my favourite game; about knowledge, learning, education…

I lost it again Word count: 1015 (including quotations)

Quotations are back!! Though what I'll try to do here might be something over my head (is this the right expression?)

First let's start with something that supports my previous post:“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” Thomas Berger

Let's try to ask some questions here then. In few months (or know) when they will ask us "what have you learned in your master degree?" or "What makes you different from other people?" or similar things what will be our answer? Will (are) we be satisfied with our answer?

When we will go out from here there will be people with greater knowledge or experience about, global issues, people, six sigma, product development, asset management, robust design, financial analysis or whatever we think we learned here in WMG. So what does this whole year really gives us? Well I think Paul tried to explain it to us for more than once; if I understood correctly : ) Simply things we learned from the processes we were implementing is more important the content... ?

Let's see if I'll be go deeper a bit with some quotations, there might be repetitions:

"...In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” Tom Bodett

So true isn't it? basically it's not different from what we have been saying for a while; which is learning comes through experience ( theory of knowledge- yes Deming again). In real life even when they teach you a lesson usually it is to make you understand the test not solve it. So wouldn't it be better to learn how to solve a test and learn from it?

"Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught”  George Savile

Again isn't that what remains is what we learned from implementing the processes? For example no one gave us a lecture about how having a output from seminars is important...

"...Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

I'm pretty sure that he talks about another aspect of learning, but I was thinking if I knew I'd live forever I would like to know more about how to learn things, because given you are in a infinite time frame what would be the percentage of time you would spend on financial analysis for example. Unless you are crazy and do analysis forever at one point you bound to feel the need to learn something else. Which taken to the limit would make the subject you selected to learn irrelevant. I’ll buy a drink to the first person who can understand this and explain to me (not joking). I'll also buy a dinner if that person watches the movie "The Man From Earth" and talks about it relating to this.

“To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.” Copernicus

I think this is also related to asking questions (or theory of knowledge). Basic if we can understand the limits of our knowledge we might be able to find out this that are unknown to us, but on the other hand we shouldn’t forget that there are things unknowable to us (hurray Deming again). This knowledge is the basis to start learning and creating new knowledge.

“Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach.” Aristotle

I think here the question is about the characteristic of knowledge. Knowing how to implement DMAIC is also knowledge, but knowledge that would come from understanding it is totally different because it would be also related to PDSA, scientific methodology and so on; which also links to my previous blog, in a way. We also talked about the importance of understanding in different themes; like today in debate we said people should understand the standards so that they can go further.

“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance.”  Robert Quille

As I mentioned debate I think this is a good insight. I believe one of the reasons we had a peaceful debate today is that because we know each other to well to ignore and we also know our aim is actually exchanging knowledge.

“Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.” Mark Twain

I find this a funny way to look at mistakes. Actually when we create a free-to-make-mistakes environment potentially we are allowing more mistakes; it is not a problem as long as people learn from it and company didn’t go bust because of it. But sometimes though people acknowledge their mistakes they don’t really think, reflect and learn from it, do they? If we ever become a manager we should make sure they learn from it. I’m sure we might be able to find funny (and true) examples if we start to talk about relationships : )

The last part is for my own satisfaction :

“Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.” Oscar Wilde

If we link to above, to Aristotle, and say that they can’t teach because they haven’t understood it, and conclude “nothing worth knowing is understandable” and go on to say maybe we think those things are worth knowing because we are curious about them, as we don’t understand them and… well don’t bother with my moment of insanity; but this is what my favourite writer things (indirectly, through one of his characters):

"I’ve been making a list of the things they don’t teach you at school. They don’t teach you how to love somebody. They don’t teach you how to be famous. They don’t teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don’t teach you how to walk away from someone you don’t love any longer. They don’t teach you how to know what’s going on in someone else’s mind. They don’t teach you what to say to someone who’s dying. They don’t teach you anything worth knowing" Neil Gaiman

nice

: 11 Mar 2009 00:24 |  Comments (4) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Sharing Information

Writing about Manager…... from Abhishek's blog

Sharing of information is a very delicate subject. One might argue that you don't need to leave a company to share that information with someone. I think it's bit about personality and loyalty; or your morality.

In Coke case it wouldn't make any difference to workers to know the formula, but there are lots of situations, like the one Francisco told in his blog, really would affect the efficiency of the employee; how can a consultant work without knowing about the company anyway.

So, choose your employees wisely ( I know its very hard)  and create the environment to make sure to get their loyalty.

Obsessing that your employees will give the important information away is bit like thinking people will punch you : ) they won't as long as you don't give them any reason; but there is always a chance that there are mentally instable people : P

ok it is a bit silly, but anyway, you got the idea...

