Wednesday, February 25, 2009
On The Train, Feb 25, 2008
Purposely late again going home today as I now prefer to avoid the crowd if I could. Stress management on my part. Although I would not mind the crowd as I normally got a seat and blank them out by concentrating on my writings but sometimes unnecessary stress situations are created buy many incompetent as well as foolish people. At MidValley two ladies, Caucasian, came on board and stand in front of me. I ignored them until they sat next to me. Remembering I wrote about many nationalities on the train before I was eager to find out where they were from and their reason to be in Malaysia. I unplugged my earphone for awhile and eavesdrop on their conversation. I could not make up the language but I suspect east European. I could only guess that they are here working for one of the multinational and IT companies here. They sure did not look like students and neither are they tourists.
Conversation for Comprehension
Suddenly people are talking about the idea of plain conversation and a way to learn and share knowledge. We argue it is the most natural thing to do. What ever we are calling it talking, discussion, or dialogue in essence it is conversation between individuals to enable comprehension to certain topic. Today we discussed on the different perspectives of conversation. We discussed on the need to have a formal structure for useful conversation as planned learning solution to happen as well as an informal conversation for ideas and new knowledge to be created. Quality conversation could be achieved within a formal structure by embedding the practices of enabling good conversation to happen. As an example in a meeting structure participants should know their role to allow and encourage conversation to happen. Formal or informal to me the realization of what conversation really is, is very important.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Conversation
My past experiences doing a lot of public presentation thought me one great lesson about comprehension and learning. During those periods I did, on average, around three (3) presentations a week. The topic varied between MSC, eLearning and KM. At one time I was also teaching KM in a graduate program. The greatest realization was the more I talked to people about a subject the better I could comprehend the subject matters. Last week I was alerted to a blog by Nancy Dixon on conversation. He cited a research by researchers at University of Michigan on conversation. I copied below what she cited.
“In these meetings individuals exchange their data, conclusions, reasoning and questions with others. Although the cognitive benefits to the receiver of such an exchange are apparent, there is evidence that it is the speaker who makes the greatest cognitive gains from the exchange. Individuals organize information differently if they are going to present it to others than if they are trying to understand it solely for their own use. It is in the act of speaking that people tend to organize cognitively what they know.”
This is what I have been experiencing through those years of teaching and presenting. Furthermore, according to Nancy Dixon this finding also implies that whenever one listened to somebody talking or presenting it would be helpful for the listeners’ cognition if they talk about it. Which actually put more conviction to the idea of having unconference format for conferences. Instead of having one way presentation done by conference speakers we open up opportunity for participants to have a dialogue, discussion or just allow time for them to converse about what had just been presented. Dixon also blog about this phenomenon and urge speakers instead of at the end of their presentation ask the audience if they have any question to turn to each other and discussed for a while what he or she had just presented.
“In these meetings individuals exchange their data, conclusions, reasoning and questions with others. Although the cognitive benefits to the receiver of such an exchange are apparent, there is evidence that it is the speaker who makes the greatest cognitive gains from the exchange. Individuals organize information differently if they are going to present it to others than if they are trying to understand it solely for their own use. It is in the act of speaking that people tend to organize cognitively what they know.”
This is what I have been experiencing through those years of teaching and presenting. Furthermore, according to Nancy Dixon this finding also implies that whenever one listened to somebody talking or presenting it would be helpful for the listeners’ cognition if they talk about it. Which actually put more conviction to the idea of having unconference format for conferences. Instead of having one way presentation done by conference speakers we open up opportunity for participants to have a dialogue, discussion or just allow time for them to converse about what had just been presented. Dixon also blog about this phenomenon and urge speakers instead of at the end of their presentation ask the audience if they have any question to turn to each other and discussed for a while what he or she had just presented.
On The Train, Feb 23, 2009
KTMB messed up my Monday morning by being incompetence yet again. This time another ‘technical’ problem somewhere before Labu. I presumed a continuation of what had happened last Friday. What supposed to be a 0651 train became 0711 train and of course the train arrived at Bangi solid packed. I squeezed myself in and continued reading Outliers. Naturally it got worse at UKM station but I stood my ground by not moving an inch from where I stood and I was rewarded at Kajang station when the man seating in front of me disembarked. Although I got a seat I was still annoyed with KTMB. Not wanting to stress myself unnecessarily and not trusting KTMB anymore I went home just after maghrib and it was a bliss going home.
