This pattern is called “Confront Your Ignorance”. The scenario it is meant to address is when a programmer has gaps in their knowledge that interfere with their work. More specifically, they want to master skills and tools, rather than simply be adequate, yet are unsure of the first step towards that goal. Finding the first step or even admitting they need to find the first step is difficult, particularly in environments where there seems to be an expectation to just have already mastered things.
The solution provided is simple. Pick something you need to learn and then learn it. While it sounds simple, it is easier said than done.
An important skill that I have only recently started thinking about, which this pattern touches on, is the ability to know when you’ve learned enough about a subject and that it’s time to turn your attention elsewhere. Without mastering this skill, one might still go out of their way to study something on their own. In the absence of any clear goals, they may simply give up whenever they get sick of it. This is something I used to do a lot, and it led to situations where I had taken time out of my day to learn something, but the knowledge itself was too incomplete to be useful. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was wasted time, but I think it could definitely have been better spent.
Different people have different approaches that best suit them for filling the gaps in their knowledge. Something I think is pretty important for me is to figure out what my ideal approach is. I have some ideas. For example, I think I tend to prefer concrete examples, hands-on involvement, and at least a general understanding of how the whole system works. Figuring out what works for me in more specific terms would be a good idea also.
I tend to struggle to seek help from peers. In this pattern, the authors suggest working together to learn things, which is something I think can be fun, productive, and worth trying.
One of the core ideas here, which I will talk about in a future post, is the idea of two extremes when learning, which need to be avoided. In one, ignorance is kept totally private, creating an atmosphere where not being proficient to begin with is extremely discouraged. In the other, no attempt is made to prevent one’s ignorance from interfering with a team’s project. Straddling the line between these is another skill that I haven’t really considered before, but should probably get good at sometime soon.
From the blog CS@Worcester – Tom's Blog by Thomas Clifford and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.