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From
TNPC issue #3.18...
How Can I Learn This Real Fast? - Part 2
by T.J. Lee
August 31, 2000
I was swamped with feedback on my "How Can I Learn This Real
Fast" article in the last issue (TNPC #3.17). This rant of mine
generated more reader comments than anything else I've ever done
in TNPC. To all of you who sent me email I'm afraid that I cannot
possibly reply to everyone, but I did read every message and I
want to thank all of you for your thoughtful comments.
The vast majority of those who wrote me agreed that most computer
users don't have much patience when it comes to learning software
and want the instant solution now. Needless to say many of these
people were in a help desk or support environment. Many of these
comments were quite eloquent and went on for several pages. It
was very nice to know that so many of you believe in RTFM
wholeheartedly.
If you want to read some of the thoughts from other TNPCers that
agree that a linear approach is still the way to go stop by:
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/318/tr.cgi?learn2
I did get less than a handful of responses that linear learning
is dead and the "don't teach me how it works, just show me how to
do it" is the right way to go. Consider this response.
"Seems kind of strange that you have to buy a book to learn to
use software? Doesn't it seem like going [sic] backwards. No one
has time to learn by sitting and reading for hours. Books are
picked up for short periods of time and each page should stand on
its own."
While I disagree with the premise, her outlook is one that I'm
hearing more and more often. But is it backwards to learn about
software from reading a book? I don't think so but then I feel
that some theory is essential before practical application if
you're really trying to learn something. Whether you get that
from a book format, CBT (computer based training) materials, or a
video tape doesn't matter. What's important is that you study the
material so you'll know what you're doing. Then you must sit at
the keyboard and start doing things with the software.
Saying that no one has time to learn anything is perhaps
something we can all identify with... even though it's not true.
I agree that time is the single most precious thing that there
is, and it is true that we're all overworked. Downsizing has
forced those still left to do more work with fewer bodies. That
today you need two incomes to keep a family going has hardly left
time to have a family meal let alone read books. But if you're
going to learn how to use a computer and the related software,
you're going to have to make some time.
You can't count on employers to make adequate training available.
They don't want to spend the money or, and here it comes again,
the TIME. (To any employers who may be listening, to do "job
specific" computer training right you have to spend both time and
money. For more on what it takes to do training right go here:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?learn1 )
You can either bite the bullet and learn it the hard way, be that
by reading a book, taking a class, and always by pounding the
keyboard, or you can wait until the software runs itself, which I
think will be an awfully long wait.
Software companies are trying for "ease of use" but there are
some real problems with the approaches open to them. First, it's
unwieldy to run a Wizard that walks you through every single
process a particular application can perform. Imagine having a
Wizard kicking off every time you want to save a file. The second
problem is trying to dumb down the software interface so that it
works for both novices and experienced users.
As if to illustrate this very point another TNPCer asked, "Why
isn't there an option that just says "lighten this picture," why
should I have to know that this feature goes under some obscure
terminology like "gamma correction?"
Well, because gamma correction isn't the brightness control.
Gamma correction allows you to change brightness *and* contrast
in both light and dark areas, by differing amounts, which you
can't do by adjusting either overall brightness or overall
contrast alone. This lets you better bring out the details in
both light and dark areas on the same photograph. Gamma
correction is not a brightness control so it shouldn't be called
one. Having a high-powered graphics software package does not
make you a graphics artist or a photographer anymore than having
a word processor automatically makes you a writer.
No matter how easy they make the interface, the software is only
a tool and you're going to have to learn not only the terminology
but also the basics of what you're trying to do. Again, a linear
approach of first laying a foundation of knowledge which is then
built upon to the point where, hopefully, you actually know what
you're doing.
Finally, for the reader who said, "Linear is for novices, multi-
dimensional learning is for the rest of us," all I can suggest is
that you buy books with a good index.
You can reach T.J. Lee at:
mailto:tj_lee@TheNakedPC.com
Copyright © 2000, PRIME Consulting Group, Inc. and Dan Butler.
All Rights Reserved.
The Naked PC is a trademark of PRIME Consulting Group, Inc.
ISSN: 1522-4422
You may reprint an article from TNPC as long as you show the
entire article and include the authors byline, excerpt and
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How Can I Learn This Real Fast? - Part 2
by T.J. Lee
(This article originally appeared in The Naked PC
newsletter #3.18, subscribe at http://www.TheNakedPC.com)
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