Category: Learning Community

A New Culture of Learning, ADL Program, Advising, Collective, Growth, Innovation Plan, Learner's Mindset, Learning, Learning Community, Personal, Professional, Reflecting

Humanism and Advising

The Advisor That Cares

I’m feeling very wishy-washy. I keep thinking I have found a learning theory, then I learn more about it and change my mind again. Most recently, I thought there might be a mash-up between Humanism and Constructivism as my learning philosophy. I have read so much literature over the last several weeks. I have flip-flopped and flipped again. I find value in so many of the learning theories.

Right now, I am mentally agreeing with enthusiasm over the recent publications I’ve found regarding humanistic advising. Humanistic advising aligns with every professional purpose and passion I can currently identify. I can see my passion and interest in the humanistic advising philosophy in the professional development sessions I select and attend. I know that being caring and compassionate is 110% why I do what I do, why I stay when it’s tough, and why I try to go above and beyond everything single opportunity.

Andy Johnson [Dr. Andy Johnson]. (2015, May 22). Humanistic Learning Theory: Overview [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMGRWVXyrqg

The biggest challenge has been trying to wrap my mind around ways to bring this hands-on learning approach into my role and relationships with students. Throughout my New Culture of Advising consideration, I desperately wanted to find ways to introduce the power of the collective into my advising relationships. Federal regulations still limit me from connecting students with other students. Finding multiple current sources of humanism and advising gives me hope that there is a learning theory that will align with my goals and passions.

Nonetheless, as seen in my last post, I desperately want to incorporate the constructivist experience from which I currently benefit. The process of identifying a learning philosophy has indeed been a labor of love, and I ultimately see the reasoning in this painful pursuit. I cannot help but wonder if others read a brief description of the learning theories and picked from a paragraph or two. I have been digging and discovering sources and context in desperation for the one that felt right.

Andy Johnson [Dr. Andy Johnson]. (2015, November 11). CONSTRUCTIVISM: PART 1. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuS6E2mXqNE&list=PLtvxUlJdr92B__8zIcLxVDEpkLuOaorP2&index=3
A New Culture of Learning, ADL Program, Advising, Collective, Contributions, Evolution, Goals, Growth, Growth Mindset, Learner's Mindset, Learning, Learning Community, Personal, Professional, Reflecting

What am I?

The Advisor That Cares

In my last post, I explained that looking back on my undergraduate psychology and sociology degree program. I recognized that I connected most with those courses that involved me in the learning process and required my reflection and personal interpretation/experience with the materials. I feel like my own learning preference is for one of authentic ownership, as we experience in the ADL Program

Reflecting on my beliefs about my role in the learning of others makes me wonder which learning theory aligns with my professional beliefs as an advisor. Examining my years as an advisor, I can honestly say that I only know what I have been exposed to through my experience and professional organizations.

My professional experience

When I was hired into higher education, I worked at a centralized first two-year advising center that believed in intrusive advising. Our role was to identify those most at risk and provide support and guidance as they transitioned into college students. I jumped into this role by organizing tours for advisors to visit support services offered across campus. I wanted to know the individuals I could contact when a student needed support. I wanted a first-person understanding of the facility, delivery, and offerings to describe them to my students in ways that would alleviate any trepidation about being labeled, being afraid, and preventing them from being comfortable trying something new or uncomfortable. There were occasions when I would walk with my students to these service locations for a personalized handoff. We had frequent communication with our assigned advisees and much smaller cohort sizes. I frequently participated with the college department I represented at the advising center again to keep my students informed about student organizations and other opportunities to bond with their community of interest.

Despite this genuine passion for student success, I have never been able to connect with advising theories about student development. I participate in my professional organization by attending conferences, sessions, and webinars about topics that interest me or seem suitable to my situation or students. The theories and resources always appeared to me as if they were written for faculty advisors and people who have long depth conversations and relationships with students and their curriculum. I typically interact with a student three times a year, around registration time, if they don’t have questions, need support, or show signs of being at risk academically. My literature review caused a crisis of self. As I read research about advising, I could not help but wonder if I have been a good advisor without employing any formal theory over the years.

