thankful that I have been able to accomplish this feat more than once in that time. Like any learning experience, the more you learn, the more you realize how much more you have yet to learn. Working with master craftsfolk will introduce you to your ignorance in short order. But do not despair! This is an opportunity to advance within your craft...if only you can humble yourself to take on the role of the apprentice. |
