Starting iHCPL's 23 Things

I am starting this program early mostly because it is fun and informative. I have already tried things that I wouldn't have even thought of trying before.

While I already have two blogs, I had never thought of trying Flickr, Twitter, or image generators before I heard about the 23 things. I have to admit that I am a very hands-on kind of learner when it comes to technology. I have tried to read about it, but I generally fall asleep an embarrassing short way into the books, but give me a computer and a little help when I get stuck and I am on my way.

I firmly believe that I will be learning new things even when I am very old.

I know grown-ups who refuse to even attempt to try using the computer, whether because they are afraid they will never master it or because they are embarrassed that there is something that they don't know how to do and have to ask about. I know people who insist on someone else doing simple things that they could do for themselves, if only they would take the time to ask about and then try. I even have to admit that I am related to a few.

I think it is amazing the things that computer geniuses come up with and I thank goodness that they understand how to create them and then, perhaps harder to do, explain to me how to use their creations.

I find that sitting through a lecture is getting harder and harder for me to learn by the older I get. I get distracted, doodle and just generally stop paying attention to what I am supposed to be learning. But just doing something is just as hard. I still need the guidance as I attempt to complete a task, though how much depends on what the task is.

Keeping myself organized while I learn is definitely the hardest thing I saw on the slide show. I am terrible at it and struggle with organization in everything. I think it has a lot to do with my wide interests. I want to learn a little about everything, not everything about little things. (Barbara Sher calls it being a "scanner"I have a tendency to bounce from subject to subject. Like the ukelele, learning German, and sometimes even playing tennis, which is a short list of the things I have started to learn about.

But, hey, I am learning how to organize better, which is good. Find a weakness and learn how to improve until it isn't a weakness anymore.