Practicals Skills v Theory???

Tim Craig · 25th March 2007, 11:55 PM

There have been some discussions on this forum re practical skills v theory.

I have been a climbing arborist for ten years, and I have found that there are 5 ways I stay interested and focused on this job;

1. Discovering and learning new, safer and more efficient ways to get a job done.

2. Reading books/websites, attending courses, seminars on tree and arb related subjects.

3. Working with enthusiastic individuals who take pride in doing a good job for the client and each other.

4. Gaining experience of problem solving with colleagues, clients and experiencing different trees and how they interact with the urban environment.

5. Combining all of the above in order to make money.

If any of these 5 factors are not happening then I stop enjoying my job, when that happens I start thinking about how to change it for the better.

I feel its not about Practical skills v Theory, its about enthusiasm for your job.

TREE-SURFER · 26th March 2007, 03:15 AM

I can't agree more.

Eric Frei · 26th March 2007, 07:19 AM

All good points but I think #3 is the most important to me. The rest are sort of a natural way of life these days.

Practical skills are what gets things done. Theory is the why. We also learn from experience and that experience can be recognized with colleges assessing individuals for those skills (ROPL, recognition of prior learning)

I find that the more you migrate toward the tree care the higher your theory dependence goes as you are more into a diagnosis role.

I suppose for me, there's some in-finiteness about tree knowledge, and that curiosity is what fuels the enthusiasm.

Tim Craig · 26th March 2007, 08:48 AM

Its interesting you should say #3 is the most important. I agree up to a point.

With the right approach, enthusiasm can be infectious.

Jeff Darby · 26th March 2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Craig

If any of these 5 factors are not happening then I stop enjoying my job, when that happens I start thinking about how to change it for the better.

I think#3 is my first priority,then it's all the rest untill we get back to #6 your probably saying there's no #6 but there is it's just not numbered so after #3 ..#6 looks after the rest.

25th March 2007, 11:55 PM	#1
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 130	Practicals Skills v Theory??? There have been some discussions on this forum re practical skills v theory. I have been a climbing arborist for ten years, and I have found that there are 5 ways I stay interested and focused on this job; 1. Discovering and learning new, safer and more efficient ways to get a job done. 2. Reading books/websites, attending courses, seminars on tree and arb related subjects. 3. Working with enthusiastic individuals who take pride in doing a good job for the client and each other. 4. Gaining experience of problem solving with colleagues, clients and experiencing different trees and how they interact with the urban environment. 5. Combining all of the above in order to make money. If any of these 5 factors are not happening then I stop enjoying my job, when that happens I start thinking about how to change it for the better. I feel its not about Practical skills v Theory, its about enthusiasm for your job. Last edited by Tim Craig; 26th March 2007 at 01:07 AM.

26th March 2007, 03:15 AM	#2
TREE-SURFER Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 332	I can't agree more. __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work What experts say about TOPPING

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26th March 2007, 07:19 AM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	All good points but I think #3 is the most important to me. The rest are sort of a natural way of life these days. Practical skills are what gets things done. Theory is the why. We also learn from experience and that experience can be recognized with colleges assessing individuals for those skills (ROPL, recognition of prior learning) I find that the more you migrate toward the tree care the higher your theory dependence goes as you are more into a diagnosis role. I suppose for me, there's some in-finiteness about tree knowledge, and that curiosity is what fuels the enthusiasm. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

26th March 2007, 08:48 AM	#4
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 130	Its interesting you should say #3 is the most important. I agree up to a point. With the right approach, enthusiasm can be infectious.