Of late, there’ve been a few dialogs on Twitter. As I opined in the recent podcast I was interviewed in, using Twitter for a dialog is kind of new. I’m not talking about a tweet chat like #lrnchat (which I think is a great thing), but a out-loud dialog with others weighing in. And it’s fun, and informative, but occasionally I need to go deeper. So here’s a reflection on reflection.

In that podcast interview, I opined, as I often do, about action and reflection. The starting point is a claim is that our own learning action and then reflection. What I mean is that we act in the world, and if we reflect on it we can learn.

One of the pushbacks was that we can learn without reflection. And, yes, I agree. We can learn without conscious feedback. In fact, in Kathy Sierra’s insightful Badass, she talks about chicken sexing,  a task which no one’s been able to make consciously accessible. Things can go below consciousness.

This was related to another pushback: do we really learn differently from chickens and rats? And the answer is no, but what we learn is different. And, further, what we can learn is different. I’ve yet to see rats sending rockets up to the moon to see if it’s made of cheese.

Conscious representations facilitate learning, particularly for things we learn that aren’t strongly tied to our evolved survival. Learning about cognition itself, for instance, the ability to think about our own thinking, is just something that separates us fundamentally. And, to do that well, conscious artifacts facilitate it.

We’ve found that creating conscious frameworks to facilitate our understanding and acquisition are helpful. So, specifically, models and examples are two things that help us develop skills. We use models to guide and review our performance, to guide us. M0dels are conceptual relationships that we can compare to our performance. Examples show how those models play out in particular contexts.

There’s a followup: if learning is action and reflection, then instruction should be designed action and guided reflection. That is: do, get feedback, but also more. To me, models and examples are that additional reflection. We can present them ahead of time (but see Problem-Based Learning), but we should use them as part of the feedback, pointing out how flaws in performance didn’t align with the models, and further examples that illustrate those nuances.

Ok, so I may be playing fast and loose with the notion of reflection here, lumping in models and examples and feedback. However, my point is to try to keep learning not being information dump and knowledge test. We know that won’t lead to meaningful change. If I label it action and reflection, we have a better chance to push for an application-based instruction.

So, I’ll stick to my claim about (designed) action and (guided) reflection, with the caveat that my ‘reflection’ is more than just noodling. And, yes, it’s for learning goals beyond ‘hitting your head on rocks hurts’. But the goals I’m focusing on are the types of goals that will make a difference in individual and organizational success in our society.  If I’m pushing too far and too hard, let me know.

Some weeks back, I posted about surprise. That is, a new model that says that that our brains work to minimize surprise. We learn so as not to be wrong. And that made sense in one way, but left another gap. Another article explains (well, partly; the mathematics are more than I want to wade into) further, and that gives me a new handle on thinking about designing transformative experiences. It’s about the value of exploration to accompany surprise.

The problem with the original story of us just minimizing surprise is that this leads to another inference. Why wouldn’t we want to just hang in a dark warm room?  The notion of minimizing surprise did explain people who don’t seem keen to learn, but many of us are. And, as Raph Koster told us in A Theory of Fun, the drive to play games seems to be learning! We want exploration, and the outcomes aren’t certain. This is in conflict.

The new article posits that there’s another factor, the expectation of value. We also want the optimal outcome. The theory says that we’ll be willing to try several relatively equal predicted value outcomes to learn which to choose in the future (if I’ve understood the article correctly). So we will explore even under uncertainty if there’s a benefit to learning.

This doesn’t quite explain things to me. I think it’s missing some emotional aspect.  Why would we do things like try out Escape Rooms or The Void (as I’ve done with colleagues)?  There’s no real outcome, except perhaps to know about such experiences. But horror movies or thrillers? All we know is that we’ll have our emotions raised and then settled. But maybe that fits into a good outcome.

Still, this gives me a new handle. When I was preparing the Learning Experience Design workshop I gave at Learning Solutions last month, I was talking about ensuring surprise. That is, the learning experience should make learners aware that they didn’t know what the outcome would be. But I knew, and suggested, that there had to be more. They had to care about the outcome. And now we have the hook.

They care about the outcome, because it’ll be a higher value situation once they do!  If we do this right, we let them know that they care about the outcome, and they can’t do it now (either they know already, or we have them fail). Then, we can offer them the path to achieve this outcome. If they explore, they’ll learn? If we’ve got a truly meaningful outcome (you’ll now be able to do X) that they truly care about (you do want to be able to do X), you’re now set with emotionally ready learners. Cognitive science models suggest that this should work!  :)

To turn it around. the point is that you should create a goal that they should desire, and then demonstrate that they don’t already know it. It’s simplistic, but I think it’s part of creating a transformative experience, one where they are not just ready for the outcome, but eager. And I think that’s desirable.  What do you think?

