I just finished listening to Dave Cormier explaining some concepts of rhizomatic learning and while I tried to contextualize his genius I realized that my husband is a pretty good example of a rhizomatic learner, although he would never think of himself as a “learner”.

There were a number of ideas that jumped out at me: how learning needs to be responsive and resilient, how the purposes of learning are to prepare for uncertainty, and to provide opportunities to make decisions or problem solve.  These ideas led me back to the obvious conclusion: rhizomatic learning is exactly like a bathroom renovation.

Firstly, Dave used the term “fearless learner”, which describes exactly how my husband approaches a home improvement project.  It would scare the bejeebus out of me but my husband thinks nothing of tearing out a wall, ripping out plumbing, removing duct work or replacing electrical work. I’ve learned to stop asking if he’s done this before, because if he hasn’t his answer is always the same: “I’ve seen it on YouTube”.  He doesn’t doubt for a second that he will be able to accomplish his task.

Secondly, rhizomatic learning is responsive.  And a bathroom reno is definitely an exercise in problem solving as learning.  A home improvement project is never just one project.  As soon as a wall is removed a new challenge is revealed: “This wiring isn’t to code” or “This duct work doesn’t connect to anything”, and each challenge requires figuring out how to fix it.  So, it’s back to YouTube, or sometimes he’ll come across a good resolution while complaining to his co-workers in the break room.  Inevitably someone he works with will have encountered, and subsequently conquered a similar problem, which leads to another pair of hands helping out one weekend and my husband learning from an “expert”.

Now I’m sure you’re imaging a disaster of a home held together with duct tape and wood glue, but you’d be wrong.  My husband has taught himself carpentry skills that rival many of the show homes in our city, he has successfully installed a brand new furnace (with help from an HVAC specialist), replaced toilets, sinks, installed bathtubs, tiled floors, walls and refaced a fireplace with beautiful granite.  Our home is beautiful because of all his hard work.  He is a perfectionist who will tear apart his work and start again until he is satisfied.  He is a completely engaged learner, and he doesn’t even know it!

So, I’ve seen aspects of rhizomatic learning in action but the question becomes how do I facilitate this in my teaching?  And how can I help the teachers I supervise facilitate this in their classrooms?  I have some ideas, but I have lots of questions I don’t have answers to yet, but I have lots to think about while I soak in the new tub.