Using What You Read

Do you ever use what you read?

Two days ago, my husband came home from supervising 130 teens in the city (field trip). Since nearly every student had a cell phone, he used what he’s been reading about in the book ‘Linked’ by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi. When he needed to track down a student, he found a ‘hub’ (a student at the ‘center’ of that network of people) and put them to task–with their cell phone. Kids were using their cell phones to phone and text message other students and at times, using Twitter and Facebook to track down others. My husband even made use of students to contact other supervisors and other buses. And it was through using the electronic network these students had created.

Yesterday, I was in a corn maze, trying to get lost. After half an hour, the kids and I finally managed to get lost at the far end of the maze. One look at the kids and I knew it was ‘go time’. No more letting the kids take charge and sending us around in loops. What to do? It was time to use the ‘Wisdom of Crowds’ (by James Surowieki) and get the heck out of there. (That’s the book I’m currently reading.)

I began checking each path option for signs that it was the most commonly chosen path. Why? Surowiecki says in cases such as these, the individual doesn’t necessarily make the correct choice, the crowd does. Within 5 minutes of using the wisdom of crowds, the three of us had crossed the quarter section and were out of the maze like we knew what we were doing.

Do you consciously use what you’ve read?

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