Peter
>
>Peter asked me to give the originof tool-and-result in LSV and to expand on the
>distinction that I found invavualbe between tool-and-result and toof for
>result.
>The phrase can be found in one of V'statements on mehod. In Mind in Society on
>p. 65:
> "The search for method become one of the most important problems of the
>entire enterprise of understanding the uniquely human forms of psychological
>activity. In this case, the method is simultaneously prerequisite and product,
>the tool and the result of the study>"
>
>As I think you know but others may not, I believe that tool-and-result is what
>describes human development, that is--the capacity we have to transform
>totalities, to "rebuild the ship as we goacross the ocean," to create
>developmental environments/development, to simultaneously make new tools and
>their products (such as the joint, relational, revolutionary activity of
>creating a new speaker). I think Vygotsky here and overall was pointing to us
>being tool makers and not just tool users. My argument with many Vygotskians
>is the foucus on mediation and appropriation of existing tools to the exclusion
>of this kind of tool-and-result unity.
>
>Newman and Ihave written about this extensively (it's the basis of LVRS) and I
>have written about it going back to the early 80s. Several articles of mine
>in the past two years (referring specifically to the approach at the Barbara
>Taylor School) speak explicitly and with examples from our school. We speak of
>creating the school asa developmental environment--that's the task ofthe school
>comunity. In doing this, developmental and learning occur, not as an outgrowth
>or result but in theactivity. What V calls "being a head taller than you are"
>and what we callperformance (being other than who you are, performing beyond
>where you're at), learning leading development in the zpd--is
>tool-and-resultactivity. Babies learnto speak by co-creating the speaking
>environment--a relational, revolutionary activity (we wouldsay).
>Please excuse all the typos.
>What do you think? Lois
>
>
Peter Smagorinsky
University of Oklahoma
College of Education
Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum
820 Van Vleet Oval
Norman, OK 73019-0260
(405)325-3533
fax: (405)325-4061
smagor who-is-at aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu
psmagorinsky who-is-at uoknor.edu