Comments on: The benefits of boredom…

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:21:00 +0000

In reply to Western Rain. Not sure re: timing. I'm doing the session soon but not sure when it will run.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:21:00 +0000

In reply to Western Rain. Ah, excellent!!

By: Western Rain

Western Rain — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 09:34:00 +0000

In reply to Western Rain. Of course you know who Barbara Oakley is, as you are mentioned in the acknowledgements in her book "A Mind For Numbers" which is the text for the course. You are noted "as a supporter in the development of this work". The text is very clear and easy to read so I can see why Dr. Oakley would be so happy that you were there to assist her. Your name and website were given as references in the course which is how I came to find you. Insert happy smile here!

By: Western Rain

Western Rain — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:06:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Gray-Grant.

Barbara Oakley teaches Learning on Learning at https://class.coursera.org/learning-002
Which course will you be doing the guest lecture for? I think that the students will be very fortunate to have you lecture, and it would be great to find out the course so that if I can fit in the time, I could take it. How do you manage to do all that you do???

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 21:22:00 +0000

In reply to Western Rain. Who's the prof? I ask because I'm going to be doing a guest lecture on Coursera shortly.

By: Western Rain

Western Rain — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 20:32:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Gray-Grant. I think that it is one of the most popular courses that they offer. I've managed to get through a lot of years in education, however studying and holding on to information was never easy no matter how hard I worked. This course pulls together a lot of new information on memory formation and neat things like how not to procrastinate so it is very valuable information for me. The professor is very good, and that makes this 4 week course even easier to work through. It's also great to have access to courses like this when you live in northern BC. And I look forward to learning a lot more about writing from your work here on Publication Coach!

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:58:00 +0000

In reply to Western Rain. Oh, I could never give up on the news altogether. I get a regular newspaper daily, too. That Coursera class sounds really interesting.

By: Western Rain

Western Rain — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:13:00 +0000

Hi Daphne,
Thank you very much for this post. I found it quite interesting and, like you, I really enjoy the news and the writing of a good columnist. The idea of giving up reading the news is hard – the papers that I read let me pick and choose the “gossip” of the day now that we don’t have fences to lean over to talk with our neighbours. I just have a slightly different take on the idea of being bored.
I’m taking a course on Learning about Learning through Coursera; the instructor talks about the two different types of learning that we need to do to understand new information.
The first is focussed learning – where we put in the time to consciously study the points that we want to know well. But in order to integrate these points with other knowledge that we already have in our brains, we need a time of diffuse learning – and those are the times where we might just stare out the window, or perhaps do a task that takes little concentration (like hand washing dishes). And it is during this diffuse learning time when it seems that our brain is just slacking that it is actually putting concepts together to make for a much more complete understanding.
Apparently Thomas Edison used this resting time after a period of intense thought to actually come up with his ideas.Perhaps writers who have lives that are less intensely packed with information acquisition have the time for the diffuse thinking that will bring us new information.
I wonder if letting yourself sit and feel a bit empty, or mindlessly walking, or maybe just focussing on one repetitious task is a type of writer’s meditation. And in that peaceful “down” time your characters might just sort themselves out!
Rae

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:07:00 +0000

In reply to Chris Brady. I would LOVE to get the Sunday Times delivered. Maybe I'll do that instead of the digital thing.

By: Chris Brady

Chris Brady — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:00:00 +0000

Daphne,
Great ideas in this post as usual but I will not give up my digital copy of the New York Times. The Sunday paper (which I get delivered) is the most reading fun I have all week. The rich world of New Yorkers is like visiting another planet.
It is crowding my brain with stimulation and I will take your advice and schedule some nothing time and see what happens.