In this week’s blog post, I will be discussing my opinions and what I learned from the introduction to chapter 2 of “Apprenticeship Patterns” by Dave Hoover and Adewale Oshineye. The introduction to chapter two was the most impactful of the reading.

The introduction to chapter 2 starts with a Zen master who is being visited by a young philosopher who has traveled a long way to learn from the master. Once they met, they soon began to discuss what the young philosopher could learn from the old master, but each time the old master tried to teach the young philosopher something new, he would be cut off by the young philosopher’s eagerness to learn. Each time, he mentioned how he had learned to do the same thing differently from someone else. After having this happen several times, each with the master patiently waiting with a warm smile, the master mentioned how it is important to see the humor in every situation. Of course, he was once again cut off by the young philosopher, who was eager to mention some of his favorite jokes. The irony of the situation was wholly lost upon the young philosopher.

Not long after, the master invited the young philosopher to a tea ceremony, which the young philosopher eagerly accepted, having heard of the master’s unique style regarding tea ceremonies. Once the master got to the part of the ceremony where he was filling the teacup, he overpoured the tea. This led the young philosopher to exclaim, “Stop pouring! Can’t you see the cup is already full and overflowing?” to which the master replied, “If you come to me with a cup that is already full, how can you expect me to give you something to drink?” The master was saying, if you come to me with all of the answers, what can you expect me to teach you? Meaning that in order to learn more, you must understand that you don’t know what you are learning and accept that you are ignorant of some things.

The lesson that the master taught the young philosopher is one that I often find difficult. When learning new things, I tend to rush into them mindlessly, thinking that I know enough to skip the beginning, much like the young philosopher, only to find later myself having to go back to the beginning to understand what I am doing and what I did wrong.

While this lesson benefited me, it is also helpful to most people, especially those who work in computer science. Being able and willing to start from the beginning to learn something new is not easy and can make learning seem very difficult. What I find to help make this easier is to think of it as a change in perspective rather than a change in ability or knowledge.

From the blog CS@Worcester – P. McManus Worcester State CS Blog by patrickmcmanus1 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

After reading the introductions to Chapter 1 and Chapters 2-6 of Apprenticeship Patterns, my desire to be in the software development field drastically increased. It is more than a field of just constant repetition. Instead it is an ever changing field where there is always something new to learn, questions to ask, individuals to interact with, and skills to eventually master. The introduction of chapter one instills the fact that when first starting in the field, we may be nervous or not really know what we should do and question software development as a career. It encourages us to reflect on our career journey, what we have accomplished, what we still need to learn, and how we can overcome different challenges we may face to eventually reach a mastery level.

What interested me most was learning about the differences between an apprentice, a journeyman, and a master. An apprentice is typically an individual who is trying to find a way to complete tasks in a more efficient, faster, smarter way, and in a role with few responsibilities and continuous learning. The journeyman retains the attributes learned as an apprentice to continue to grow in the field. In this case, the journeyman’s next focus is to create connections between practitioners, different communication channels, and masters. After adding this, the journeyman begins building a portfolio to demonstrate their understanding in the field. Lastly, the master encompasses all the roles of both the apprentice and the journeyman as well as focuses on moving the industry forward. I found this interesting because no matter what we all start as an apprentice. Some skills may be easier to learn and understand than others, but overtime with constant training and learning, we can become masters in any aspect of the growing field.

In regards to Chapters 2-6, the book covers topics revolving around being committed to your work, continuous learning, mentoring, and constant practice. I am personally interested in reading Chapter 3, Walking The Long Road. The introduction of this chapter refers to viewing software development as more of a journey rather than just a field or destination and that there is always something new to learn, challenges to face, and things to master. Additionally, this chapter drives into setting meaningful goals and how to overcome challenges in your learning journey.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Conner Moniz Blog by connermoniz1 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

I’d like to talk about my thoughts after reading the portions of Apprenticeship Patterns by David H. Hoover and Adewale Oshineye assigned to our Software Development Capstone class. My first impression on reading the title was that this textbook would present different outlines of careers in software and information technology. After reading the introduction, however, I realized that the purpose of this book was to share different patterns and habits that would lend themselves to a successful apprenticeship in software craftsmanship.

