Well darn. How in the world am I just now learning about Roger Schank! A link was thrown into the publication assignment, and I was off exploring another rabbit trail.
Roger Schank on Invisible Learning
Teaching Minds: How Cognitive Science Can Save Our Schools (slightly modified cognitive process labels/titles)
Innovation Playlist (2007)
All the connections are coming together.
The ADL program has opened my eyes to exactly how much the landscape of learning has changed and how little the landscape of education has changed. Learners today are digitally connected, and education needs to evolve to include transformative learning opportunities in every environment.
Currently, advisors are tasked with almost every initiative faced by incoming students. This creates a prescriptive advising full of information transfer topics that often leave advisors feeling unfulfilled. Additionally, the environment does not encourage the transformative opportunity found through intentional advisor-advisee relationships. Through an innovation of advising, advisors will have a consistent message to share with their advisees, relieving them of their role’s repetitive and transactional aspects. Digital resources that allow departments to ensure the message and information shared with their students align with their policies and beliefs increase confidence in information accuracy. Collaboration with campus stakeholders ensures that other departments can introduce themselves and their services in a non-anxiety-inducing way.
Most importantly, a blended learning approach to advising can increase learners’ curiosity (Musallam, 2013) about their learning experience while simultaneously increasing advisors’ creativity (RSA, 2010) by creating content, refining the message, clarifying the intentions, and assessing the effectiveness of advising as a learning opportunity. The most challenging part of my innovation idea to resolve and convey is my belief that an effective learning environment allows more profound, more meaningful relationships like those described by developmental and intrusive advising. Adding to this is the concept of connectivity and collaboration. The benefits of forming a learning collective among students that supports the advising relationship and initiatives (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 52). How much more will a high school student listen to a college student than a university representative at orientation to campus? How can an innovation to advising support the feeling of belonging that students and staff feel at the institution?
Consider how the learning environment is changing and how you can share the changes you are making in your learning environment.
Changing Educational Paradigms
I found this talk so interesting I went to see the full discussion, Changing Paradigms
References
Musallam, R. (2013, April). 3 rules to spark learning [Video]. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/ramsey_musallam_3_rules_to_spark_learning
RiverheadBooks. (2010, September 17). WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM by Steven Johnson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU
RSA. (2010, February 4). Sir Ken Robinson – Changing Paradigms [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCbdS4hSa0s
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.
Saving these EDUCAUSE Review sources for later reflection and review.
Students:
9 Ways to Help Students Use Technology to Get the Most Out of College
Microlearning: The “OG” or Hot New Trend?
How to Start Your Flipped Classroom
Proven Classroom Discussion Strategies for Deeper Learning
Leadership:
Technology can certainly enhance learning, as we have discovered throughout our ADL learning journey. The fact that I can connect with learners from various industries and worldwide illustrates how much technology can be employed to strengthen learning and collaboration. The program pushes me to seek out information and re-engage a curiosity about learning and topics related to digital learning. As part of that inquisitive process, I perform online searches through search engines and video streaming to obtain a big-picture perspective on current trends and topics. I further refine source information through detailed reviews of literature and additional writings and research found with my professional organizations, related journals, and other article sources. Professional journals from NACADA are my primary resource for finding emerging trends within advising. EDUCAUSE Review is another excellent resource for identifying technology trends and issues within education.
The digital tools currently utilized within the advising relationships seek to manage student information, notes, and referrals. The institution employs a student information system to onboard and guide students from admission to enrollment. Then, the advising and support units use a different system to invite students to appointments, request progress report updates from faculty, record interaction notes on services utilized, answer questions, and make support recommendations. Another system tracks degree plan requirements and progress. Students take the information from the degree system and then use another system to register for classes. In addition to the disjointed nature of the different technologies and systems used within the advising profession, most of these tools are not currently student-facing. However, an innovation to advising would help change this by utilizing blended learning concepts to flip advising from short-burst information transfer sessions (overwhelming) to ongoing dialogues and collaborations that expand the relationship and further assist students in navigating and understanding their learning opportunities. Through the lens of a COVA approach to learning that incorporates how educational technology encourages student choice, ownership, and voice while presenting authentic learning opportunities, technology and digital learning tools must contribute to creating significant learning environments (CSLE) instead of technology for technology’s sake.
A personally curated advising resource (ePortfolio) is my favorite technology tool at this time, simply because of the unlimited accessibility of combining and translating information across the higher education landscape. This resource could help learners and their families navigate the frustratingly confusing process of learning policy, procedure, and an unlimited number of requirements faced by college students. I am intrigued by the tools enabling a blended learning model that incorporates micro-lectures, cloud computing, and online collaboration within learning collectives. Google Classroom provides an exciting opportunity for connecting learners while also providing opportunities for assessment.
