tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825281942550168796.post2111888272317253451..comments2024-03-26T10:16:28.012-07:00Comments on Designed for Learning!: The 'Perfect' Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Myth or Reality? Taruna Goelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13838323858110552415noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825281942550168796.post-11134213754641756252015-09-24T12:48:27.989-07:002015-09-24T12:48:27.989-07:00Thanks for reading the post and for your comment U...Thanks for reading the post and for your comment Urbie. Just like you, I am constantly refining my knowledge and understanding of collaborating with SMEs. <br /><br />I must get my hands on Teach Like A Pirate. The title is enticing. Besides, the word 'engage' means so much more than what we think we know. I am sure I will learn more.<br /><br />I agree with you on the curse of knowledge. I most enjoy working with SMEs who are hands-on folks and practitioners of the trade or the job. But we always don't get to choose who our SMEs might be. Besides, most SMEs like to talk about topics they enjoy and not necessarily the topics you must cover in the learning event. <br />I have grown to become extremely patient. Another skill besides communication and collaboration that transfers very well to other aspects of business and life :)<br /> <br />I will definitely explore the concept of design thinking as applied to collaboration with SMEs via the virtual crash course. On first look, it is very promising! Thanks for sharing and for engaging with me! Taruna Goelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13838323858110552415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825281942550168796.post-82591550629945574812015-09-24T10:36:57.933-07:002015-09-24T10:36:57.933-07:00I used to think and feel about Subject Matter Expe...I used to think and feel about Subject Matter Experts (SME) the way you describe. My perspective began to shift when I started participating in EdCamps a couple years ago.<br /><br />While there were SMEs at EdCamp the deepest most meaningful learning experiences I had came from others like me who didn't know much or just enough to be dangerous.<br /><br />A watershed event came shortly after I began reading Teach Like A Pirate by Dave Burgess. His perspective revolves around engagement in general. in particular he asks "What are you willing to do to engage?" and "Would you pay to attend your class?" Working with SMEs is about tapping their knowledge and skill to aid learners. The thing is, as you describe, what they can contribute is constrained by availability, interest, and expertise. <br /><br />One thing you don't mention is The Curse of Knowledge. Often-times SMEs lose touch with what doing looks and feels like to someone new or less skilled than they are. This technique I learned at an EdCamp, design thinking, helps me address The Curse and the SME constraints.<br /><br />I enlist the aid of people new to the task or knowledge area. I ask them to identify someone who they think could make a good SME. Then we have at it. I haven't come across a time when someone didn't want to solve a problem. Often we start with a worse-case story; who doesn't like to listen to tale of woe someone from their community experienced?<br /><br />Anyway, give design thinking a try. A good resource to get started is http://dschool.stanford.edu/dgift/, a virtual Crash Course In Design Thinking. urbie delgadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16419315342508060372noreply@blogger.com