Re: [Paddlewise] generalisations & the learning process

  Josh started a couple of threads with some questions regarding kayak
features and their effects on boat 'handling'.  It seemed, to me at
least, as if he were looking for facts that would allow him to file away
in his mind certain feature/relative effect concepts.  That's great, and
something that any curious individual does in their search for
knowledge.  Several folks (myself included) responded saying that what
he was looking for were generalisations and that they weren't
necessarily accurate.  That's the problem with generalisations.
  However.....let's all (expert, intermediate & beginner alike) be aware
of the learning process - at first we experience something new, if it
interests us we tend to pursue the experience again.  Then we move to
observation - now we're learning....new skills, observing interplay
between objects (paddler/boat/paddle), learning cause and effect, etc. 
After observation we take the facts we've observed and try to categorize
them (the generalisation stage) so that we can recall and reuse them in
the future.  This all happens within a relatively short period of time. 
Then as we continue along the experiential/observational path we begin
to start to see patterns, nuances, discrepancies in expected effects,
etc.  We're still learning, putting our knowledge to the test over and
over again, constantly refining our observations and the resultant
conclusions.  We're still generalizing; however the "cubbyholes" where
the knowledge is stored are becoming smaller and more numerous.  It's a
process-not a problem.
  So, my apology for coming down on generalisations.  I'll stop rambling
- time for that paddle, high tide in 45 minutes.

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska
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