I find myself re-reading the COVA book and reflecting on my ePortfolio experience and my first semester in the ADL program. Before starting the ADL Program, Dr. Harapnuik’s digital story, Not Suited for School but Suited for Learning, resonated with me and my personal learning experience.
I was in grade school in the 80s in a tiny town. I remember going through diagnostic testing at school, but I couldn’t begin to tell you what any of my diagnoses would have been. I believe my small-town American school was more concerned with hiding my struggles than helping me with them. I definitely adopted the label and the identity of being learning disabled.
I didn’t read my first complete sentence aloud in school until the third grade. In hindsight, I feel Ms. Leffler was an innovative teacher as she was the only one to finally get through to me. I remember how excited and proud she was of me/for me that she took me across the hall to read to my 2nd-grade teacher (undoubtedly after a whole school year of trying with me). Throughout every public school level, I spent many evenings sitting at the kitchen table, crying my eyes out in frustration, just simply not understanding a given subject or assignment. I truly felt I was also not suited for school, and I felt unsuited for learning.
It wasn’t until I transitioned from community college to university that I realized that I was taking classes and accumulating knowledge for my own benefit. I could not only select the days and times of my courses, the electives I chose, and research topics related to my personal interests. I picked a major that I was interested in learning more about and finally freed myself of some of the labels I let define me through high school and community college. As I watched John Hattie’s Visible Learning, I realized what an impact those labels had on my learning (Bell, 2011, 3:38).
If only someone had instilled a growth mindset through the power of yet, as described by Carol Dweck (Stanford, 2014, 4:34). If only I had the opportunity to learn in this constructivist way in my early education, I would approach challenges with excitement. Just as Carol Dweck explained, “learning a growth mindset [transforms] the meaning of effort and difficulty. [What] used to mean they were dumb, and now it means they had a chance to get smarter” (Stanford, 2014, 7:48).
I am very grateful to have this opportunity to get smarter and reevaluate my learning.
Mike Bell. (2011, December 1). John Hattie, Visible Learning. Pt 2: effective methods. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pD1DFTNQf4
Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). Choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning. Creative Common License.
Stanford Alumni. (2014, October 9). Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEeMN7vbQ
The Advisor That Cares 
2 thoughts on “Getting personal”