I was busy typing and aware of an Indian guy that came on board and sat next to me at Mid Valley. Ever since he was onboard he kept on looking over at my laptop and what I was typing. I was a bit uneasy but luckily I was typing about Conversation rather than this one. Anyway after a while he asked me about my laptop and we had small talk. I waited until the very end to start this piece. But luck has it he disembarked at Bangi just like me he he he. Thinking back I would have loved if we had a longer conversation. Some people might think or assume that it would impossible to have intelligent conversation with certain types of people. But that was a wrong assumption and attitude. In fact my behaviour on the train could be conceived as someone who’s looking for an opportunity to start a conversation or just plain ‘please I am working do not disturb’. Now thinking about it either way I am ok he he he.
I was busy typing and aware of an Indian guy that came on board and sat next to me at Mid Valley. Ever since he was onboard he kept on looking over at my laptop and what I was typing. I was a bit uneasy but luckily I was typing about Conversation rather than this one. Anyway after a while he asked me about my laptop and we had small talk. I waited until the very end to start this piece. But luck has it he disembarked at Bangi just like me he he he. Thinking back I would have loved if we had a longer conversation. Some people might think or assume that it would impossible to have intelligent conversation with certain types of people. But that was a wrong assumption and attitude. In fact my behaviour on the train could be conceived as someone who’s looking for an opportunity to start a conversation or just plain ‘please I am working do not disturb’. Now thinking about it either way I am ok he he he.
Friday, February 20, 2009
On The Train, Feb 20, 2009
KTMB managed to spoil my Friday evening once again! This time their excuse was electrical problem at Sentul station. There was already a hude crowd on the platform when I walked down but I thought it was a normal Friday evening commuters which I had expected. But then as I was walking came an announcement stating the fact. Boy I said to myself the same old story. That was not the worst as we were waiting another announcement came on saying that the Seremaban train was late as well. Well, ok at least they announced it and I thought that was it. However after about 15-20 minutes of waiting came another shocking announcement that the Seremban train would arrive on platform one instead of two. Which mean on the opposite platform. Well I thought the announcement meant for KL Sentral but a auxiliary police woman came along asking all of us to move to the opposite platform as our platform now would be for north bound train. I did not know what their strategy was then but early on looking of the crowd I had decided already that I would skip the coming train. With the announcement I just refused to move so I sat thinking. About 1o minutes the Seremban train still on the way, maybe it was crawling. Then I remembered that my son was in PJ I called him and told him to pick me up at either Bukit Jalil or Seri Petaling. With that I walked to LRT Bandaraya station. So I was not early as I intended after all thanks to KTMB.
The STAR LRT was not as crowded as the KTM Komuter which says a lot about KTMB services and their lost opportunities.
The STAR LRT was not as crowded as the KTM Komuter which says a lot about KTMB services and their lost opportunities.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Information Entrepreneur / Infopreneur
When I came back from the US in 1987 all I ever wanted to do was to find opportunity to be infopreneur. I came across a book exactly talking about that and I was so excited with the prospect of doing so. However, I did not find anything. Maybe because I had not searched hard enough or maybe I was so inexperience about the business world. In the end forgot about the idea and did something else.
Last week I was invited to be a panel in a dialogue on whether it one major college in Malaysia should introduce MSc in Information Entrepreneur graduate programme. Excited that I was when I received the invitation I kept my excitement under the lid as to avoid delivering a confuse point of views. To me it is no brainer and any time is a good time for the programme. I totally believe it should be offered and we have to look at the entire value chain to make sure it is successful. Further more certain kind awareness should be created down the value chain at diploma and degree level. Any way you look at it there would be potential candidates who would want to enroll in the programme.
Last week I was invited to be a panel in a dialogue on whether it one major college in Malaysia should introduce MSc in Information Entrepreneur graduate programme. Excited that I was when I received the invitation I kept my excitement under the lid as to avoid delivering a confuse point of views. To me it is no brainer and any time is a good time for the programme. I totally believe it should be offered and we have to look at the entire value chain to make sure it is successful. Further more certain kind awareness should be created down the value chain at diploma and degree level. Any way you look at it there would be potential candidates who would want to enroll in the programme.