The promotion of a growth mindset is one of the first themes established in the book. The authors talk about the growth mindset’s emergence from the research of Carol Dweck, the author of “Mindset: The New Psychology for Success”. The core belief of a healthy growth mindset is that a person’s intelligence is not fixed, and that a person can always grow their knowledge and ability through effort and learning. Through the growth mindset, people are encouraged to perceive failure as an opportunity for learning and reflection instead of as an indicator of inadequacy.

Maintaining an optimistic growth mindset is especially important for people working in software development and computer science. The volume of knowledge it seems to require to contribute anything of substance seems so overwhelming, it can be easy to tell yourself that you’re incapable of learning it all, or that you don’t even know anything as you are now. This emotional state of feeling incompetent or like a fraud despite your accumulated experience and talent is popularly referred to as imposter syndrome, and a survey conducted by Blind in 2018 found that more than half of tech workers report feeling like an imposter in their place of work. These responses came from people working with tech industry leaders like Google and Amazon, which shows that these feelings of self-doubt can exist in anyone, no matter how hard-working, efficient, or naturally talented. In a profession like software development, where the majority of a developer’s work is built on top of the sum of the work of many other people over many years, it’s essential to adopt a growth mindset to bolster your mental and emotional health despite the temptation to doubt yourself and invalidate your own accomplishments.  

In addition to the maintenance of a growth mindset, the authors propose other uniting values of a software craftsmanship community. Among them are constant adaptation, a desire for pragmatism over dogmatism, and the open sharing of knowledge. This software craftsmanship community would also value individual responsibility for one’s apprenticeship journey, and a willingness to experiment and be proven wrong.

The concept that interested me the most from the introductions of later chapters was The Long Road. I understood The Long Road as a metaphor for the lifelong journey of learning, and I recognized the necessity of the growth mindset the authors described earlier as a way to steadily propel yourself along that road. Without that mindset, the discouragement and confusion that naturally accompany learning can be too difficult to overcome.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Michael's Programming Blog by mikesprogrammingblog and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

As I delved into the first two chapters of “Apprenticeship Patterns” by Dave Hoover and Adewale Oshineye, I found myself engaged not just with a book, but with a conversation about the journey of a software developer. This isn’t a typical textbook; it’s a guide for navigating the intricate path of professional growth in software development.

Chapter 1: A Revelation in Learning

The initial chapter immediately struck a chord with me. The concept of ‘breaking the mold’ resonated deeply, challenging the conventional approach to learning. It advocates for a mindset of continuous improvement and learning from every experience, a philosophy I find both daunting and exhilarating. I was particularly intrigued by the idea of being a ‘perpetual apprentice,’ which suggests that there is always more to learn, and every encounter is an opportunity to grow.

Provocations and Insights from Chapters 2-6

As I browsed through the introductions of chapters 2 to 6, I found myself rethinking my approach to my career. The book doesn’t just offer advice; it provokes thought. It made me question: Am I too comfortable in my current knowledge? Am I challenging myself enough? The concept of ‘constructive discomfort’ as a growth mechanism is something I plan to embrace more actively.

A Grain of Disagreement

While I found most of the book enlightening, I did have my reservations. The emphasis on self-reliance, for instance, seems to downplay the importance of structured learning environments. In my experience, a blend of self-driven learning and formal education often yields the best results.

Personal Relevance and Perspective Shift

As a junior developer, the chapters discussing ‘concrete skills’ and ‘nurturing your passion’ seemed particularly relevant. They made me reflect on my current skill set and my long-term career aspirations. This reading has subtly shifted my perspective, making me more open to exploring unfamiliar territories in technology and more conscious of my learning journey.

Conclusion: A Journey, Not a Destination

In summary, “Apprenticeship Patterns” is more than just a read; it’s a reflection on the continuous journey of learning and growing as a software developer. I’m excited to apply some of these patterns in my career, embracing the role of a perpetual apprentice, ever-curious and ever-evolving.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Kadriu's Blog by Arber Kadriu and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.