Half-MSI [3]
Inspired by Andrea’s Half-MSI post, here’s a list of things I’ve actually learned about in the first half of the MSI program. The program is pretty much a bust so far. Anyways, as a student of information I’ve learned (in alphabetical order):
- a bunch of information metaphors, for whatever they’re worth,
- a little more Python,
- a lot about wiki,
- domain-specific language economists use to shout into the abyss,
- domain-specific language the nonprofit sector uses to discuss amongst itself,
- how to emit and chase down invoices,
- how to use LaTeX + KOMA-Script + BibTex to get gorgeous text, and how to use LyX to abstract away all the \{} gunk and just write,
- not to sell myself too short even though the work is fun,
- that pressing ⌃⌥⌘8 inverts your display, helpful for bright rooms and/or tired eyes,
- what I can do to make RecentChanges better,
- what it’s like to work inside nonprofits of varying bulk, an MSO, a foundation, etc.,
- why a certain class of person always wanders around mentioning “communities of practice” and related terms at tech conferences or on wiki pages or what have you, a class of person heavily armed with a controlled vocabulary and steely gaze: these CoP people know what they’re doing, which gives them the confidence to write their crazy moon language “situated learning” stuff on session proposals and to work it into every conversation — they do this, and now I’ve learned why.
There’s probably more than that, such as the interesting people I’ve connected with along the way. But the real surprise for me is how little of the above came out of the curriculum, rather than whatever else I happened to be doing at the time.
