The document discusses strategies for learning new skills and technologies on the fly (LOTF). It recommends choosing tools that match one's strengths and interests. It also suggests using resources like the internet, books, and tutorials selectively for specific skills and examples, and asking other people for help and expertise. The document advises ignoring unnecessary technologies, going only as deep as needed conceptually, keeping past work organized, and not comparing oneself to more experienced people. The overall goal is to shape one's own learning path and get the most from available resources.

1. Staying broad and shallow:
Learning on the Fly (LOTF)
Eric E Monson, PhD
Duke Visualization & Interactive Systems

2. IP case law text visualizations

3. 1 · Shape your own destiny
There are often many possible tools for the
job. Pick ones that you want to learn and
that match your strengths and personality.

4. Tools learned for court case work
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MongoDB · doc-centered NoSQL database
Google Refine · data cleaning / regularization
Apache Solr · Lucene-based search DB / server
PHP · server-side web scripting
D3.js · JavaScript data / DOM / vis library
(already knew some: Python, BeautifulSoup, Mallet)

5. 2 · Be smart about your resources

6. 2 · Be smart about your resources
I couldn’t do my job without the internet.
Use it for very specific solutions, skills,
examples and comparisons.

7. 2 · Be smart about your resources
Choose books for a well thought out
presentation. Documentation and tutorials
don’t have the same conceptual organization.

8. 2 · Be smart about your resources
Although Lynda.com tutorial series are great
and free through OIT.

9. 2 · Be smart about your resources
Ask real people. They can pass along the art
with the information.

10. 3 · Get out of your own way

11. 3 · Get out of your own way
Ignore a lot of things. Technologies you
“should” learn, functionality you’re not using.
You’ll go deeper next time around.

12. 3 · Get out of your own way
Don’t go down the rabbit hole. Build the
minimal conceptual framework to make it all
stick. Going too deeply into background or
any single area is not helpful.

13. 3 · Get out of your own way
Keep your old work accessible and well
organized (github, etc). LOTF will eventually
be things you knew last year and can't
remember now.

14. 3 · Get out of your own way
It’s true – there are a lot of people better
than you are at what you’re trying to do.
If those people were available, that would be
great. They’re not, so let it go and do your best.