In the pre-industrial era, education and work were:
In the post-industrial era, they are:
Walter Lewin’s Physics 8.02
Now (some) teaching is observable and connected.
But what about learning?
What is it like to be:
A physics student?
A nursing student?
A mechanical engineering student?
How do we observe learners?
How do we connect with learners?
Observable education: Theory
“What if course
portals, typically little more
than gateways to course
materials, became instead
‘engagement streams’ that Gardner Campbell
demonstrate and encourage
Observable education: Practice
Posted by: Jenny
Tagged: American Studies 312
And what about work?
What is it like to be:
A mechanical engineer?
How do we observe workers?
How do we connect with workers?
Observable work: Jon Galloway
Troubleshooting an Intermittent .NET High CPU problem
“Hopefully it’s helpful
to you, but I know that
there are folks out
there with some real
skill at diagnosing
issues, and there are
better debugging tools
available, too. How
would you go about
Observable work: Chris Gemignani
Task: Recreate a New York Times infographic using Excel
New York Times version Excel version
Looking over the master’s shoulder
Why do software people work observably? (1)
We created, and are comfortable with,
the technologies of observable work:
Why do software people work observably? (2)
Our work processes, and products, are fully digital:
The actual software itself
Why do software people work observably? (3)
We practice, and value:
Why don’t (most) academics work observably?
Work processes and products only recently
Medieval publishing, peer review, reward systems
“I wouldn't want to publish a half-baked idea”
John Leeke is a lifelong teacher and learner
He is also a courseware provider:
“My father was a commercial artist, then a
furniture-maker and builder at the
craftsman/artisan level. He left behind
detailed files of every project he ever worked
“The video camera and the computer and
the Internet are just tools, no different
from my table saw and push stick, or my
old wooden hand plane.”
“Instead of watching television, I make television.”
John Leeke’s courseware produces network effects:
“People everywhere care about this stuff, because
there are wooden buildings all around the world. On
six of the seven continents there are people using
these videos streaming from my office in
Gardner Campbell: “Network effects: Another name for civilization”
What network effects could spread
if we encouraged students to:
Become lifelong teachers and learners?
Produce, as well as consume, courseware?