Does multi-tasking give you a real or false sense of having accomplished something?
No, obviously it doesn’t give one a real sense of accomplishment. I quote from the article from http://chronicle.com/article/Scholars-Turn-Their-Attention/63746/.
Last summer Nass and two colleagues published a study that found that self-described multitaskers performed much worse on cognitive and memory tasks that involved distraction than did people who said they preferred to focus on single tasks.
This proves really that multitasking is just a false claim by those who do it. Studies and tests were all carried out to prove the researcher’s, scholar’s or professor’s point that, multitasking is a process that greatly disrupts a person’s ability to take in information and process that information into something useful. Even a small amount of distraction can cause a great impact on a person’s understanding of a certain concept or subject.
In the article there was this section which states that a professor,Karin Foerde, carried out an experiment to test their theory that distraction during learning will affect a person’s intake though it will not show in his immediate performance on the given task.
Foerde and her colleagues asked their subjects to “predict the weather” based on cues that they slowly learned over many computer trials. But when they were asked afterward to describe the general probabilistic rules for that trial (for example, a triangle meant sunshine 80 percent of the time), they did much worse then they did after the undistracted trials.
I don’t really need to say more about whether multitasking is good or bad. The facts, studies and published articles says it all. Additionally, I for one try to avoid multitasking because it can become really hard for me to focus on any task that I am currently working on. I consider myself fortunate that I am not able to multi-task that well, so therefore I avoid doing so most of the time.
Is learning 3D and design different from learning programming, or is all learning the same?Why?
If you ask me, I’d say that learning is all the same but then again learning is not, simply put, all the same as well. Why?
This is an example from the article…
When people are undistracted, they encoded information through what is known as the declarative-memory system. That distinction is an important one for educators, Foerde says, because information that is encoded in declarative memory is more flexible—that is, people are more likely to be able to draw analogies and extrapolate from it.
3D Design and programming are worlds apart in terms of their content. Educators would use different methods to teach these subjects. Learning is all the same where by the way that one learns is by listening attentively to the teacher and practicing, applying the knowledge to become better and better. Learning is different when you consider that the subject of programming requires a more logical and mathematical thought process as compared to 3D and design where one needs to be creative and artistic.
Basically, yes and no that learning is all the same. Its about perspective really. To me, learning is similar but not entirely the same. Its similar because the way you process the information will be the same all the time. Its just a little different because of the different ways you have to approach a subject matter when you want to know more about it.
The article states that “Learning is actually a very complex operation for an individual”. Do you agree with this? Do you feel that you approach your learning in the best way – if yes, how, and if no, how can you change your work style?
Yes I agree that learning, is a very complex operation for an individual. As I have said above, learning well is something that consists of many factors. I think that I am aware of how I go about learning new things. For example, I know that I am a visual learner and partially a aural learner as well. So I tend to place myself somewhere at the front of the class whenever I can. In regards to the article, I am very easily distracted at times. But when I am “in the zone” I wouldn’t be so easily distracted anymore. Most of the time I try to avoid going to Facebook and Twitter. Even logging in to msn can be a little distracting for me at times. But I require these little distractions because if I get too focused on my work I would get carried away.
So my work style is basically to focus and do my work while taking breaks once in a while to keep myself fresh and entertained. Talking to one of my close friends on Msn is one way I like to De-stress or just relax sometimes.
What are your thoughts about the last paragraph in the extract?
The students for today’s industry have to have talent and the personality to fit in with the team. As a professional artist, communication is important and the ability to communicate well with other team members is an ongoing struggle. It is well noted that a businesses success rides completely on communication and this area is no different. The ability to effectively write an email, give and take constructive criticism, articulate a solution to a problem, and in some situations talk with a client are foundational skills necessary for success.
I think that communication is important as well. Being able to communicate your ideas, solutions and discussions effectively and clearly is a key skill that is needed by every business. To me I find personality more important than talent. I mean, of course you would have to have some sort of talent in your field but if you were super duper talented. And your character, put frankly, sucks. You would become more of a liability that of an asset to the company who hires you.
In the case of the 3D industry, communication skills and personality come hand in hand. Seen the films by the great guys at Pixar or DreamWorks? Notice how their characters are love-able and approachable and they seem to be alive. They give of a sort of human like feeling though they are actually just pixels on a screen. These traits of the characters, in my opinion are reflected by the personalities and traits of the animators and directors that create them. But its all because the environment and culture at their workplace is great.
Environment and culture?
Lets break it down into a 3 section pyramid. At the top you have successful ideas and stories turned into animated feature films that produces a lot of income for the company. This equals success agree? Right, now we move down 1 section and there you will find the people. The brains of the story, this is where the talent is, where the characters are modeled and animated. Where some people become part of their machines 😡 hahahaha. And then at the bottom, the foundation of the whole thing. Communication and Personality. Just like the paragraph says:
a businesses success rides completely on communication and this area is no different.
This pyramid is really vague but for the purposes of this reflection it will do just fine.
With the presence of the factors mentioned above, the workplace becomes more connected. Communication, the foundation of a successful business-an animation studio for example- is really what makes all of this
The Pixar animated film, UP
Happen. 🙂
Should your lecturers also focus on your work attitude, or just leave you to sink or swim on your own? Why?
I think lecturers should focus on our working attitudes where they can. Because coming to polytechnic for some means the end of their education journey- studying wise I mean- ,they would go out to find jobs with their diplomas. So it is really crucial for the lecturers, who are experts in their craft to teach the students not only the core skills of their diploma. But also how to be a person, or to put in a straightforward and cheesy fashion, a good worker. I think lecturers are role models for us students. Personally I am learning from some of my lecturers too =)
And with that I end my post. Thank you for reading.
Timothy 🙂
TimothyOrangeShow IN3D 