SIGN VS TOOL

nate (schmolze who-is-at students.wisc.edu)
Fri, 6 Feb 1998 10:24:21 -0600

Recently I was sitting in a class and the professor gave this definition for
a sign and tool from Vygotsky's perspective.

tool: externally oriented (physical envirement)
sign: regulate conduct and master ourselves (letters, numbers)

The professor appeared to define the two as a tool is external and a sign is
internal. The professor mentioned a tool as being something in your
physical envirement, but we often talk about psychological tools as with
"tools of the mind". Any comments or examples on the difference between a
sign and a tool?