Month: August 2022

A New Culture of Learning, ADL Program, Collective, Contributions, Evolution, Growth, Learning, Learning Community, Reflecting

Learning Revolution

The Advisor That Cares

In our first class call we were asked to share what gift we bring to the course/our cohort.

I can not help but appreciate that intro discussion question about the gift we bring to this learning journey. This question about gifting taps into the passion that allows for learning naturally. I wonder how many of my adult learners (graduate students) would be willing to open up and share their answers to the same question. How about my colleagues? What giftings do they bring to the advising unit?  

Incorporating Daniel Pink’s “three factors for better performance in the workplace (autonomy, mastery, and purpose)” further provides an environment to cultivate and develop these valuable human resources (RSA, 2010). I have never considered that I have a learning environment. Through the content of this course and the program, I am beginning to identify the significant learning environment I can create in multiple areas. My students and I benefit from focusing on their learning environment from an advising perspective. I also see the benefit of creating a learning environment to foster the advising unit. Innovation can provide my audience (students/colleagues) an opportunity that comes from giving them control of the best way to process/provide information. Perhaps by tapping into the question of their gifting, they will each find the drive to continue to improve. Most of all, I want to help create an environment that produces happiness for students and advisors. From a professional perspective giving people the autonomy to communicate challenges by proposing solutions benefits the workplace culture and improves communication. This transparency further provides a foundation for building a trusted relationship between advisors and advisees customized to each learning situation or program requirement. Why not be the one that helps to create that culture? 

Videos like these are directly tied to my innovation proposal and fuel my desire to improve the systems and processes for everyone, myself included. Resources like these will continue to shape my reflections as I move toward creating my learning philosophy. 

As Sir Ken Robinson (TED, 2010) compares education to the standardization produced by a fast food model, I reflect on an undergraduate sociology text called The McDonaldization of Society. When reflecting on higher education, the author states, “the focus seems to be on how many students (the “products”) can be herded through the system” (Ritzer, 2000, p. 66). We lose humanity when all aspects of life focus on maximum efficiency and consistent output. Humans cannot be standardized, as doing so is the antithesis of customized learning, which aids natural/organic learning, growth, and personal evolution. 

In closing, the quote about dreams shared by Sir Ken Robinson (TED, 2010) reinforces my passion for advising. I have the opportunity to help solve problems, translate policy, and provide options while pointing out potential unintended consequences of those different prospects. My students are sacrificing so much to return for their degree or certification. Many students face additional examinations and licensure requirements after their academic studies. Many have families and careers while pursuing their motivations, passions, and purpose. The accomplishments that come from my students persevering in the face of life’s challenges are also dreams upon which “we should tread softly” (TED, 2010). 

References

Ritzer, G. (2000). The McDonaldization of Society (New Century Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.

RSA. (2010, April 1). RSA ANIMATE: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

TED. (2010, May 24). Bring on the learning revolution! | Sir Ken Robinson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I

ADL Program, Evolution, Personal, Reflecting

I am a digital learner

The Advisor That Cares

Reflecting on The New Culture of Learning, I realize I am a digital learner. Don’t get me wrong; I did not grow up in this age of “almost unlimited access and resources to learn about anything” (Thomas & Brown, 2011). I was around 20 years old. It was around 1996 when I got my first personal computer and dial-up internet connection.

I never really enjoyed AOL instant messenger, but YAHOO chat was an exciting tool at the time. When I began exploring the internet, chats were web-based chat rooms. Those later evolved into a friends list and functioned more like the AOL system. I remember being able to listen to music posted to your status, allowing conversations with others who noticed the playing track and growth in musical tastes. As a small town girl from a tiny town (410 population), this online world opened my mind, viewpoints, and influences to people from other states and countries. Many online friends are still friends to this day, 25 years later.

I taught myself basic HTML to create multiple GEOCITIES websites. These digital presences pre-date MYSPACE and any current social options preferring anonymity via pseudonyms. These were places where individuals posted about themselves, showcased their creativity, and annoyed the world over with music files that the user had no control over. I remember helping my mom create her GEOCITIES presence too. Those platforms utilized guestbooks where visitors could leave comments. I remember seeing guest logs from long-since passed family members who left encouraging words or random messages. It began with social networking, collaboration, community, and collectives.