Through the active learning process that is the ADL, we are presented with resources, information, references, and perspectives. Still, we are left to seek and search for many more. Thus far, my three program instructors have all identified as constructivist. I can’t honestly say I had ever learned of these theories. I silently panicked that this is something taught in Pedagogy since many in my program cohort are teachers at various levels and institutions.

This is a challenging experience for many, including myself. We are left thinking, “Wait, aren’t you going to teach me?” (Lecture) and “How am I supposed to create that?” (Checklist). Nonetheless, I attempted to embrace the challenge of learning by doing within an unlimited boundary of an assignment or course.

We are encouraged to create our own learning communities, and now I better recognize them as collectives. This constructivist approach of making an environment where learners can learn leaves many still trying to fit into the regurgitation education model. How many discussion comments? How many blog posts? Do we have to prove that we held learning community meetings? As learners, we have been duped into believing that learning is about the assessment of the professor or the program. I get it. It is in the sense that we are all here with hopes of degree attainment, but, in the process, we miss out on the genuinely hands-on, authentic, make it yours experience we have here.

I recently searched for Simon Sinek and found he offers a 4 session course on finding your why. I thought, “hot diggity, I can get ahead of the curve!” by preparing for the class that utilizes his book Start with Why. Our experience here, in just that single component/regard, is valued at $4,900ish for four sessions. We get around eight sessions in our eight-week coursework. I want to absorb every morsel of knowledge, experience, and content our instructors want to throw at us. I want to learn about their learning experience, success tips, and tricks. I want to grow, learn, and experience what this program is presenting. Knowing and embracing that I can really make a difference. That is what this whole advising thing has always been about for me. That is what makes me a good advisor. I care, I want to make a difference, and if I don’t know the answer, I will do my best to find it or connect you with someone who can.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no life outside of work and school, but the journey is what you make it, right? I’m in. I am all in. I want to change the world, one learner at a time. I want to use my current position, the challenges, and the opportunities it holds and make it better for my students and my colleagues. I want to be a catalyst for change.

So which theory is going to help me accomplish that?

A New Culture of Learning, ADL Program, Advising, Collective, ePortfolios, Goals, Learner's Mindset, Learning, Learning Community, Professional, Reflecting

Authentic Ownership

The Advisor That Cares

Throughout the ADL Program, we have “unlimited agency” to explore our purpose and passion, which reignite imagination and creativity (Thomas & Brown, 2011). My desire to question and explore ways to bring advising innovation to life in genuinely significant ways taps into a form of play. Creating an authentic and significant learning environment extends the same learning opportunity to advisees as they follow their passions and imagine their futures. 

By illustrating how learners today engage with the world around them through acts of questioning, the use of play, peer-to-peer learning, and learning in interest-based “collectives,” Thomas and Brown (2011) argue the case for the modernization of education. As a learner who currently directly benefits from the fundamental elements (inquiry and play) these authors identify, this learner agrees that it is time for a complete evolution.

Finally, real-world applications of the ideas outlined throughout the book reveal what significant learning environments and learning look like when they happen in this world of unlimited access while creating meaningful and personal learning (Thomas & Brown, 2011).

So, how can a new culture of advising create a meaningful environment for adult graduate students to learn in accelerated online programs?

Personal experience in peer-to-learning collectives as an aspect of the ADL program has reignited a passion for tapping into the strengths and passions of various people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The wide variety of our assignments and interpretation of the material is fascinating. Bringing that same opportunity for collaboration and cohort identity into the advising environment will benefit student learning.

The advising role is much like the mentor relationship described by Thomas and Brown. My purpose is to empower students on how to find information so they can make informed decisions about their path. By guiding students through the “where” of information gathering to locate policies and departmental requirements, I hope to enrich their ability to think critically and search for the questions they need to ask and the resources they need to seek to find or confirm tips and information they need. Douglas Thomas (2012) inspires me to “help people connect their passions to the things they need to learn” (TEDx Talks, 2012). 

