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10 STEPS TO PIPELINE LEARNING

LEARNING HOW TO LEARN

AS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

j.d. carlston
software architect

@jdcarlston
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FEELINGS?!
I sense… therefore I am.
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Learning must be slow and

varied in effort until the
parasitic efforts are weeded
out; then we have little
difficulty in acting fast, and
powerfully.

Do everything very slowly.

Do not ‘try’ to do well.
Do not try to do ‘nicely.’

@jdcarlston

- Moshe Feldenkrais
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10 STEPS TO PIPELINE LEARNING

What is the Learning Process?

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Learning Models
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Learning is a Journey...
...through the
Learning Zone.

@jdcarlston
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Mapping the Map: Where are you?

Step 1: Name your zone. Draw your map. Example Questions

● Where am I? What is happening?

● What seems important?

● What models and analogies apply?

Be observant. Be aware.
@jdcarlston

Write it down. Record it.

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Learning is a Journey
… that starts
with orienting
yourself by
determining

where and who

You Are Here

you are, in
relation to your
Learning Zone. @jdcarlston
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ORIGIN STORY : character development

Step 2: Set up your profile. Example Questions

● Who are you?

● What’s your story?

● What characteristics are important?*

* It helps to ask
what others think
Be honest. Be vulnerable. to help you know
what’s important

Write it down.
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ORIGIN STORY : setting up your character

Step 2: Who are you?

The learning process is __________________

I feel __________ because I _______________

I’m in the learning zone of

_________________________________________

This is important in the learning zone:

_______, _______, _______, _______, _______
Be honest. Be vulnerable. Be curious.
I have and need these important attributes: Be a Phreak.
_______, _______, _______, _______, _______
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Learning is a Journey ... … that starts

with knowing
who and where
you are ...

… relative
to the problem
space ...
You Are Here
… with a vision
of where you
want to go
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When I let go of what I am,

I become what I might be.

@jdcarlston

- Lao Tzu
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CREATING A VISION: be the change you seek

Step 3: Know where you're going Example Questions

● What does success look like?

● What principles are important in

achieving that success?

● Can we create a mock-up or story?

@jdcarlston
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Learning is a Journey ...

You want to
be here
Having a clear
vision gives
you a better
idea of where
you want to go.

Teammates
You Are Here support you
getting there.
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TEAM MATES: all for one and one for all

Step 4: Enroll your dream team. Example Questions

● Who can help me?

● Who has characteristics I admire?

● Who’s approach differs from my own?

● Who can teach me more?*

* Diverse teams pay

bonuses and dividends
across multiple facets
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Learning is a Journey ...

You want to
be here

… of knowing
where you want
to go

… and how
you’re going to
You Are Here get there.
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UNBOUNDED KNAPSACK: identify needs

Step 5: Pack your tools. Find heuristics. Example Questions

● What team members know what

tools?

● What tools, resources and

heuristics will we use?

● How will we use them?

● What packages are available?

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LEARNING SPACES: Hello World

Step 6: Find a place to practice & test. Example Questions

● What kind of environment do you need

to build muscle memory?

● What does success look like?

● What does it FEEL like?*

● How can we test our knowledge?

● What pipeline can we iterate on?

* Good moods improve associative intuition and

psychological safety makes learning easier.

Safety matters in Learning Spaces

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SCHEDULING: get on the bus - every second counts

Step 7: Schedule time. Dive in. Example Questions

● How much time can we dedicate

each day?

● What’s the smallest piece of work

we can deliver today?

● What can we get better at doing

today?

• Break each step into bite-size pieces

• Set up practices to build the muscles

• Plan only a little ahead

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Learning is a Journey ...

You want to
be here

...of steps

identifying
landmarks

through the
Learning Zone.
You Are Here
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MILESTONES: start with the heart

Step 8: Identify landmarks. Example Questions

● What must happen in order to

create our vision?

● What’s important to us on this

journey?

● What can tell us we’re on track?

● What things can tell us we’re NOT

on track?
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BLOCKERS: It’s A Trap!

Step 9: Bring the pain forward. Example Questions

● Are we moving at a steady pace?

● Have things slowed down?

● Where is pressure (or pain) coming

from?

● Do we need to update our landmark

events?

Remove Blockers. Sort logs.

@jdcarlston

Negative Feelings = Unmet Needs

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BLOCKERS: It’s A Trap!

Step 9: Bring the pain forward. Example Questions

● Are we moving at a steady pace?

● Have things slowed down?

● Where is pressure (or pain) coming

from?

● Do we need to update our landmark

events?

@jdcarlston

Negative Feelings = Unmet Needs

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REFLEXIVITY: deep thought for the win

Step 10: Schedule a bird’s eye view. Example Questions

● Are we measuring what matters?

● Is our understanding accurate?

● What could we do better?

● Are we headed toward our goals

and finding landmarks on our path?

● Are we aligned with our vision?

● Has our vision changed?

Go wide regularly. Dive deep regularly.

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SUMMARY
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1. Outline a Map
2. Create a Profile
3. Mock-up a Vision
4. Build a Team
10 STEPS TO 5. Identify Tools
LEARNING
6. Practice to Create
7. Set aside Time every day!
8. Identify Landmarks & Pipelines
9. Notice & Remove Blockers
10. Be Reflexive to adapt
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Be REFLEXive

Stay connected to
Don’t Forget!
your SENSES

Go SLOW to go fast
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Software development is a
learning process. Working
code is the side effect.

@jdcarlston

- Alberto Brandolini