It’s hard to think of now, but last week I was at the Learning Solutions conference. And I had a really great time. I didn’t see as much as I’d like (as you ‘ll see, I was busy), but there were some really worthwhile learnings, and some fun as well. Here are my conference reflections.

For the first time, I rented a scooter. That was a learning all in itself. I’d been having pain, and walking was the worst. The scooter was a way to address that, and it did. I scooted around and avoided much walking. Not all, but a lot. And it was fun to zoop around, but…it was hard to maneuver in small spaces. Like the necessary elevators. And my room. I tried to slow down and do it carefully, and that worked to an extent, but it wasn’t pretty.

The great part was that, having heard of my plight, some friends descended upon my ride and tarted it up with glitter and dangly things. And, best of all, caution tape. Very appropriate. Very much appreciated!  And it wasn’t even too hard to take off at the end.

Thus, I was happy to zoom to my room to run my pre-conference workshop on learning experience design. It was designed as an integration of Engaging Learning and the Serious eLearning Manifesto.  I snuck a bit of ‘transformation‘ in there as well.  The evaluations aren’t back yet, but I think overall it achieved the purpose. One attendee later suggested an improvement that I’d agree on (allowing learners to choose from the topics to workshop on). Always learning!

That evening, we did something I’d never done, Presentation Roulette. The speakers (I agreed to be one, without having seen it before; I do like experimenting [read: living dangerously]) choose a random title out of a sock (well, it was clean) and are then given a deck that Bianca Woods of the Guild had developed for that title, including the silliest pictures she could find on the web. As she describes it, a mashup of presentations and improv comedy.  It was very fun, and in particular extremely funny; the other presenters did great jobs. I’ll attend again even if I don’t present!

Tuesday was a normal day (e.g. I didn’t present). As usual, I mindmapped the keynotes (several posts back), cruised the floor, and attended some sessions. The panels were good. I attended the one on the Future of ID, and the comments were insightful about how the tools and goals were changing. Similarly the one on the Future of Work had a convergent message I resonated with, that we need to focus on using tech to augment us on the stuff we’re good at, not try to fight off automation of rote tasks. I also took some time off for calls and work.

That evening, after dinner, some friends and colleagues (they’re the same folks) came over to my suite. (I have gotten lots of accommodations for my situation; and I’m very grateful.)  Fueled by libations, we proceeded to gin up an evil plan to control the world (or at least the market).  Politically correct it wasn’t, fun it was.  Too late to bed.

The next day I was part of the Guild Master panel with about 14 participants. Too many!  Great thoughts, and I tried to stifle myself and only make the most cogent points. Apparently I still spoke a little too much. I blame it on this blogging, it gives me lots of thoughts. :) The points I wanted to make were, not surprisingly, about the need for getting back to basics in learning design, and to look beyond optimal execution to continual innovation.

I also sat in an ARK Kit presentation. It made AR seem almost within reach. At this time you still do need some coding, but if it progresses like many tools, much will soon become at a higher level of ability to describe what you want and make it so.

I still wasn’t done, as later that day I also gave my ‘professionalism and myths’ talk. The audience was small but enthusiastic. I do believe we made some converts. I added in not just debunking myths, but how to talk to folks who buy into it. There’s a little learning science in it as well. We really do need to be on a sound basis before we can have credibility.

I have to say, delightedly, that I continue to have folks say that my books have helped them. Different books for different folks, but something I love to hear. As an author, you get some idea of the sales, but none of the impact. Some of these were small effects, and some were “I’ve used this to change my/our practice.”  That’s what it’s about, after all, you write a book to effect change. I’m grateful for those who share this insight!  In particular, I hear lots of folks using the Myths book in their orgs to counter employees/customers’ misguided intentions. The Revolution book still (or, perhaps, now) has influence. And I still hear about the Games book!

I also slipped away with some more conspirators and experienced The Void. It was hard on my legs (I went with cane, not scooter), mostly because they didn’t have anywhere to sit while you waited!?!?!  (I gave them a serve in the too-long post-experience survey.) However, it’s very cool: a compelling experience and great implications for learning. Embedded performance? That would be ‘yes’.

The keynotes, by the way, were excellent AND…  I’ve heard over the years that conference organizers say it’s hard to have diversity in speakers. All white males (e.g. me ;), or at least white.  This time, there were two women, and two blacks, out of three people. With good messages.  It was inspiring to hear and to see!  Kudos to David Kelly and the Guild for managing to debunk the barrier.

