Deep practice

A review of The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle and practical uses for the classroom

After Thomas Miller mentioned The Talent Code in his Programmed to Run #run Chat, I decided to check it out. Miller's explanation of a HSE is what got me. HSE is a Holy Sh-- Experience. Like when your neighbor, who never exhibited any obvious talent or propensity for greatness, busts out with an invention that changes the world. It is HSE to the world but the inventor merely yawns.

Coyle takes the reader along on his pursuit of hotbeds of talent where he investigates possible determining factors in building talent. This observation in itself is worthy of attention. At times Coyle's argument is simplistic and vague morphing a bit to fit each scenario. However the underlying idea of failing and correcting, again, and again, and again ad nauseum, leads to breakthroughs. If you practice deeply for 10,000 hours you will become talented.

Throughout the book Coyle seems to throw nature out the window in favor of nurturing the myelin. Somewhere in the middle to the end of the book Coyle does mention skills or desires innate to the individual that play a role in developing talent.  Wild at Heart made the same argument using this formula: Design + Desire=Destiny.

The Classical Model of education also uses deep practice as a means of seeking truth, beauty, and goodness. When I ask my young son to write a 5, we discuss how it looks, how is curves at the bottom, and what it represents. As he writes, he coaches himself, making corrections along the way. He is laying down a pathway in his mind. If I allow him to write the number differently each time he will not lay down the proper pathway leading to confusion. Unfortunately, I did not know this with my older son. He would hold the pencil different each time, write the 5 backwards, get frustrated throw the pencil or break it, write it small then big, etc. As he wrote he would try to think which way the curve at the bottom went...as he thought he would trace the line back and forth creating even more confusion. To this day he has to think when he writes. Making the physical act a limiting factor is expressing his ideas. Thankfully there are programs like dragon to help him as he becomes a better writer.

Deep practice has helped me in my running as I retrain my body. My running form had numerous issues that needed to be addressed before I could run injury free. As I run I coach myself on these form points. In mid stride I will stop, readjust my hips, engage my glutes, and bring my breathing under control. It has been a slow process but I can see the improve with each run. A breakthrough is coming.

During winter term we need to get the most out of our class periods. With only 18 hours a week of instructional time it needs to be focused and meaningful. By allowing our students to think deeply, and practice deeply, we will provide an atmosphere where talent grows.