In this discussion, consider the required readings and view the following videos then participate in a discussion with your colleagues where you will explore the variety of ways technology can enhance learning.
References
Denton, D. W. (2012). Enhancing instruction through Constructivism, Cooperative Learning, and Cloud Computing. TechTrends, 56(4), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-012-0585-1
Liao, J., Wang, M., Ran, W., & Yang, S. J. H. (2013). Collaborative cloud: a new model for e-learning. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 51(3), 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2013.791554
Noah, T. (2023). Enhancing flipped learning with microlectures. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/flipped-learning-with-microlectures
Nordic Business Forum. (2015, September 8). Sir Ken Robinson – How finding your passion changes everything: Part 2 | Nordic Business Forum 2014 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6E8y-9TzpI
ProjectHappyWay. (2015, March 27). Best Ted Talks 2015 – Draw your future – Take control of your life [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vl6wCiUZYc
Publishing: Can I really do that? (n.d.). Learner’s Mindset. https://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/?page_id=841
Stevenson, M., & Hedberg, J. (2011). Head in the clouds: A review of current and future potential for cloud-enabled pedagogies. Educational Media International, 48(4), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2011.632279
Stevenson, M., & Hedberg, J. (2013). Learning and design with online real-time collaboration. Educational Media International, 50(2), 120–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2013.795352
TED. (2013, February 27). Sugata Mitra: Build a school in the cloud [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3jYVe1RGaU
The School of Life. (2013, April 11). Ken Robinson on passion [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M8Hl5MUr8w
Wbur. (2013, June 19). Sir Ken Robinson On Discovering Your Passions | On Point. WBUR.org. https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2013/06/19/sir-ken-robinson
In the On Point interview, Sir Ken Robinson (2013) shares that as a young person, he found himself in special education classes and recognized people around him. “Finding what lies within” became a personal passion (Wbur, 2013).
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2013/06/19/sir-ken-robinson
This makes me very interested in learning more about his books:
Let me tell you. It is not exactly easy to focus on much of anything when there is a 3,000-acre wildfire burning a dozen miles away. I’m really trying to hunker down and diligently write while processing the program content, yet all I can do is scroll and refresh, hoping for some update as to whether or not I need to grab what I can carry and the animals I can haul to boogie on out of here.
My three giant LaMancha goats are probably the most stressful part of that equation. Things are replaceable, and even irreplaceable things won’t impact going on with life if the worst were to face us, but letting loose or leaving my dream and reason for moving out here in the first place is the most stressful of all.
I will try to apply Dr. Harapnuik’s early advice about 90-minute work sessions. I am going to tell myself that I can step away from the wildfire for 1.5 hours to focus on school, then I can scroll for updates until the next 90-minute work session. Surely, my mind can use the break from the anxiety and worry that comes with watching and waiting.
I can’t help but make connections to this week’s module content and discussion. I absorbed Sir Ken Robinson’s message (2013 & 2015) to explore passions, following interests, and creativity to decide what I could say about my innovative digital idea that others would care enough to read about. As I sit here wondering if the worst was to come, what would I look back on smoldering ruin, wondering what I regret leaving behind. In much the same way, this publishing course answers the question, what is one thing I want other people to know about me about my passions. How can I help change the world, one learning at a time, so that others with the same heart can do the same?
Update. I made it about 40 minutes before I am stepping back outside to watch, smell, and scroll some more for updates and information. I am determined not to let this situation cost me my GPA, final semester, and second-to-last course. This first assignment is due Sunday, and I will find a way to power through between stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, prayers, and naps.
Moving through the module 1-2 content in this my second to last ADL Program’s publishing course, I am encouraged to share my success stories. To consider what digital technology I have found success using that others would find valuable. I immediately panic! My innovation idea hasn’t been implemented. My innovation idea is constantly growing and evolving and morphing into something more! How in the world am I supposed to narrow down on a topic I can provide any contribution to my profession?
Deep breath. Find your passion (Nordic Business Forum, 2015 & The School of Life, 2013).
At the heart of the matter, I want to show advisors how helpful a portfolio resource would be to themselves, their students, and their students’ family members. So much of an advisor’s job is helping students navigate the foreign world of higher ed. Having a personally curated resource to share source material (policies and procedures) while breaking information down into bite-sized pieces.