I remember the birth of multiple search engines. ASK JEEVES sticks out, probably due to television advertisements. I can not say I specifically remember when GOOGLE took over the search engine space, but I can say I fully embraced a “GOOGLE it” mindset about the world.

I never knew what autodidactic meant until Dr. Harapnuik explained this program and our goals for creating significant and authentic learning environments. Reading The New Culture of Learning, I realized that my habit of searching for errors indicated my inquisitive nature.

In my 30s, while dating my now husband from 2.5 hours away, we played WORLD OF WARCRAFT throughout the week as it provided social interaction and time. We also met people worldwide to go on quests and raids together.

2006 – For the Horde!

I could not help but reflect on the problem-solving and collaboration we experienced during our time in the early days of this massively multiplayer online game. Fifteen years later, we still stay in contact with several friends from the game in real life and have celebrated many milestones together from afar. We raised our daughter with learning games and online gaming.

I am living in The New Culture of Learning.

References

Learners Mindset. (2020, December 24). Assessment as Learning [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLmxREQLizk

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change (1st ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

ADL Program, ePortfolios, Evolution, Goals, Growth, Innovation Plan, Learner's Mindset, Learning, Learning Community

Responding to the New Culture

The Advisor That Cares

Here we go again. Another semester of graduate school has begun and we all start the process of acclimating ourselves to our new learning environments.

I am really excited about the opportunity to create a significant learning environment since I still face daily struggles with students who do not review information. I keep thinking back to The Behavioral Science Guys and David Maxfield’s caution about how more information doesn’t create change or motivation (Crucial Learning, 2015). I have to find a way to help people change when they don’t want to. What are some influential questions I can incorporate into my ePortfolio? How do I create a significant learning environment that will allow them to “explore motivations they already have” as recommended by Joseph Grenny (Crucial Learning, 2015).

I have been reviewing the course content and announcements in preparation for our first big assignment for “Creating Significant Learning Environments” and what I have ascertained thus far is that we are going to be:

  • 1) Creating a response to the New Culture of Learning
  • 2) Outline how we will move toward creating a Significant Learning Environment

We will do this by

  • 1) Creating an argument for how a shift to a CSLE can enhance learning
  • 2) What problems the CSLE we create will address
  • 3) What influence this CSLE will have on our innovation

What are some of your thoughts about how you will create a significant learning environment? What are some questions you might ask yourself?

Crucial Learning. (2015, January 5). How to Change People Who Don’t Want to Change | The Behavioral Science Guys [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ACi-D5DI6A

ADL Program, Advising, ePortfolios, Evolution, Innovation Plan, Learner's Mindset, Learning, Professional, Reflecting

The New Culture of Learning & me

The Advisor That Cares

I have always been a proactive person by nature.

Unfortunately, much of higher education functions more reactively, like many of my students. My innovation plan intends to shift learning to foster more proactive, active engagement for my learners. As Harapnuik (2021) outlines in the Introduction Video, we are here to “facilitate learning” and “help our learners learn” by making “meaningful connections” (Harapnuik, 2021).  

In the early stages of my innovation proposal and the accompanying portfolio development, content creation was due to student questions or lack of information. Those reactive additions have since evolved into proactive opportunities for new students by providing links and information in every correspondence.

Creating significant learning environments (CSLE) and The New Culture of Learning are guides for the struggle of inspiring students to take ownership of their education and learning journey by improving learners’ engagement. Thomas (2012) says it best when he says we can “help people connect their passions to the things they need to learn” (TEDx Talks, 2012). He further explains that we must rethink training and education systems to “make learning fun and easy,” just as it is “natural and effortless” throughout life outside these environments (TEDx Talks, 2012). 

The New Culture of learning outlines that learning is no longer “taking place in a classroom” but instead “happening all around us, everywhere” through online information and freely available resources (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 17).

References

Dwayne Harapnuik. (2021, April 16). EDLD 5313 Module 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4RIBNgK6xI

TEDx Talks. (2012, September 13). A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM80GXlyX0U

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change (1st edition). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.