3.2 Supporting evidence - Un/Learning journal

Below are edited excerpts from my un/learning journals, showing the most vital learning moments of this cycle. The journal entries in their entirety can be found in the list of Digital journal entries in the left column. The journal excerpts are proceeded by a bullet list of the summarized un/learning outcome.

September 24 - Guild buddy helps with choosing my project

While work on my OP3 I have been sussing-out what OP4 will be. In my last guild meeting with Charles I told him my OP4 plan from my LIPD was Community Engagement. He told me it sounded very similar to my OP3. This helped me to realize it was. I started to think about a simple building project that was dynamic and fit my learning goals. One morning I was up at the seasonal cabin I am living in and saw the sun striking the side of the south-facing wall. The cabin could use supplemental heating maybe  a passive solar Trombe wall could be a solution.

Outcome

• Guild meetings are very important as they can clarify your learning pathway

October 3 - Inspiration and beginnings of intervention

I had a guild meeting with Charles on Tuesday we talked about my present project, Charles was talking with great enthusiasm about building one on his barn.

Last night I had my Advisor meeting with Saskia, which was also good. We spoke about her review of my OP2, I was a little disappointed with specificity of feed back on why I scored what I did and what I could change to make it better. I discussed my change in OP4 from community engagement (as I outline in my LIPD) to a Passive Solar trombe wall. Saskia thought it was a decision that made sense.

Outcome

• Encouraging feedback - Inspiring my peers with my project
• Beginning of questioning pro-review feedback

October 5 - Working with the client as a team member

Last night I sat down with the owner of the cabin where the PSP will be installed. We then spoke about the way it functions, I showed him my cutaway illustration of how it works. I then opened my sketchup plans of it and pulled it apart showing him the different components and their purposes. We finally discussed the issue of attaching it to the cabin. He helped me work through some of the issues, we came up with good solutions.

Outcome

• Clear communication about a project helps a client feel involved
• Working with a client can be effectively increasing your team capacity

October 7 - Learning and time estimation

This is a larger project than I anticipated, I am glad I gave myself ample time, the full month of October. I think I have finished my 4th or 5th prototype on sketchup. The design keeps changing as I run into issues. The hinging roof is one of the most difficult parts. I decided to put the hanging bracket down 9 inches from the top so I can have the exhaust vent all the way at the top.

Outcome

• Overestimating time for a project is essential when you know there is a learning curve

October 10 - Design for maintenance

I am installing a metal mesh in the middle of the air gap inside the panel. This is acting as the thermal mass which will heat up quickly, radiating heat. At first I was thinking I would simply wood staple it into the frame, then I decided I need to install it in such a way that it can be removed easily, if the window needs to be cleaned or for other reasons. I will do this by stapling it to a frame which is fastened to the PSP frame with screws and can be easily removed.

Outcome

• Design with maintenance / deconstruction in mind

October 14 - Intervention and emergence in design

Last minute I changed my design, instead of one hole top and bottom (intake and exhaust) I cut two holes top and bottom. I decided to do this because one hole wouldn't give an even distribution and/or sufficient volume  of air. It is easier to block a hole than to uninstall the panel and cut a new hole.

Another good design feature that emerged! The heat collector is a sheet of hardware cloth (1/4 inch metal mesh) covered in black landscaping fabric. I left the landscaping fabric long on the width. The insulation fits in very snug to the frame just behind this. I needed to put the insulation panel in and take it out a few times when making the holes. The extra fabric allowed me to simply pull on the fabric and it would pop out the snug fitting insulation (This can be seen in the video slidshow on the project description page).This type of design element is very useful as well for future maintenance.

Outcome

• Intervention and emergence have an important roles to play in a project’s process

October 19 - Having a voice and the right tools

I got back my review of my OP3 and felt again like my work wasn't getting the thoroughness of a review that it deserves. I was frustrated after reading this brief review. I wrote to Andrew, Liora and Jennifer telling them I felt my Pro-reviews were not up to par and I wondered if there was some kind of oversight on pro-reviews. Andrew answered me the same day and said that there was no over-sight and that they rely on feedback.

I finished making the holes, I started out with a cordless drill and a little handsaw. It was very slow going. I changed my setup bringing power and power-tools on site. If I were to do it again I would have used this setup from the get-go. It made the work much easier and made the holes cleaner.

Outcome

• Voicing your feelings is an important intervention leading to clarity and solutions
• Have the right tools for the job
  

October 22 - organizing a team and initiation

Yesterday I installed my passive solar panel with the help of my wife and the owner of the cabin Prem Prakash. The installation went pretty smooth; without a team it wouldn’t have been possible.

I had my Social Enterprise skillflex meeting with Andrew. The meeting went good: the overall message I got from the meeting was to go for it! To create an LLC permaculture school and installation service (small business) like Permaculture in action the working business in NC that I like the model of.

Outcome

• Organizing a team well ahead of when you need one makes it a smooth process
• A long journey starts with the first step out the door

October 29 - Communicating my needs brings clarity

Last night I had a good meeting with Saskia. It was our first meeting after I had asked for a review of her proreviews. I was happy to see that she wasn't mad at me for doing it. I feel I made the right choice to stay with her. I know she is a good advisor and that we get along good. I feel like this 'internal review' helped clarify a lot of things for me and I hope it did for her as well and maybe even made our relationship a little tighter. She gave me some real praise saying it was nice to have an associate that actually cares and isn't content to just settle for a passing grade.

Outcome

• My intervention in my pro-reviews cleared up some misunderstandings and helped communicate my needs