I agree that books both transmit knowledge (à la light switch) and help that knowledge to take up space in your salience landscape. I don’t think it’s fair to argue that Matuschak is implying an only-light-switch model. When discussing metacognition, they focus on understanding rather than knowledge. Some of their metacognitive strategies that enable understanding are about making connections between pieces of knowledge (light switches, in your model).
To put words in someone else’s mouth, I think Matuschak would say that, for the purpose of conveying information, it would be much more efficient to read a very short summary than to read an entire book.
Maybe. But what Matuschak does say is that information/knowledge would be better conveyed and understanding made simpler if ideas of knowledge conveyance and understanding were baked into the medium. Matuschak doesn’t suggest that a very short summary is that medium.
Matuschak asks:
How might we design mediums in which “readers” naturally form rich associations between the ideas being presented? How might we design mediums which “readers” naturally engage creatively with the material? How might we design mediums in which “readers” naturally contend with competing interpretations? If we pile together enough of these questions we’re left with: how might we design mediums in which “reading” is the same as “understanding”?
Yes, I was incorrect about Matuschak’s position. He commented on reddit here:
“I think Matuschak would say that, for the purpose of conveying information, it would be much more efficient to read a very short summary than to read an entire book.”
FWIW, I wouldn’t say that! Actually, my research for the last couple years has been predicated on the value of embedding focused learning interactions (i.e spaced repetition prompts) into extended narrative. The underlying theory isn’t (wasn’t!) salience-based, but basically I believe that strong understanding is produced with a rich network of connections and a meaningful emotional connection, both of which are promoted by narrative (but usually not by a very short summary).
I agree that books both transmit knowledge (à la light switch) and help that knowledge to take up space in your salience landscape. I don’t think it’s fair to argue that Matuschak is implying an only-light-switch model. When discussing metacognition, they focus on understanding rather than knowledge. Some of their metacognitive strategies that enable understanding are about making connections between pieces of knowledge (light switches, in your model).
Maybe. But what Matuschak does say is that information/knowledge would be better conveyed and understanding made simpler if ideas of knowledge conveyance and understanding were baked into the medium. Matuschak doesn’t suggest that a very short summary is that medium.
Matuschak asks:
That’s not a light switch.
Yes, I was incorrect about Matuschak’s position. He commented on reddit here:
Thanks for the link! :)