The Bonney Lab

Learning in Public

3 min read

Learning in Public

Learning in Public is the practice of sharing your learning journey and knowledge as you acquire it, rather than waiting until you feel like an “expert.” It involves documenting your process, sharing your insights, and engaging with others about what you’re learning.

Why Learn in Public?

Learning in Public offers numerous benefits:

For You

  • Accelerated Learning: Explaining concepts to others deepens your understanding
  • Accountability: Public commitments keep you consistent
  • Feedback Loop: Get corrections and insights from others
  • Building a Portfolio: Create a body of work that showcases your growth
  • Network Building: Connect with like-minded individuals and mentors

For Others

  • Accessible Knowledge: Make information available to those who need it
  • Alternative Perspectives: Offer fresh insights that experts might miss
  • Inspiration: Motivate others to start their own learning journeys
  • Community Building: Create spaces for collaborative learning

How to Learn in Public

1. Document Your Journey

  • Write blog posts about what you’re learning
  • Create a digital garden to share evolving ideas
  • Record videos explaining concepts
  • Share code repositories with detailed documentation
  • Post regular updates on social media

2. Engage with Others

  • Ask questions publicly
  • Respond to questions from others
  • Participate in discussions and forums
  • Contribute to open-source projects
  • Attend and present at meetups

3. Create Learning Resources

  • Write tutorials for beginners
  • Summarize complex topics in accessible language
  • Create cheat sheets and reference guides
  • Build projects that demonstrate concepts
  • Teach workshops or webinars

4. Embrace Imperfection

  • Share work-in-progress ideas
  • Be open about mistakes and corrections
  • Document failures and lessons learned
  • Update content as your understanding evolves
  • Ask for help when needed

Overcoming Challenges

Imposter Syndrome

Many people avoid learning in public because they don’t feel qualified. Remember:

  • Everyone starts as a beginner
  • Your unique perspective is valuable
  • Being wrong publicly is part of the process
  • Experts appreciate seeing fresh perspectives

Fear of Criticism

To handle criticism constructively:

  • Separate your identity from your work
  • View feedback as a gift for improvement
  • Engage with constructive criticism
  • Ignore trolls and unhelpful comments
  • Build a supportive community

Consistency

To maintain consistency:

  • Start small with manageable commitments
  • Build learning and sharing into your routine
  • Focus on progress, not perfection
  • Find accountability partners
  • Celebrate small wins

Examples of Learning in Public

  • Digital Gardens: Non-linear, evolving collections of notes and ideas
  • Technical Blogs: Regular posts about technologies and concepts
  • Open Source Contributions: Publicly available code with documentation
  • YouTube Tutorials: Video explanations of concepts and processes
  • Twitter Threads: Concise explanations of complex topics
  • Study Groups: Collaborative learning environments

This note is part of my own practice of learning in public and will continue to evolve.

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