Better programming through Cognitive Science

What is our progress on the learning path to acquiring expertise?

1. Expertise is acquired in stages. BASA is used to assess levels of expertise. (See https://softwarefactory.us/wiki/doku.php?id=meetings:2020-02-03-mon.)

2. Use the focus of Deliberate Practice to acquire expertise. (See https://softwarefactory.us/wiki/doku.php?id=meetings:2020-02-17-mon.)

3. Use Cognitive Science to become a better programmer

Cognitive Science shows us how we can trick ourselves so our ability to learn becomes simpler, habitual, robust, and persistent.

How do we detect when we are about to consolidate new skills? This is called Threshold Concepts or Zone of Proximal Development.

How do we consolidate our skills more easily? One technique is called Transfer, to convert old skills into new skills.

How do we avoid getting stuck in traps at any level of expertise? Traps such as frustration, complacency, self-deception, functional fixedness? We live with the human condition, and have to trick ourselves to escape these traps.

Check out our new wiki! https://softwarefactory.us/wiki/doku.php?id=meetings:2020-03-02-mon

New schedule of alternate Monday meetings!

Schedule: 5:30/6 to ~7:30pm

5:30pm Networking and Noshing on Pizza and Libations
6:00pm Discussion and Skype call start! **

Stay tuned for future possible discussions:

• Dreyfus scale in expertise
• Deliberate practice strategies from book 52 Tips
• How to construct 5-hour learning projects
• Open discussion sessions with any topics attendees want to study
• As a group get ideas and then plan out some study projects
• Plenty of articles to read and discuss
• And applying deliberate practice to collaborative groups

• Clyde

** To receive an invite to the Skype call, send your Skype username to me at clyde.cutting (in Skype) before 6pm and I will add you to the video call scheduled to begin at 6.