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In the talk titled "Learning To See," presented by Ben Scofield at the Keep Ruby Weird 2017 event, the speaker explores the journey of understanding perception and representation through the lens of drawing and creativity. The main theme revolves around how our preconceived notions and mental models shape our understanding and ultimately influence what we create.

Key points discussed in the talk include: 
- **Personal Anecdote**: Ben shares his experience with a former roommate, Will, whose grandiose self-assessment led to reflections on how arrogance can distort one’s perception and self-awareness in creative endeavors.
- **Artistic Learning**: Transitioning from programming to drawing, Ben describes attending various art classes, where he observed a diverse array of learners facing common challenges in artistic representation, which mirrored his own learning journey.
- **Common Drawing Mistakes**: He highlights frequent drawing pitfalls, such as the 'short poll phenomenon', where artists often neglect the proportions of the human head, leading to distortions in their work.
- **Children's Creativity**: Observing his children’s drawing patterns offers insights into how mental models affect representation, exemplified through humorous inaccuracies in their stick figures and imaginative creatures like dragons.
- **Cognitive Dissonance**: Ben shares how psychological studies indicate that both adults and children often draw from flawed mental models, leading to misrepresentations based upon limited observations of reality.
- **Real-world Application**: Analogies are made between drawing and coding, shedding light on the feedback loop in creative practices and the cognitive dissonance that arises when our understanding of systems does not align with their functioning.
- **Technological Reflection**: Mentioning the book "Technically Wrong," Ben discusses the importance of recognizing user-centered design flaws that originate from misconceptions in the tech industry, suggesting that a thorough understanding of users enhances product development.

The main takeaway from this talk is the encouragement to challenge and refine our preconceived notions and cognitive biases to enhance both artistic and technological pursuits. By adopting a mindset open to feedback and questioning our perceptions, we can improve our creative outcomes and deepen our understanding of the world around us.

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