This study is based on concerns among sloyd/craft teachers that more and more students exhibit deficiencies in dexterity and craft skill. We can assume that many students today lack experience in handling tools and craft materials in their home environment and during leisure time. A similar issue has been reported in surgical education where medical students struggle with practical tasks such as cutting and sewing (Coughlan, 2018). A characteristic of craft knowledge is an ongoing dialogue between the intention, the craftsperson handling the tool and the craft material (Illum, 2004). To succeed in this dialogue, learners need to discern critical aspects of maneuvering a tool in a specific material in the intended way and they also need to understand in this case what it means to cut along a line appropriately. 

The purpose of this study is to clarify understandings of dexterity and craft skill as subject specific knowledge in handicraft/sloyd education and elaborate how the capability of using hand tools appropriately and accurately can be taught. The research questions are: 

- What critical aspects can be identified when fifth graders use scissors, trying to cut along lines in craft materials? 

- How can these aspects be taught efficiently? 

A Learning Study (Marton & Pang, 2006; Carlgren, 2012) with fifth graders (11 years old) in the Swedish school subject Sloyd was conducted by five sloyd teachers between January and May 2025. Three classes with 13-15 students per group have participated. The object of learning includes the capability to cut through paper, fabric and sheet metal using different types of scissors. Three cycles will be carried out (at present two cycles have been completed) with videorecorded and photographed results from pre/post-tests, from research lessons and with notes from the teacher meetings. 

 The task in the pre/post-test was to cut along three different lines in each material: a straight line, a curve and an angle. One critical aspect was discerning how to place the scissors and the material against something to get support. Many students were cutting while holding the material up in the air instead of resting the fabric against the table or getting support from the knee or table when cutting sheet metal with metal scissors. Another critical aspect was initial placement and adjustment of the scissors, not positioning them too far ahead of or across the line. A third critical aspect was discerning the need to press the scissors partway down and not all the way, to gain control and maintain the cutting direction.

References:

Carlgren, I. (2012). The Learning Study as an approach for ‘clinical’ subject matter didactic research. International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies, 1(2),1-18.

Coughlan, S. (2018). Surgery students ‘losing dexterity to stitch patients’. BBC, 30 October, 2018. Available at:  www.bbc.com/news/education-46019429 

Illum, B. (2004). Det manuelle håndværksmæssige og læring – processens dialog (Doctoral Thesis). Köpenhamn: Danmarks Pædagogiske Universitet.

Marton, F. & Pang, M. F. (2006). On Some Necessary Conditions of Learning. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 15(2), 193-220.