tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14297067.post9084376971681578862..comments2023-07-18T03:08:21.050-07:00Comments on PanCrit.Org: Malclm Gladwell: OutliersChris Hibberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12235621011708498622noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14297067.post-91374099019029925192009-12-22T13:29:28.707-08:002009-12-22T13:29:28.707-08:00I just finished the audio version of Outliers this...I just finished the audio version of Outliers this weekend.<br /><br />Here's my take...<br /><br />It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become proficient at something.<br /><br />The hockey players on the serious teams had the opportunity to get those additional hours of practice through additional ice time, additional games, etc.<br /><br />However, these hockey players were chosen around ages 10 and 11 when the difference in ability was probably based more upon age than real skill. That's what skews the age distribution.<br /><br />The little extra advantage in their formative years multiplies as they get older. Gladwell suggested multiple leagues with different cutoff dates to even it out.<br /><br />As for Gates, Joy and Jobs, they had early exposure to computers more because of luck and circumstance than because of when there birthdays were. They also had the luck to be born in the sweet spot were the computer revolution was kicking into gear when they were in their early 20s. They had enough skills to go for it, but they weren't too old to have started "formal" careers such as with IBM.<br /><br />The Beatles got their time in by playing 8 hours a day, 7 days a week in Hamburg for several tours - five I think. Hamburg may not have added to 10,000 hours, but they got a lot of additional time in England as well.<br /><br />He also talks about advanced placement classes. If you don't make the original cut, and that can start VERY early in your school career, you may never make it back up. You won't be exposed to as much material and work. Unfortunately, making the cut could be based upon your maturity level, which could easily be based upon where you fit in the calendar year.<br /><br />The Korean pilot story kind of flipped the tables. Rather than focusing upon Outliers on the "positive" side, it focused upon Outliers on the other side. Why was the Korean airline having sooo many accidents? Were there pilots bad? No they weren't. The problem was in the Korean/Asian culture that made it difficult for the flight crew to challenge the pilot. Changing the culture, such as forcing all flight crew members to speak English rather than Korean was just one way to address cultural this.<br /><br />Culture can impact you negatively, but it can also impact you positively. Gladwell presents a fascinating argument that Asians are so adept at math (and other studies as well), because they come from a culture of rice farming that requires a lot of hard work. Rice farming encouraged you to work harder and smarter and profit from it. You have to constantly be working on your rice paddies. You have to be constantly working on your math homework as well.<br /><br />Finally the KIPP story shows that even if your family, ethnic, neighborhood, etc. culture doesn't prepare you for a future, it is possible to address it through eduction, but it has to be the right kind of education. In the case of KIPP, full emersion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com