No big learning news or links today.
Just thinking about what it takes to play music that's real. To live, for real.
Beauty comes at a high cost.
Sometimes there's no other way.
8/7/10
Learning Links, 7
http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/2010/07/26/secrets-of-success/
This time around, not another TED talk but instead, an interesting take on the contributing factors for success, from Malcolm Gladwell via RadioLab. (If you haven't listened to any of the RadioLab shows, check them out if you have time. Good stuff.)
This time around, not another TED talk but instead, an interesting take on the contributing factors for success, from Malcolm Gladwell via RadioLab. (If you haven't listened to any of the RadioLab shows, check them out if you have time. Good stuff.)
8/3/10
Adventures in Learning, 4
My hands are greasy.
And I am utterly content.
Today, a teenage friend of mine went down with me to our local co-op bike repair "we'll teach you while you do the work yourself" shop, mostly because I was, frankly, a bit intimidated about going there on my own.
Foolish, but true.
It's a place of beauty. Not sure everyone would see it that way, but for me, those bike repair stations with their orderly rows of tools, exposed brick walls and quietly intent work was an inherently satisfying sight.
What did I learn?
1. It's useful to listen while someone's explaining how to do things, and wait to ask questions until they're done.
2. It's even more useful to speak as little as possible, try to follow the directions, and only ask questions after trying on my own.
3. Repair follows an orderly pattern. Much like cooking and baking: sensible.
4. Bikes are far more user-friendly than I would ever have guessed. Accessible technology (well, at the level of my free-to-me bike, anyway).
I admire people who can fix things (as regular readers may already know). And finally, finally, finally....I'm starting to enter that world myself.
Satisfying.
More tomorrow.
-K
And I am utterly content.
Today, a teenage friend of mine went down with me to our local co-op bike repair "we'll teach you while you do the work yourself" shop, mostly because I was, frankly, a bit intimidated about going there on my own.
Foolish, but true.
It's a place of beauty. Not sure everyone would see it that way, but for me, those bike repair stations with their orderly rows of tools, exposed brick walls and quietly intent work was an inherently satisfying sight.
What did I learn?
1. It's useful to listen while someone's explaining how to do things, and wait to ask questions until they're done.
2. It's even more useful to speak as little as possible, try to follow the directions, and only ask questions after trying on my own.
3. Repair follows an orderly pattern. Much like cooking and baking: sensible.
4. Bikes are far more user-friendly than I would ever have guessed. Accessible technology (well, at the level of my free-to-me bike, anyway).
I admire people who can fix things (as regular readers may already know). And finally, finally, finally....I'm starting to enter that world myself.
Satisfying.
More tomorrow.
-K
8/1/10
Adventures in Learning, 3
OK, more in the exciting saga of learning in daily life.
First of all, in case you didn't know, the 'preferred method' of maintaining aluminum chairs? Car wax. Yep. Surprised me, too.
Second, that clothesline. I was inordinately proud of being able to a) hang it up high enough without falling off the ladder and b) using screws, not nails. This last tidbit is thanks to a friend who carefully explained to me the proper uses of each.
See? I'm learning. It's just s-l-o-w.
In any case, the clothesline worked great--until I put a moderately heavy sleeping bag on it. Hmm: sag-city. Also, the hook worked itself right out of the dandy little hole in the tree bark. Ugh.
Unfortunately, most of the directions online include using a posthole digger, metal poles, and cement. Budget for this project is at zero for the summer, so now it's time to learn through experimentation. Wish me luck on this one! (Better yet, how's about some advice?)
On a more successful front, I also started a repainting project using some old chairs from my Mom's basement. They were destined for the 'free' pile anyway---great raw material for learning.
So what did I learn?
1. Despite meticulous effort, the paint streaked like crazy with the paintbrush. Either it's too big (which it was) or it's the wrong kind of brush for this kind of paint. Switching to a sponge worked better but now there are small bumps in odd places. Grrrr.
