I think this is such an interesting inquiry! All the best stuff I’ve read about learning processes – like “Genius is Overrated” talk not only about practice but about mentored practice because you could be practicing until you’re blue in the face but if you’re not getting real time feedback from someone who is an expert at what you’re trying to learn, you may just be reinforcing your bad habits and never improve. It sounds like in your courses, people are getting that kind of feedback.
Julie
7 February 2017
I agree Susie – a very interesting topic.
I imagine that musicians practice independently from their mentors/teachers but meet with them regularly to have their performance observed and to receive feedback and this helps to ensure that bad habits are not embedded. I say ‘imagine’ because I do not know many accomplished musicians, so my actual knowledge is limited.
I have mixed however with many top athletes and know that they tend to be people who have developed habits of consistent and regular practice and taking account of feedback (which is informed by observations mainly by their coaches but also themselves and others), which informs future practice. This applies to skills, strength and stamina development. Observations of exemplars also feeds into the feedback loop. What I have noticed with this group of people is they welcome feedback as it helps them to improve – they don’t shy away from it because they know there is gold in it. Competition provides the acid test (I’m seeing it as ‘getting wet to learn to swim’ or ‘practising with real humans in between classes’) and is a source of invaluable feedback – you can see and hear instant post competition feedback in the post race interviews on TV and later athlete and coach will analyse the performance and adjust their action plans as they see fit.
There does appear to me (on the face of it) to be a general pattern across the three areas: Input with mentor/expert – practise/observation with mentor expert – practice independently ‘in the field’ – observation and feedback with expert to inform next steps (i.e. further ‘adjusted’ practice to or move onto something new) – take next steps.
You do this very well Judy. I believe that honing what you do, in order to automate it, will probably consist of modelling (perhaps minutely) what you already do, which will highlight the commonalities (for automation) and the idiosyncrasies (for ‘mentor/expert’ observations and feedback).
Very interested to follow your progress on this.
XX
julie
Greg Turner
7 February 2017
Interesting questions that I am also asking of myself with respect to my hypnotherapy practice. I’m afraid I have no answers to share. I think it was Igor Ledochowski who said that practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. So, how can one tell if he is perfectly practicing? I have seen online courses offered that include online real time interaction with a mentor who observes and comments on one’s practice. Perhaps that is a partial solution.
Jon Thorne
10 February 2017
It is my experience that those that blindly seek to practice an approach laid down by others may well be good at following the path. Those of us who are good at practicing the skills to find our own way… tend to pick and choose what they need to learn from the paths others have laid down before them… and find our way to amazing places…
Comments from original on judyrees.co.uk
Susie
3 February 2017
Hi Judy,
I think this is such an interesting inquiry! All the best stuff I’ve read about learning processes – like “Genius is Overrated” talk not only about practice but about mentored practice because you could be practicing until you’re blue in the face but if you’re not getting real time feedback from someone who is an expert at what you’re trying to learn, you may just be reinforcing your bad habits and never improve. It sounds like in your courses, people are getting that kind of feedback.
Julie
7 February 2017
I agree Susie – a very interesting topic.
I imagine that musicians practice independently from their mentors/teachers but meet with them regularly to have their performance observed and to receive feedback and this helps to ensure that bad habits are not embedded. I say ‘imagine’ because I do not know many accomplished musicians, so my actual knowledge is limited.
I have mixed however with many top athletes and know that they tend to be people who have developed habits of consistent and regular practice and taking account of feedback (which is informed by observations mainly by their coaches but also themselves and others), which informs future practice. This applies to skills, strength and stamina development. Observations of exemplars also feeds into the feedback loop. What I have noticed with this group of people is they welcome feedback as it helps them to improve – they don’t shy away from it because they know there is gold in it. Competition provides the acid test (I’m seeing it as ‘getting wet to learn to swim’ or ‘practising with real humans in between classes’) and is a source of invaluable feedback – you can see and hear instant post competition feedback in the post race interviews on TV and later athlete and coach will analyse the performance and adjust their action plans as they see fit.
There does appear to me (on the face of it) to be a general pattern across the three areas: Input with mentor/expert – practise/observation with mentor expert – practice independently ‘in the field’ – observation and feedback with expert to inform next steps (i.e. further ‘adjusted’ practice to or move onto something new) – take next steps.
You do this very well Judy. I believe that honing what you do, in order to automate it, will probably consist of modelling (perhaps minutely) what you already do, which will highlight the commonalities (for automation) and the idiosyncrasies (for ‘mentor/expert’ observations and feedback).
Very interested to follow your progress on this.
XX
julie
Greg Turner
7 February 2017
Interesting questions that I am also asking of myself with respect to my hypnotherapy practice. I’m afraid I have no answers to share. I think it was Igor Ledochowski who said that practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. So, how can one tell if he is perfectly practicing? I have seen online courses offered that include online real time interaction with a mentor who observes and comments on one’s practice. Perhaps that is a partial solution.
Jon Thorne
10 February 2017
It is my experience that those that blindly seek to practice an approach laid down by others may well be good at following the path. Those of us who are good at practicing the skills to find our own way… tend to pick and choose what they need to learn from the paths others have laid down before them… and find our way to amazing places…