Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 12:20:47 JST Paul Cantrell

   RE: https://infosec.exchange/@hal_pomeranz/116898915732895057

   I am now in my…uh…43rd (I think?) year of writing code, and:

   Same. This is accurate.

   • Steve's Place repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 12:25:05 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     Something I tell my students:

     Frustration is very often what learning feels like. Don’t be afraid if you’re frustrated. Don’t feel like there’s something wrong with you if you’re frustrated.

     Now frustration and zero progress and just stuck and spiraling…that is not learning anymore. Take a break. Take a nap. Seek out help. Get unstuck!

     BUT: when you first encounter frustration, yay! Maybe important learning is about to occur.

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 12:31:30 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     There’s an idea I think is helpful called the “zone of proximal development.” It takes many forms, but roughly:

     If you can just sit down and be awesome at something, that’s lovely, but there’s not much useful learning there.

     If something is so challenging that you can’t get •anywhere•, there’s not much useful learning there.

     If something is just challenging enough that you can get through it with productive struggle, collaboration, and/or assistance, •that’s• when great learning occurs.

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 12:33:18 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     I believe the originator of the idea focused primarily on assistance — a more knowledgeable “other” teaching the less-knowledgeable student, a hierarchical model of learning — but with my Montessori heart, I gravitate at least as much to the “productive struggle” and “collaboration” parts.

     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_proximal_development

   • Embed this notice
     Adam Shostack :donor: :rebelverified: (adamshostack@infosec.exchange)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 13:03:24 JST Adam Shostack :donor: :rebelverified:

     in reply to

     @inthehands This is very reminiscent of the flow channel by cziksentmihaly (sp?) are you familiar with that?

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 13:03:24 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Adam Shostack :donor: :rebelverified:

     @adamshostack I remember hearing about it once, but that’s all I remember

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 11-Jul-2026 13:09:45 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Adam Shostack :donor: :rebelverified:

     @adamshostack

     Ah, here: https://isu.pressbooks.pub/thuff/chapter/flow-theory-jennifer-uptmor/

     …and that page starts by mentioning ZPD, so relevant for sure!

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2026 04:57:17 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     Yup. Macalester’s CS program has group projects in almost every class, starting from the most intro of intro courses, emphasizes collaboration during in-class activities (2nd semester course explicitly uses a form of pair programming for like 70% of class time), and has an entire course devoted to open-ended, student-driven team projects.

     Collaboration and learning with peers are magical when you get them working well.

     https://toot.community/@GinevraCat/116901757480815598

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2026 04:58:21 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Calyo Lucere-Delphi

     @dragonarchitect

     If you want to get good anything, especially anything artistic, learn to just •love• sucking at it! For spiritual nourishment, it's the doing that counts — not being good.

   • Embed this notice
     Calyo Lucere-Delphi (dragonarchitect@rubber.social)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2026 04:58:22 JST Calyo Lucere-Delphi

     in reply to

     @inthehands I need to internalize this, especially about drawing

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2026 04:59:31 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • linear cannon

     @linear

     That’s a very kind thing to share! I’m glad my screaming into the void here has actually been valuable to someone.

   • Embed this notice
     linear cannon (linear@nya.social)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2026 04:59:34 JST linear cannon

     in reply to
     @inthehands@hachyderm.io yknow, at this point, despite not being your student and mostly just having seen you around online, i've got a small collection of quotes bouncing around in my head which i've taken care to remember and which are attributed to you, so that i can bring them out later when my coworkers or i am having some trouble
     
     (that collection has just grown by one)