WAYS OF LEARNING - AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE WORK AND SITUATED LEARNING OF A GROUP OF REFRIGERATION SERVICE TECHNICIANS

This article is based on a seven-month ethnographic study of the work and learning of seven refrigeration service technicians working for a supermarket chain in the northeastern United States. The resources tha t are used for learning by these technicians are varied and complex an d lie in the realms of the physical affordances of technical objects, particular forms of discourse, and in the social relationships that ar e built around the service department. In managing the troubles betwee n machines and people in the supermarkets under their care, the techni cians use the rich collection of locally available resources for learn ing in their daily work life that ensures them a central place in this community of practice.