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.
