steven johnson

Steven Johnson talking about the anatomy of an idea (hat tip Maria again):

People often ask me about my research techniques. You would think this would be a relatively straightforward question, but the truth is that I have to keep changing my answer, because my techniques are constantly shifting as new forms of search or discovery become possible.

…

The discovery process is remarkably social, and the social interactions come in amazingly diverse forms. Sometimes it's overhearing a conversation on Twitter between two complete strangers; sometimes it's the virtual book club of something like Findings; sometimes it's going out to lunch with a friend and bouncing new ideas off them. It's the social life of information, in John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid's wonderful phrase — we just have so many more ways of being social now.

…

Priming is everything. All these new tools are incredible for making rapid-fire discoveries and associations, but you need a broad background of knowledge to prime you for those discoveries.

…

It’s been said it a thousand times before, by me and many others, but it's worth repeating again: people who think the Web is killing off serendipity are not using it correctly.

There's a lot here that connects with project-based homeschooling: embracing technology as a new way of learning and connecting, the importance of finding collaborators, the need for a foundation of knowledge to work with. 

Comments

[Steph]

Interesting post! And it confirms my hunch that everything I learned in college and grad school about the "right" way to do research may be obsolete. Is this the same fellow who wrote Everything Bad Is Good For You? I really liked that book and thought he seemed like an interesting thinker.

[Dawn Suzette]

Thanks Lori... and Maria.
Love the idea of priming for new discoveries. I see that happen with the kids already... making those connections based on their base of knowledge.
This also lead me to Findings. Looks very neat!

[Lori]

steph, yes! that's him. i liked that book, too. it's good to challenge your own assumptions once in awhile.

dawn, me too. :) and thank you!

[Steph]

Thank you for all the helpful and supportive comments! :)