There was some discussion of whether there was a place for those who proselytize learning science or it was all going commercial and cheap. I feel like there’s a growing interest in the science, but I’m frequently a year or several ahead of the market. In this case, I want to yell “make me right!”  This is a field I care about, and we can be doing so much good. I want us to capitalize on that potential. There were new folks looking for solutions and the opportunity to grow. I hope we can make that happen in a positive direction.

Overall, it was a success. I had time with smart colleagues, saw interesting sessions, and met new folks. I presented and got feedback, which is a great cycle. And it was another chance to immerse myself in the state of the industry. Here’s to continual improvement.

As some of you may know, last week I had a surgical procedure. I don’t want to share details, but while it was non-trivial, it went fine. (I’ve talked earlier about the situation beforehand.) What did not go fine was the recovery. I’m good now, but there were a harrowing few days. And I think the reason is of interest, and there’s a lesson. So I thought I’d share.

Now, my only previous experience with surgery was outpatient knee surgery. And it was amazing; I went off pain killers the 2nd day, and recovery was rapid. This, too, was outpatient, and while not as ‘micro’ as the knee surgery, I had no other frame of reference. And that caused a problem.

So, the day of the surgery went about as you might expect. I went in, lay down, woke up somewhere else, and was told things went well. With the benefit of meds, I let folks know I’d lived :), and proceeded to sleep away the afternoon. Come the evening, I was more clear-headed. With good meds, I looked forward to a night’s sleep, and better in the morn.

That night’s sleep was not good. I couldn’t get comfortable, and so couldn’t sleep. Specifically, my left (not bad) side was uncomfortable and so was my right side that was supposedly fixed. I was awake all but maybe 2 hours. Yet, I’d gotten used to sleep deprivation.

I was bothered that the side that had had the surgery, that was now supposed to be free of the cause, still hurt. Differently, perhaps, but still hurt. This was dismaying (to put it mildly). I called Saturday night, and was told that the right side could still hurt for some days. Er, okay…

Saturday night wasn’t really better. I slept maybe 3-4 hours, but lack of comfort meant I was still worried and in addition now sleep-deprived. This wasn’t all, but worth recounting is by Sunday, my whole right leg wasn’t working. Any sort of moving but standing hurt.  Not good.

This continued into Monday. Little and bad sleep meant I was going into a mentally challenging state of sleep-deprivation. The lack of right leg action began to make me feel like the whole experiment had failed, and I was going to have to face this again. I put in a call, but my doctor was in surgery. You can imagine I was discouraged and distressed. I was headed to bed when my doctor finally called. They’d scheduled me to see him the next day, and I hung on to that.

When I got to see him on Tuesday morning, I was a wreck. Spaced out from lack of sleep, distressed about my leg, and so on. I first talked to the PA, and then the doc came in. And, I found out a lot more. They’d completely removed the material pressing on the disk, but in so doing they’d likely irritated the nerve. And there could be some bleeding doing that, too. So, my leg hurting was explained. When we talked about meds, they were reminded what I had been on, and how the sudden cessation of that could be problematic. With explanations, and revised recommendations for medications going forward, it seemed promising.

Low and behold, after the visit, things began to fall into place. The medication revisions kicked in, and I felt a lot better. Not good, mind you, but many times better. Finally, I could see how this was all working, and I was progressing!

I awoke this morning and verified that yesterday wasn’t a fluke; I’m on a path to recovery. I still have a backlog of things to deal with, but I can get on that now.  And I still hurt in various places. But it’s the right hurt, I now know.

The short version of all this is that expectations matter. Stephanie Burns did her Ph.D. research on the people who succeeded with their goals (vs those who don’t), and found it was the ones who managed their expectations appropriately. Set goals, rewarded them, realized it was a long haul, etc. Similarly for learning; you want expectations to match experience. A mismatch can induce barriers to successful learning. If the experience will be typical, it may not matter so much, but you want to be wary of any ways in which people can find their expectations mismatched. Yes, you want some surprise, but you don’t want people to lose their comprehension of who they are and where they’re going.

I don’t actually blame the doctor. I think they could’ve set my expectations better, but I fear I come across as someone who has an idea of what’s going on. And I should’ve asked more questions. Further, I think there weren’t any flags that I needed such support. Still, it perhaps ought to be automatic. So consider setting expectations. Deliberately. Systematically. You can let them know there might be some surprise, without giving it away. Don’t leave people open to making inappropriate expectations, or you might be unpleasantly surprised.