TRAINING & EDUCATION ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The course is structured as part lecture/instruction, part demonstra- tion and part hands-on. We usually started the day in the classroom. Instructor Scott Carothers, aided by John Roberts of John Roberts Designs, Inc., – a NTCA Georgia State Ambassador, CTI #1278 Certified Tile Installer and CTEF Regional Evaluator – encouraged us to actively participate in the discus- sion and interject our own knowl- edge, experiences, challenges and successes. It allowed us to apply real-world experiences to what we were learning. (See more on John in this issue’s Member Spotlight, page 62.) The demo portion really focused on the tools of the trade and how to pick the right tools for the job. This portion of the course really taught you about planning before you even start, choosing the correct tools, sub- strate prep, cutting tile efficiently, and the importance of correct mor- tar coverage. We learned everything from what trowel to use to how to use a wet saw (my favorite part). I was eager and anxious about the hands-on por- John Roberts mixing thinset. Mixing thinset is the one thing I didn’t get to try. The demonstrations were the bridge between the lectures and the hand-on portion. 56 TileLetter | December 2018