The Digital Learning Journey: Demonstrate and Synthesize

While we have already been able to build things, we rely on building blocks to create it. But how are those blocks built themselves? This next evolution of our skills takes us to the subatomic level: to look at how we can synthesize elements and components that are custom and unique.

Step 6: Synthesize

When we synthetize, we create a solution for a problem from scratch, referring to other elements, but start from an empty canvas ending with a durable solution to a problem or need.

There is an exercise that is used in a lot of introductory computer science classes called “How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich”. The activity is meant to call out the assumptions that people have when providing instructions and to discover the importance of detail and precision when coding instructions to a computer. Every step matters. Actions like, “Spread peanut butter on the bread” makes sense to most people, but if you gave that instruction to someone with no knowledge of intent, norms, and behavior, you could have humorous, or disastrous results.

“Which side of the bread?”

“How much peanut butter?”

“What do I spread it with?”

“So, do I take the jar and spread the bottom of it on the bread?”

Learning the instructions on how to make the sandwich is learning how to build. Just like the toy brick set where you have all the pieces and a guide on how to build it (if you need it). In the end, you have built, using your own skill, a delicious sandwich, or a wonderful model replica.

But there is something deeper. There is something that goes even further into the construction.

When you make the sandwich, you have the bread, the peanut butter, jelly, knife, and anything else that you use in your own recipe and instruction set. But how are these made? How is the bread created? What went into making the peanut butter? This goes a level deeper into the construction.

This is called synthesis. This is the production of building blocks from simpler elements. In chemistry it is how complex compounds are made from simpler compounds or native elements. Most of the time, the process of how these complex compounds are made isn’t discussed or considered. Like DNA. We consider DNA to be the “building blocks” of life. But DNA is built from other things.

Synthesis is when you peer behind the curtain and learn how the tools you use to build things are made themselves. You get into the details—the weeds. You get inside the DNA of what you have learned before and explore the elements that are inside it.

Your exploration of the synthesis fulfills a curiosity inside of you—but your insight and discoveries provide greater value to others that benefit from your deeper level of understanding of the tools that are used to build something. You can predict issues before they arise based on how you know the tools are built. You understand how something can scale and grow. You know how the inner workings can be used for maximum effect and impact.

So, for the first time in your learning journey—you are development more value for others than you are for yourself. Your impact and ability to help others exceeds the impact on you.

Where the values grow

When we understand more of the ins and outs of how things are put together, we can create more custom solutions that are perfect fits for projects that others can use. So while we are building, we are now seeing how our ability to build is of increased value to others.

If you’re a learner…

By now, you probably have little to no fear about what you are doing—and you shouldn’t. You should be proud, confident, and excited about diving into the elemental construction of the tools and topics you have learned to build with up until this point.

But you still will need to pace yourself and challenge yourself with pace. When you dive behind the curtain and open the box to see what’s inside, it can be overwhelming. It is important to capture that awe and disbelief when you encounter what’s inside. Plus, more often than not, what you find inside can be ugly, broken, and in need of desperate repair.

But guess what—that is an opportunity. It is a chance for you to dive into the middle of something complex and enhance it.

I have found that when someone dives into an open source project for the first time, especially for a framework that is built from elemental native code, it is overwhelming. But it is incredibly rewarding because you are gaining that insight and empowerment to make the core better for others to benefit from it. But remember—curb your judgements when you get to see inside. For some, what you are experiencing is their art and poetry, and you need them to be your guide.

If you’re an advocate…

Your role at this stage is to essentially be a tour guide. Diving into the core can be overwhelming and, at times, embarrassing. You might not be proud of what’s behind the curtain, or you might feel defensive about showing something that most people never see.

But it is important to keep an open mind and have a growth mindset towards hearing the ideas and contributions of others.

Provide those that you bring into the “inner circle” with a guide. Be thoughtful in explaining the reason behind decisions. Base things on facts, not emotions. Be constructive, not defensive.

As an advocate, it is your opportunity to grow in terms of how you present yourself and are open to the contributions of others. It doesn’t come easily, but it creates a greater and stronger bond with those that you can support.

Up next

With the Demonstrate phase complete, we move on to our third and final phase: Advocate. Now we grow with the intent to help others do more, and to support the start of other learning journeys in our peers, friends, and communities.

Doug Winnie is the Chief Learning Officer at MentorNations a startup focused on fostering digital skills around the globe and Director of Learning Experience and Organizational Effectiveness at H&R Block. Doug previously worked in various digital skills, education and product management roles at Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Adobe. Doug is also a LinkedIn Learning author with multiple courses on digital transformation, product management, and computer science. Doug is also the editor of the LinkedIn newsletter, “Digital Mindset” that publishes weekly on LinkedIn.