Aykut

: 26 Oct 2008 21:10 |  Tags: Mbe |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Back in warwick blogs; and skydiving

I haven't been writing anything for more than a week now and I just realised that actually I have so many things to write about... and I will begin with my first parachute decent experience...

I don't know if I'll be able to explaine myself but; I'm afraid of height, or maybe I should say I'm afraid of the possibility of falling from a high place. Because there is big difference. I can look down from a plane if door is sealed shut : )

So how did I managed to jump from a plane? good question.

It was a weekend trip actually. we had a 6-7 hours of ground training on Saturday and I was feeling those butteries I was talking about, even though we were on the ground, safe.Because we finished a bit late we couldn't jump on Saturday.Some we build our tents. I must say I love camping and it's been a while since my last camp so I was pretty excited about it.

After hanging around a bit we went to a tesco and bought some snack for the night and for the big day, than went  a local pub.It was bit expensive; there is no way I'm going to pay that chicken 10 pounds again : )

After the pub we slept relatively early as we needed our full concentration for the next day.At first it wasn't that cold..but..ahh morning... it... was... cold. and when you add that distance from tents to the toilet..... well you got the picture : )

After warming up, as we were the first group to jump we started to concentrate and we had a short refreshment training. And the most interesting thing is: no butterflies,yes,  not even a single one. I was so ready I could feel the training in me, that whole malfunction drill, count to 4 after jump, check canopy, if there is a malfunction: look,locate,cut-away, pull reserve, arch. I was so relaxed that I was thinking that could be a dance routine for top banana : P 

I used to play online war games with my friend (mostly Battlefield) and I have lots of funny memories how we try to jump from plane to plane and so on, I felt like I was one of those games. The drop zone was like those drop zones in the games,especially the fact that there was a constant music. Yes, I was definitely in the mood.

I was so ready that when our instructor asked who wants to go with the first plane my hand was in the air. Than we started to wear our jumpsuits and equipments, again I felt like a soldier or like an astronaut :D I know it is silly, but I believe it was those feelings that made me so brave (referencing myself). 

Then they called us... we walked through the drop zone, people were looking at us (:P),than they made the last arrangements and we get into the plane. It was a dornier G92 by the way. And was the second one to jump so I was sitting on the floor.First guy wasn't from Warwick but he joined the training with us. when we reached 3500 feet it was the time. They opened the door and instructor grabbed the first guy and said "in the door"...than go... he was out....

It was my turn.He looked at me. I look at my friends and shouted "see you guys" he said "in the door" and I was in the door. I wasn't looking down. You should be looking to the Instructor at that moment. than he said "go"... I was... I didn't hesitated for a millisecond, actually I could jump as I should have but at that moment your training kicks in and only thing you think is your canopy. I felt the parachute opening so I counted to 4 than looked up. It was not open what I was thinking was. "open,open,open,open, yeeeeeeesssssssssss" :D

Yep I actually shouted  "yes". Thing is there are 3 options, first one is if everything is ok(like mine), or there can be nuisance; which means problems you can handle, or malfunctions, which you should decide very quickly and do the reserve drill.  But I was ok : )

I took control of my canopy and it was as it should be than I looked for the drop zone and I realised I was going away...to the motorway... so I turned quickly, I was just out of the drop zone and I staying in the same spot;Because wind was so strong. I think that was the worst part as I didn't have time to play with my canopy. I had to face drop zone, constantly. I was looking for a place to land and trying to figure out how could I go back to drop zone. Well, I was bit lucky when it was 500 feet or so to the ground wind slowed down. I managed to enter drop zone and got ready for landing.Well It wasn't a smooth one but I was in the drop zone and I was ok : )

Oh I felt good. I was singing while I took my parachute and started walking to the hangar. I was ready for the second one.

But 20 minutes later we heard that wind was too strong for us so they suspended the student jumps..So long story short we returned to the campus.

Well this was a long one. but hopefully I will look back to this entry for years

I want to do my second jump and I'm thinking about going on the 8th of november...

I should finish my PMA's before that. If I can't I might choose not to open my parachute : P

and last thing, about the dangers: Well, it is dangerous of course but most of the deaths or injuries are caused by stupid mistakes or not follwoing your training. For example if you do more than one 360 turn you will be accelerating too much or you should close your legs during landing. That guy who jumped first didn't close his legs so he broke his ankle. Simple, right : )

It seems like England is the best place to try skydiving as equipments are really good. And plus we have a very good and big skydiving club and they are all ok, right?

I youf search for most dangerous sports, injury rate in fishing or cheerleading is higher anyway ;)

Respect ;)

Aykut

: 26 Oct 2008 14:36 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem