I have just spent four days 'doing up' my flat in Plymouth. It hasn't been lived in for several months and was in quite a sorry state. But working on it with my son brought home once again how we need the right tools for the job. Whether its painting, filling in holes, laying floor tiles, unblocking drains or clearing a path and patio of weeds its hard to complete the job without the right tools. The same is true when we try to think about and analyse our learning. We need the right tools to help us understand. The idea of learning ecologies is one example of a tool to aid thinking.
I'm ashamed to say that I have never laid a tiled floor but when I saw the state of the linoleum floor in the kitchen I decided to have a go. After watching a 'how to do it' video on youtube and reading a Wickes leaflet I felt I had enough knowledge to try. I bought the tiles, adhesive, grout and spacers, and the tools for the job - tile cutter, trowel, pliers, level and sponge. Sadly, there were no instructions with the tile cutter and trial and error didn't work for me so I had to look up how to use a tile cutter on youtube.. armed with this knowledge I could begin... It was slow but I made good progress until I had to cut out an angle piece. My tile cutter didnt work and the hand saw I bought was too laborious. But then a kindly neighbour who had taken an interest in our renovation work popped in and said he would lend me his electric diamond tile cutter.. which he brought and showed me how to use.. Not only that he then proceeded to demonstrate his skill in laying tiles. A good lesson in the need to have the right tools for the job.. tools that were both general and specific ie that addressed a very specific need like cutting and angle or a curve. I also reflected on my learning ecology which included a context, the resources I needed, new knowledge which was gathered mainly through youtube and a kind neighbour. Sadly, I can no longer feign ignorance and incompetence and my wife has tasked me to tackle the bathroom floor next.
I'm ashamed to say that I have never laid a tiled floor but when I saw the state of the linoleum floor in the kitchen I decided to have a go. After watching a 'how to do it' video on youtube and reading a Wickes leaflet I felt I had enough knowledge to try. I bought the tiles, adhesive, grout and spacers, and the tools for the job - tile cutter, trowel, pliers, level and sponge. Sadly, there were no instructions with the tile cutter and trial and error didn't work for me so I had to look up how to use a tile cutter on youtube.. armed with this knowledge I could begin... It was slow but I made good progress until I had to cut out an angle piece. My tile cutter didnt work and the hand saw I bought was too laborious. But then a kindly neighbour who had taken an interest in our renovation work popped in and said he would lend me his electric diamond tile cutter.. which he brought and showed me how to use.. Not only that he then proceeded to demonstrate his skill in laying tiles. A good lesson in the need to have the right tools for the job.. tools that were both general and specific ie that addressed a very specific need like cutting and angle or a curve. I also reflected on my learning ecology which included a context, the resources I needed, new knowledge which was gathered mainly through youtube and a kind neighbour. Sadly, I can no longer feign ignorance and incompetence and my wife has tasked me to tackle the bathroom floor next.
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