Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: The First Day

About this workshop

Software development happens in your head: Not in an editor, IDE, or design tool. It’s time to take a pragmatic approach to thinking and learning, and start to refactor—and redesign—your brain.

You are used to working with software and hardware, but what about working with wetware—your own brain? Do you know the best ways to learn, or to think about solving problems? In this one workshop we’ll journey through bits of cognitive science, neuroscience, learning and behavioral theory.

You’ll see surprising aspects of how brains work and see how to beat the system, improving your own learning and thinking skills.

We’ll refactor your wetware—redesign and rewire your brain—to make you more effective at your job. Whether you’re a programmer, manager, knowledge worker, technogeek, or deep thinker, or if you just happen to have a human brain you’d like to crank up, Pragmatic Thinking and Learning will help.

By following Andy’s concrete steps, you can make your most precious asset—your brain—more efficient and productive. You’ll think smarter, work better, and learn more than ever before.

—Bert Bates, co-creator of Head First, brain friendly books

Topics

During the full day course, you’ll experience:

  • Journey from Novice to Expert
    • The Five Dreyfus Model Stages
    • Dreyfus at Work: Herding Racehorses and Racing Sheep
    • Using the Dreyfus Model Effectively
  • This Is Your Brain
    • Your Dual-CPU Modes
    • Linear and Rich Characteristics
    • DIY Brain Surgery and Neuroplasticity
  • Get in Your Right Mind
    • Draw on the Right Side
    • Engage an R-mode to L-mode Flow
    • Harvest R-mode
  • Debug Your Mind
    • Meet Your Cognitive Biases
    • Recognize Your Generational Affinity
    • Codifying Your Personality Tendencies
    • Exposing Hardware Bugs
  • Learn Deliberately
    • Create a Pragmatic Investment Plan
    • Use Enhanced Learning Techniques
    • Read Deliberately with SQ3R
    • Visualize Insight with Mind Maps
    • Learn by Teaching
  • Gain Experience
    • Play in Order to Learn
    • Embed Failing in Practice
    • Learn About the Inner Game
    • Sensory Overrides
  • Manage Focus
    • Increase Focus and Attention
    • Manage Your Knowledge
    • Control Context
  • Beyond Expertise
    • Effective Change
    • What to Do Tomorrow Morning
    • Beyond Expertise

Costs

  • Cost to present this workshop for up to 35 participants is $5,000 USD, plus travel and accommodation. Please contact me for details and scheduling.

Curious about Littlewood’s Law, Blosen Platt syndrome, the Dreyfus model, neuroplasticity, and more? Join Andy Hunt for this eye-opening one day course.

Upcoming Appearances

  • January 22, Amazon Developer Conference, Portland
  • March 9, ETech 2009
  • March 16, Skills Matter, London
  • March 27, Emerging Technologies for the Enterprise, Philadelphia

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