Making Badass Developers - Kathy Sierra (Serious Pony) keynote

Summary

This talk delves into the challenges of web development, emphasizing that there's no consensus on the skills required to be a web developer. It humorously dismisses the 'rock star' and 'ninja' stereotypes, highlighting the importance of cognitive resources. The speaker introduces the concept of 'cognitive leaks' and how they deplete our ability to learn and perform. The talk advocates for managing cognitive load by breaking down complex skills into smaller, manageable parts, and stresses the value of high-quality, high-quantity examples for efficient learning. It concludes with a call to recognize and respect the limited cognitive resources of fellow developers.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The debate on what skills are essential for a web developer is subjective and varies widely among individuals.
• 🎯 The speaker suggests that the focus should be on the ability to learn quickly and efficiently, rather than on specific skills.
• 🧠 Cognitive resources are limited, and effective learning requires managing these resources to avoid being overwhelmed.
• 🐕 Studies with dogs and humans show that even simple tasks can deplete cognitive resources, affecting subsequent decision-making.
• 🚫 Avoid unnecessary cognitive leaks in design and communication to prevent unnecessary drain on cognitive resources.
• 🛑 The speaker emphasizes the importance of not just learning, but mastering skills to move them from active cognitive use to automatic processes.
• 🔁 High expertise is associated with efficient cognitive resource management, which is crucial for both learning and performance.
• 🚀 Perceptual learning, where skills are acquired without explicit instruction, can dramatically speed up the learning process.
• 👥 Community and collaboration play a significant role in providing high-quality examples and support for rapid learning.
• 🙏 The speaker concludes by honoring the audience's cognitive resources, acknowledging the effort and focus they've given to the presentation.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script regarding web developers?

The main issue discussed is the varying opinions on what skills and knowledge are necessary to be considered a web developer, leading to confusion and the idea that there is no single answer to what one must know.

Why does the speaker mention 'humanoids' and 'unicorns' in the context of web developers?

The speaker uses 'humanoids' to describe the idealized version of web developers that can handle any task with perfect memory and cognitive resources, while 'unicorns' refers to the mythical perfect developer that doesn't actually exist. This is to contrast with 'humans,' who have limited cognitive resources.

What cognitive experiment involving digits is mentioned in the script, and what does it demonstrate?

The script mentions an experiment where participants had to remember either two or seven digits. Those who had to remember seven digits were more likely to choose cake over fruit, demonstrating that cognitive load affects self-control and decision-making.

How does the speaker relate the concept of cognitive resources to web development?

The speaker relates cognitive resources to web development by emphasizing the importance of managing these limited resources effectively to learn and perform tasks efficiently, suggesting that reducing cognitive load is crucial for developers.

What is the 'one tank' theory mentioned in the script, and how does it apply to learning and performance?

The 'one tank' theory refers to the idea that problem-solving, thinking, and willpower all draw from the same pool of cognitive resources. In the context of learning and performance, it suggests that overtaxing this pool can lead to decreased effectiveness and efficiency.

What is the significance of the 'chicken sexing' example in the script?

The 'chicken sexing' example illustrates how individuals can become experts in a task without explicitly knowing how they do it, highlighting the brain's ability to subconsciously learn patterns and make complex judgments.

What is the 'intermediate blues' mentioned in the script, and why is it a problem?

The 'intermediate blues' refers to a plateau in skill development where progress seems to stall. It's a problem because it can lead to frustration and a halt in improvement, often due to relying on suboptimal or outdated skills that have become automatic.

How does the speaker suggest improving the speed of learning in web development?

The speaker suggests improving the speed of learning by focusing on high-quality, high-quantity examples that allow the brain to pattern match effectively, bypassing the need for explicit knowledge of the underlying rules.

What is the key takeaway from the NASA and UCLA experiment mentioned in the script?

The key takeaway is that with the right kind of training, even non-experts can rapidly develop high-level skills without explicit knowledge of the underlying mechanisms, demonstrating the power of perceptual learning.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of considering others' cognitive resources in the script?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering others' cognitive resources to foster a supportive community and to help each other learn and perform more effectively by reducing unnecessary cognitive load.