Posts Tagged ‘Learning’
[PHPForumParis2023] Learn and Share Differently – Aurélie Vache
Aurélie Vache, a Developer Advocate at OVHcloud, captivated the audience at Forum PHP 2023 with her keynote on reimagining how we learn and share knowledge in the tech world. With a passion for simplifying complex concepts through accessible explanations and vibrant sketchnotes, Aurélie shared her personal journey from a childhood marked by shyness to becoming a celebrated speaker and author. Her talk emphasized the power of embracing individuality and creativity to make technical learning inclusive, particularly for neurodivergent individuals, and inspired developers to rethink traditional approaches to education and knowledge-sharing.
Embracing Individuality in Learning
Aurélie began by highlighting a universal challenge: the expectation to conform to standardized educational frameworks despite our unique differences. With approximately 8 billion people on Earth, each with distinct learning styles, she questioned why technical resources, like programming books, often follow a uniform format. Drawing from her own struggles as a child who found it difficult to speak, Aurélie shared how her love for drawing and Legos evolved into creating sketchnotes—visual summaries that distill complex technical concepts into digestible illustrations. This approach, she explained, not only helped her understand technologies like Kubernetes and Docker but also resonated with others seeking alternative learning paths.
Sketchnotes as a Tool for Inclusion
Delving deeper, Aurélie showcased how her sketchnotes have become a powerful medium for making technical content accessible, particularly for neurodivergent individuals. Responding to an audience question, she noted feedback from colleagues and friends with ADHD, who found her visual summaries easier to process than dense texts. Her 13-year-old dyslexic son also benefited from her illustrated notes, which aided his schoolwork. By emphasizing key information through visuals, Aurélie’s work bridges gaps for those who find traditional resources, like O’Reilly books, challenging due to attention or processing difficulties. Her approach underscores the importance of tailoring educational tools to diverse needs.
Inspiring Creative Knowledge-Sharing
Aurélie concluded by urging developers to break free from conventional methods and share knowledge in ways that reflect their unique perspectives. Her journey from creating a single sketchnote during the 2020 lockdown to publishing illustrated books on cloud technologies demonstrates the impact of embracing one’s passions. By fostering creativity and leveraging supportive communities, she encouraged the audience to experiment with formats like videos, blogs, or talks to make learning engaging and inclusive. Aurélie’s call to action inspired attendees to rethink how they contribute to the tech ecosystem, prioritizing authenticity over conformity.
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[PHPForumParis2023] Learn to Learn: From Junior Dev to Master – Aline Leroy
Aline Leroy, a developer who transitioned into tech three years ago, shared an inspiring session at Forum PHP 2023 on the art of learning as a developer. Drawing from her diverse background as an educator and special needs professional, Aline offered a unique perspective on overcoming the challenges of self-directed learning in programming. Her talk, infused with psychological and pedagogical insights, provided actionable strategies for junior developers to grow into confident professionals.
Overcoming Learning Challenges
Aline began by recounting her transition into development, initially struggling with the overwhelming volume of online resources. Starting with JavaScript, she faced self-doubt and slow progress, a common experience for new developers. Aline emphasized that learning to learn is a skill, requiring patience and structured approaches. She shared how breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps helped her gain confidence, a lesson she now applies to PHP development.
Psychological and Pedagogical Strategies
Drawing from her background, Aline introduced psychological concepts like incremental learning, where small, consistent efforts lead to significant progress. She referenced the “Learn to Learn” MOOC, advocating for focusing on the process rather than the end goal. By setting short-term objectives and celebrating small wins, Aline transformed her learning experience, making it less daunting. Her insights resonated with developers facing similar hurdles, offering a roadmap for sustained growth.