Jackstones: the Journey to Mastery

Jackstones: the Journey to Mastery
Dan North
@tastapod
Part 1: Mastery
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Mastery is capability in a context
P=p-i
Let's look at some different contexts
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The concert pianist
Learns:
–
music theory
–
piano theory
–
–
Practices:
–
pitch, chords, scales
and progressions
mechanics of playing
piano
–
pieces, section by
section
individual pieces
–
physical and mental
repetition
Mastery is consistently flawless performance
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The composer
Learns:
Practices:
–
(usually) everything a
musician learns
–
(usually) everything a
musician practices
–
music history
–
–
theory of composition
composing and
playing pieces
Mastery is creating your magnum opus
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The ice hockey player
Learns:
Practices:
–
how to skate
–
individual techniques
–
rules of hockey
–
–
tactics and techniques
team techniques and
strategies
–
offensive and
defensive techniques
–
combinations and
game plays
Mastery is consistently playing at your best
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The soldier
Learns:
Practices:
–
Discipline
–
Survival techniques
–
Decision-making
under pressure
–
Personal physical and
mental boundaries
–
Repetition of basic
skills
–
Unfamiliar scenarios
Mastery is adapting instinctively to unfolding events
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What is mastery to you?
Producing beautiful code
Developing wonderful products
Creating business impact
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Part 2: Software mastery
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As an apprentice
Find people who do
what you want to do
–
Solve real problems
–
model them, stalk them
Study the basics
–
theory and methods
–
languages and tools
–
XP, TDD, Clean Code,
SOLID principles
don't learn to
swim-with-armbands
Use Indirect Learning
–
create artificial
constraints
–
try several approaches
Optimise for feedback – from software and from people
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As a journeyman
Build a portfolio
–
–
Listen like you don't
know the answer
Try different
approaches
–
because you might not
Try different domains
If it ain't broke...
Learn how you learn
–
–
fix it anyway!
and how you practice
What if you could make a computer do anything..?
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As a master
Remember where you started
–
and what it felt like
The best programmers I know make time
–
let the learner make the discoveries
–
share in the excitement!
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Part 3: Jackstones
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Conclusion: the Journey to Mastery
Decide on your goal
–
you can always change your mind
Understand your process
–
learn to learn, learn to practice
The journey never ends!
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Thanks for listening
@tastapod
http://dannorth.net
[email protected]
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