2. Sanding these pieces down before washing them, then painting, would probably have been a very good idea indeed. I'll do that on the other chair.
3. For the first time, I understand why my Grandfather and some of my friends want to have workshops, separate from the house. It's nice to be working in the quiet outoors, and it's also handy to have the proper tools nearby. There's something about working in a space which is intended for just this use, also, which gives me more patience and the willingness to take the time to do it right. Perhaps a teeny tiny bit of the dignity of (and true desire for) good craftsmanship is starting to become mine.
Lastly, it occurred to me today how much different this whole process of doing things is, from watching or reading about other people's work. Far more absorbing, though I love to read about it. Actually starting to do things myself, overall? Moments of sheer frustration coupled with intense satisfaction.
I'm ready for more. See you tomorrow.
-K
First of all, in case you didn't know, the 'preferred method' of maintaining aluminum chairs? Car wax. Yep. Surprised me, too.
Second, that clothesline. I was inordinately proud of being able to a) hang it up high enough without falling off the ladder and b) using screws, not nails. This last tidbit is thanks to a friend who carefully explained to me the proper uses of each.
See? I'm learning. It's just s-l-o-w.
In any case, the clothesline worked great--until I put a moderately heavy sleeping bag on it. Hmm: sag-city. Also, the hook worked itself right out of the dandy little hole in the tree bark. Ugh.
Unfortunately, most of the directions online include using a posthole digger, metal poles, and cement. Budget for this project is at zero for the summer, so now it's time to learn through experimentation. Wish me luck on this one! (Better yet, how's about some advice?)
On a more successful front, I also started a repainting project using some old chairs from my Mom's basement. They were destined for the 'free' pile anyway---great raw material for learning.
So what did I learn?
1. Despite meticulous effort, the paint streaked like crazy with the paintbrush. Either it's too big (which it was) or it's the wrong kind of brush for this kind of paint. Switching to a sponge worked better but now there are small bumps in odd places. Grrrr.
2. Sanding these pieces down before washing them, then painting, would probably have been a very good idea indeed. I'll do that on the other chair.
3. For the first time, I understand why my Grandfather and some of my friends want to have workshops, separate from the house. It's nice to be working in the quiet outoors, and it's also handy to have the proper tools nearby. There's something about working in a space which is intended for just this use, also, which gives me more patience and the willingness to take the time to do it right. Perhaps a teeny tiny bit of the dignity of (and true desire for) good craftsmanship is starting to become mine.
Lastly, it occurred to me today how much different this whole process of doing things is, from watching or reading about other people's work. Far more absorbing, though I love to read about it. Actually starting to do things myself, overall? Moments of sheer frustration coupled with intense satisfaction.
I'm ready for more. See you tomorrow.
-K
7/31/10
Adventures in Learning, 2
I admire my grandfather.
Also, I admire any of you out there who have that same skill set: being able to fix nearly anything.
And, you ask, what exactly does this have to do with learning?
Well. Front lines, folks: hands on learning. It's clearly the winner for accelerated learning in the classroom, so I'm hoping for similar results with my ventures into home repair and crafting.
Today's adventure? Restoring a 1950s aluminum lawn chair's graceful sleek silver lines, that I remember from my childhood. (uh, not that I was alive in the 1950s, but the chair certainly was around then.)
First things first: steel wool and lots of scrubbing. To my utter amazement, this accomplished nearly all of the work! Here I've been using this chair for years, wishing it didn't have so much rust obscuring its beautiful lines--and THIS is all that was needed to restore it?!
There's most definitely a lesson in there somewhere. I suspect it will also be a humbling experience, so I'm gonna save that one to think about later on in the day.
What else did I learn?
Fixing stuff gets a lot of gunk under fingernails. Yuck. It's all good, though, thanks to the miracle of soap and water. (Yep, I know already. Don't bother to tell me to wear gloves. Gloves are unwieldy and make it much harder to do detail work, at least at my current level of skill.)
In any case, now the chair is nearly clear. Next step--read and ask about how to bring it fully alive again.
