Last weekend my friend and I replaced the toilet in my en-suite bathroom. I’ve written before about the lessons learned from home renovations, which this article builds on, highlighting how the art and science of toilet repairs/replacements reflect the ways that learning is evolving. Here’s how replacing a toilet uses modern learning practices.

Why toilets?

Repairing and replacing toilets is a great example of modern learning because, well, everybody poops and most of us have had to deal with a leaky, smelly or ineffective toilet at some point in our lives. Some of us have called experts (plumbers, friends or parents) to complete the task or offer advice, some of us watched videos and applied the concepts in the moment, and some of us fiddle and tinker with the toilet (just turn off the water first!!!) to try and get it working.

Mostly, I think this example of modern learning is relevant because very few of us would ever solve this problem by registering for a formal course at Toilet Repair College, wait a few months, complete the course, hang/share our certification, and then fix or install the toilet. We solve this kind of problem by applying learning concepts in the moment.

Learn in the flow (of work)

Contemporary learning emphasizes testing, trying and experiencing, as opposed to taking formal courses, and puts peer-coaching at the center of people acquiring new skills and knowledge. Josh Bersin calls this approach “learning in the flow of work”. This means there are a variety of options that exist for me to learn about replacing toilets and I can explore and use these options in the flow of my experience, as opposed to conforming to an expert’s schedule. I watched videos, talked to friends and even sought-out the expertise of a plumber who was fixing a neighbour’s sump pump.

Learn together, learn by doing

One of my best friends, Stew, is an architect who is talented at many things (art, cycling, parenting, home renovations) and he played the role of “peer expert” for this straightforward task of toilet installation. According to Forbes, “social learning is the process of learning through peer social interaction.” A common workplace example is learning during social interactions while riding the elevator, standing at the water cooler or having lunch in the cafeteria. By observing Stew and seeking his feedback on my execution of tasks, I enhanced my capability to the point where I probably don’t need an expert to lead me through this kind of renovation next time. This kind of peer learning also enhanced our relationship and made the experience more enjoyable, which are both catalysts for learning and retention.

Oh, and the toilet works incredibly well, too.

—

This article was originally published on January 15, 2020 (we’ve moved since I wrote it, but I’m confident that the toilet is still working excellently!)