Comments on: Is my knowledge being reduced to pointers? http://shotbeak.com/2009/08/22/is-my-knowledge-being-reduced-to-pointers/ On Air: Student, aspiring web entrepreneur and musician. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:14:52 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: colinsyme http://shotbeak.com/2009/08/22/is-my-knowledge-being-reduced-to-pointers/comment-page-1/#comment-745 colinsyme Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:17:58 +0000 http://shotbeak.com/?p=344#comment-745 A famous millionaire who had no formal education was asked how he was able to run his large company when he had no qualifications. He said,"If something came up that was over my head,---see that phone, l'll use it and get the answer in two minutes." A famous millionaire who had no formal education was asked how he was able to run his large company when he had no qualifications. He said,”If something came up that was over my head,—see that phone, l'll use it and get the answer in two minutes.”

]]> By: shotbeak http://shotbeak.com/2009/08/22/is-my-knowledge-being-reduced-to-pointers/comment-page-1/#comment-744 shotbeak Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:09:46 +0000 http://shotbeak.com/?p=344#comment-744 Thanks for the comment.<br><br>I thought it might be so. :) Thanks for the comment.

I thought it might be so. :)

]]> By: andreinafrica http://shotbeak.com/2009/08/22/is-my-knowledge-being-reduced-to-pointers/comment-page-1/#comment-743 andreinafrica Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:00:32 +0000 http://shotbeak.com/?p=344#comment-743 Not to burst your bubble one little bit, but what you're experiencing has been around longer than the Internet or Google. Many disciplines have, in recognition of the sheer volume of data available, rewarded the ability to find data, more than the ability to memorise it. <br><br>Before the widespread use of PC's, practitioners of engineering, medicine and law for example would have vast tomes of data available, ready to be looked up and used in a particular project. When I wrote M+3 engineering exams at Technikon in the early 80's (when an HP-41C was considered more computer than anyone would EVAH need :)) some of the exams were already open-book exams. You were required to know how to research and apply the solutions to problems, not attempt to memorise them all. <br>And no, *those* were not the easy exams :) <br><br>I do agree with you though, is that as the sum of knowledge and the sea of data that is required to be mastered at earlier and earlier stages of education, increases, the style of problem solving is changing from: "just remember ALL of this" to: "these are the tools, I've taught you to use them, keep them in this box until you need them" and that *that* style is being taught earlier and earlier. <br><br>Your learning curve and this style curve, have clearly just intersected...:))<br><br><br>and is more a indicator of the level of study that you have achieved, rather than Not to burst your bubble one little bit, but what you're experiencing has been around longer than the Internet or Google. Many disciplines have, in recognition of the sheer volume of data available, rewarded the ability to find data, more than the ability to memorise it.

Before the widespread use of PC's, practitioners of engineering, medicine and law for example would have vast tomes of data available, ready to be looked up and used in a particular project. When I wrote M+3 engineering exams at Technikon in the early 80's (when an HP-41C was considered more computer than anyone would EVAH need :) ) some of the exams were already open-book exams. You were required to know how to research and apply the solutions to problems, not attempt to memorise them all.
And no, *those* were not the easy exams :)

I do agree with you though, is that as the sum of knowledge and the sea of data that is required to be mastered at earlier and earlier stages of education, increases, the style of problem solving is changing from: “just remember ALL of this” to: “these are the tools, I've taught you to use them, keep them in this box until you need them” and that *that* style is being taught earlier and earlier.

Your learning curve and this style curve, have clearly just intersected…:))

and is more a indicator of the level of study that you have achieved, rather than

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