In my advising experience, an ePortfolio allows me to link students to informational resources. While the information is available online, the language and context are rarely fully understood by students and parents. Becoming this navigator and resource was my personal passion when I was the frontline advisor. Now equipping my team with resources that can relieve them of information transfer while still serving as a resource to students is a very fulfilling concept that I could share with the world.
References
Nordic Business Forum. (2015, September 8). Sir Ken Robinson – How finding your passion changes everything: Part 2 | Nordic Business Forum 2014 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6E8y-9TzpI
The School of Life. (2013, April 11). Ken Robinson on passion [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M8Hl5MUr8w
That is a bit misleading… because when I say “pub crawl,” I mean crawling through the publication process.
In my typical form, in the ADL Program, the first thing I do is Google “where can I publish about academic advising,” The first result is this lovely 2013 guide on Exploring Publication Opportunities, which adds to the two or three professional journals I always turn to when looking for information.
NACADA is the professional organization I always turn to when I’m researching advising, so it makes a lot of sense to explore potential options within NACADA.
TEXAAN is another professional organization that I turn to for professional development, and in recent years, they have started growing their member articles.
TCEA encourages the utilization of technology to support and encourage learning. This would be another great place to consider publication.
The EDUCAUSE Review hosts an outlet for higher education-specific technology topics of interest.
There are so many times while reflecting on this program that I see and appreciate how sneaky Dr. Harapnuik is with this whole learning thing. I hope that other learners throughout my cohort see their own learning development and recognize that we can help our learners do this too. This program has equipped us with so many strategies to effectively create and implement change in our areas.
For example, I’m reviewing the final usability assignment and seeing how many other courses lead and tie into this. Every step is connected to a previous one in some form or fashion. I see how much my thoughts and ideas evolve and how much stronger they will be as I invite others to innovate, advising with me.
I am giving myself a score of 96 out of 100
Crediting Core Group Members: Kelly Skillingberg, Shay McDonald, and Valary Patterson
Collective Members: https://advising.blog/collaborations/
The key working component of my ADL Program learning journey is the authentic learning opportunity. There were so many points throughout the instructional design process that the realistic aspect of my innovation provided the framework to structure my course around.
The cognitive dissonance experience while trying something new is always uncomfortable. Nonetheless, the determination of a learner’s mindset embraces every new learning opportunity. This required that I complete all of the provided reading materials and do a lot of additional research to understand instructional design principles and techniques.
An aspect in which I could do better would involve confidence in the design of the three-column table. Many times I had to redirect my attention back to that original plan. I kept hearing Dr. Harapnuik’s advice to peel more away instead of adding more content to drill down to the desired learning outcome without overwhelming information.
Through the ADL Collective GroupMe, I have maintained a solid contribution to the learning community I helped build. Our group is a fantastic support and primarily where my core collaboration group provides feedback to one another and anyone else seeking support.
I appreciated how each module’s discussion in this course provided an opportunity for review and feedforward from our classmates. This learning opportunity really allowed me to see how others interacted with the material, what other types of innovations were being implemented, and helped me clarify confusion at different stages of the instructional design process. This might be one of two course where the discussion component of learning did not feel forced or like an item to mark off the checklist. The discussions were very helpful to my learning process.
Throughout the course, I completed ALL of the course readings, videos, and supporting resources while meeting all activity deadlines as outlined.
I took leadership responsibility in your base group and the course by contacting my classmates to check on progress in assignments. I helped organize and host collaborative sessions to resolve confusion and discuss plans for course requirements and impacts to innovation ideas.
I contributed to the learning of my colleagues and myself by being active and engaged in every learning opportunity. I attended all class meetings and participated in chat threads to review assignments, clarify questions, and provide support. I always cite source material in blogs and discussion postings while ensuring timely posting to allow time for feedback and to provide contributions to my classmates.
Through class discussion posts and continued ePortfolio blogging, I made additional postings that were not required but contributed to my learning and understanding. I utilized APA citations while reflecting on my learning process.
I have continued to actively participate in my and my classmates’ learning by participating in every opportunity to learn. I constantly reflect on my learning process and embrace the learners’ mindset.
I allowed myself to get overwhelmed by a classmate this semester. During the early parts of the course, I was chatting and sending program examples to a confused classmate. I was basically attacked for my optimism and positivity. I was accused of being condescending for attempting to explain the COVA Framework and constructivist learning theory. I allowed this to make me withdraw from the ADL Collective chat as actively as I typically would based on these negative interactions. I know that I must embrace the learners mindset with learners in the heat of frustration over this uncomfortable approach to learning. This is something I am actively trying to improve as I move into the last two classes of the ADL program (after this one).
The Advisor That Cares 