(BTW, if you're reading this, thinking "How can she not know to do xyz?!"---please, don't keep that knowledge to yourself--put it in the comments, where it will be most welcome!) (and put to good use!)
Coming up tomorrow....hanging an outdoor clothesline that doesn't sag to the ground after one use. See you then!
-K
Also, I admire any of you out there who have that same skill set: being able to fix nearly anything.
And, you ask, what exactly does this have to do with learning?
Well. Front lines, folks: hands on learning. It's clearly the winner for accelerated learning in the classroom, so I'm hoping for similar results with my ventures into home repair and crafting.
Today's adventure? Restoring a 1950s aluminum lawn chair's graceful sleek silver lines, that I remember from my childhood. (uh, not that I was alive in the 1950s, but the chair certainly was around then.)
First things first: steel wool and lots of scrubbing. To my utter amazement, this accomplished nearly all of the work! Here I've been using this chair for years, wishing it didn't have so much rust obscuring its beautiful lines--and THIS is all that was needed to restore it?!
There's most definitely a lesson in there somewhere. I suspect it will also be a humbling experience, so I'm gonna save that one to think about later on in the day.
What else did I learn?
Fixing stuff gets a lot of gunk under fingernails. Yuck. It's all good, though, thanks to the miracle of soap and water. (Yep, I know already. Don't bother to tell me to wear gloves. Gloves are unwieldy and make it much harder to do detail work, at least at my current level of skill.)
In any case, now the chair is nearly clear. Next step--read and ask about how to bring it fully alive again.
(BTW, if you're reading this, thinking "How can she not know to do xyz?!"---please, don't keep that knowledge to yourself--put it in the comments, where it will be most welcome!) (and put to good use!)
Coming up tomorrow....hanging an outdoor clothesline that doesn't sag to the ground after one use. See you then!
-K
7/30/10
Learning Links, 6
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html
OK, so I realize: there's a lot of TED links on this blog.
Right--that's because it's a treasure chest of great ideas and advice.
Today's link? Three minutes of advice on how to succeed in life, distilled from discussions with TED speakers: 7 years, 500 interviews.
The result is like a turbo-charged multivitamin for encouraging creativity and success.
Well worth the three minutes (yep, you heard me correctly) it takes to listen. And then some, I think. What do you think?
OK, so I realize: there's a lot of TED links on this blog.
Right--that's because it's a treasure chest of great ideas and advice.
Today's link? Three minutes of advice on how to succeed in life, distilled from discussions with TED speakers: 7 years, 500 interviews.
The result is like a turbo-charged multivitamin for encouraging creativity and success.
Well worth the three minutes (yep, you heard me correctly) it takes to listen. And then some, I think. What do you think?
7/29/10
Adventures in Learning: 1--News from the world of a novice crafter
Lessons learned while making a seat cushion for my back porch:
1. Needles tend towards sharpness. Have some respect.
2. If you sew without laying out the material and pinning it first, the result will look as though you did not lay out the material and pin it first.
3. Master craftspeople can probably use cruddy materials and still end up with a beautiful, polished product. I'm not yet a master craftsperson.
4. The learning process is absorbing and probably never-ending. It's also nice to have some useful products along the way.
5. It feels GREAT to be able to do it myself.
OK, there's the news from my first ventures in DIY land. I realize it's not about public school education, directly, but hey--all of life can be about learning, right?
More later.
1. Needles tend towards sharpness. Have some respect.
2. If you sew without laying out the material and pinning it first, the result will look as though you did not lay out the material and pin it first.
3. Master craftspeople can probably use cruddy materials and still end up with a beautiful, polished product. I'm not yet a master craftsperson.
4. The learning process is absorbing and probably never-ending. It's also nice to have some useful products along the way.
5. It feels GREAT to be able to do it myself.
OK, there's the news from my first ventures in DIY land. I realize it's not about public school education, directly, but hey--all of life can be about learning, right?
More later.
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