On The Train, Feb 17, 2009
I managed to catch the 2248 train at Bank Negara station after the dinner. Obviously it was almost empty when I boarded and as my experience so far last shift blue collar workforce filled the carriage at KL Sentral and Mid Valley. Three youth, I think just got out of their shift from McD, KFC or similar fast food joints at MidValley, got on the train and loudly conversed among themselves. They obviously behaving like an internet citizen and talking about Mangga characters and Dragon Ball. They just did not care about the others in the carriage. Another youth sat next to me and keep on peeping at what I was doing. I did not mind but that prevent me form typing this piece not wanting to offend him. A Chinese young lady crashed, yes crashed and when you were tired, next to me and started clicking on her handphone chatting with somebody to the extent she almost missed her station Salak Selatan. Then a very tired looking Chinese man swayed in at Bandar Tasek Selatan to sit next to me on my left. Immediately I felt he was swaying left and right indicating he was sleeping. He must have swayed more towards the beautiful Eurasian lady on his right when the lady moved to another empty seat in front of me. An Indian lady directly in front of me just smiled knowingly looking at what had just happened in front of her. I also smiled.
On The Train, Feb 16, 2009
The Seremban train sped into the station the moment I step into the station. I knew I could not possibly run for it as the train would stop at the far end. So I just walked slowly anticipating another long wait for the next train.
Of course the train I boarded was not full as it was almost 2100. I was glad to be on the train with less people but at the same time knew that I should not be going home that late. But a whole day in learning sessions I had works to clear off.
Of course the train I boarded was not full as it was almost 2100. I was glad to be on the train with less people but at the same time knew that I should not be going home that late. But a whole day in learning sessions I had works to clear off.
Monday, February 16, 2009
On The Train, Feb 12, 2008
The train must be late as I was standing waiting for the P Klang train to pass by first the Seremban train arrived. It was a nice surprise for and as I said this train must be late as I could not be early. Although there were a lot of commuters then the usual I got a seat when I boarded. The moment I entered a strong coconut oil smell greeted me. Well, it was either someone really use coconut oil, a surprise at this age, or a perfume with coconut oil smell. Whatever it is I felt a little, just a little, uncomfortable. The crowd got bigger at KL Sentral and the compact space made the smell even stronger. I ignored everything and concentrated on writing and thinking.
On The Train, Feb 10, 2009
I was not a mood to write anything at first as I was feeling a bit uneasy. My mistake was I let the conditions and happenings around me to effect me. I should have ignored everything but the thought kept bugging me.
I took the 1840 train home and due to the heavy rain before a bit congested. I did not rush in when the train arrived and was rewarded with the last empty seat in my favorite section of my favorite carriage. As if taking the cue from the weather outside almost everyone inside the carriage look sullen and almost depress. In fact deep down I was also depressed and felt frustrated. Having Deep Purple’s Sweet Child in Time playing also did not improve the matter for me. So I just sat looking at everything and nothing if you know what I mean. Then Bad English’s When I See You Smile brought a smile to my face. This song triggered a happy moment when I was with my young son during our early difficult days. I could actually describe that moment in detail but stopped myself from doing that.
I took the 1840 train home and due to the heavy rain before a bit congested. I did not rush in when the train arrived and was rewarded with the last empty seat in my favorite section of my favorite carriage. As if taking the cue from the weather outside almost everyone inside the carriage look sullen and almost depress. In fact deep down I was also depressed and felt frustrated. Having Deep Purple’s Sweet Child in Time playing also did not improve the matter for me. So I just sat looking at everything and nothing if you know what I mean. Then Bad English’s When I See You Smile brought a smile to my face. This song triggered a happy moment when I was with my young son during our early difficult days. I could actually describe that moment in detail but stopped myself from doing that.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
On The Train, Feb. 6, 2009
Another three-day weekend beginning tomorrow and as expected the train was packed. But as usual as well I placed myself strategically that I got a seat at KL Sentral. I am going to be very busy again this weekend beginning with going to Ford service centre in PJ to service the Ranger tomorrow. Cyclefest at Putrajaya in the evening and family bowling at Alamanda at night, I am not bowling though. Puteri Gunong Ledang theater with my wife at Istana Budaya on Sunday and possible family outing on Monday.
The train is moving very slow now as if the load, all of us, were too heavy for it to pull. What I was worried about it would just stop in the middle of somewhere and we have to get down. It happened before so I know it could happen.
The composition of commuters in the carriage I was in varied. Few Indians going to or getting from somewhere to celebrate Thaipusam. Long distance commuters are the majority though. The rest one third were working people like me going home for the day.
The train is moving very slow now as if the load, all of us, were too heavy for it to pull. What I was worried about it would just stop in the middle of somewhere and we have to get down. It happened before so I know it could happen.
The composition of commuters in the carriage I was in varied. Few Indians going to or getting from somewhere to celebrate Thaipusam. Long distance commuters are the majority though. The rest one third were working people like me going home for the day.
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