The ADL program and A New Culture of Learning have pushed me to continue peeling the layers of transparency as I refine and define my voice. The authors candidly explore ideas of public and private information and identities to address concerns over the melding of these two arenas (Thomas & Brown, 2011). For example, some institutions and advising units utilize social media to push information, resources, and literacy. After seeing how valuable these tools and the collective born from shared interests are, I cannot help but ponder how we can connect future counselors, innovators, and leaders with one another? How can keep them engaged with their passion for inspiring continued learning about their futures and the available information resource? 

References

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 ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

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, 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, Contributions, ePortfolios, Growth Mindset, Growth Mindset Plan, Learner's Mindset, Learning, Learning Community, Learning Manifesto, Professional, Reflecting

Contributions, 5302

The Advisor That Cares

Concepts of Ed Tech Course

  • Summer 2022
  • Course Number: EDLD 5302
  • Course Title: Concepts of Educational Technology

Contributions to learning and learning community.

I am giving myself a score of 95 out of 100

Crediting Group Members: Bethany Eisele, Lera Longbottom, Nastarja Tyler, Rachael Lancon, and Stacey Powell

Key and Supporting Contributions

Reflecting on my third course in the ADL Program, I have to say that I am finally feeling more confident about the COVA approach to this program and learning in general. This is not to say that it is always comfortable working this way, but I can see how much in-depth knowledge is gained through this approach. I actively seek information and teach myself more than just the minimum required readings/videos in search of greater understanding. I am constantly working to see if there is more information that I can add to my knowledge base. I think about my thinking through reflections and revisit assignments on an ongoing basis to continue making connections. 

The part I feel I could do better is finding value and making deeper connections from the discussion posts. There is too much of a status quo learning (regurgitation) aspect to the post and comment expectation which always seems to lack the intended connection between students. Initially, the discussions provide a way to find people with common interests or goals. Still, once our communities are formed, they seem to lack substance since it can be several weeks before someone sees comments thereby lacking engagement in meaningful dialogs. While keeping up with the posts and comments, I feel something more valuable could be discovered or utilized to increase that aspect of the program. 

I actively contributed and took on a leadership role wherever possible within my core collaboration group. I continued the shared google drive from last semester, purchasing additional storage space, and creating weekly to-do lists, discussion prompts, and video/reading notes for continued shared collaboration. Utilizing a group chat and google docs/drive, our core learning community maintained a collaborative group that welcomed new members (Nastaja and Stacey) and continually provided feedforward on all assignments. While discussing questions about previous experience in the program, we revisit our previous projects and make continuous improvements on past coursework. 

As I embrace ownership of this Portfolio, I strive toward an ownership perspective to my innovation. As I experience the freedom of choice that promotes this portfolio ownership, I am inspired to provide my students with options along their academic paths. As I revise and review my content, I realize that I can further improve my message and model that through as many interactions as possible. I can apply the knowledge obtained this semester (growth mindset, learning manifesto, feedforward, learning networks) to strengthen my voice. This improves the communication, information, and resources I provide through my synchronous (phone/virtual) and asynchronous (email/portfolio) interactions, which helps to build trusted advisor-advisee relationships. From a technical skills perspective, it has also been rewarding to continue improving the aesthetic and function of the Portfolio with my intended audience in mind. I started updating past and current learning network opportunities to my Portfolio, which has allowed me to reflect upon the benefits of these collaborative/professional networks and makes me want to strive to do better in my contributions to these networks.   

I completed all of the course readings, videos, and additional resources. I often researched other content for topics that interested me in more detail, such as Universal Learning Design, the ISTE standards, and everything I could get my hands on about the Growth Mindset. This self-driven desire to learn and understand helped me meet the deadlines for all projects, assignments, and posts, further providing the opportunity for more collaboration, mentorship, and reflection. 

Learning Community Key and Supporting Contributions

In addition to meeting all of the support contributions and taking a leadership role in my core learning group, I have found a new role as a facilitator for our learning cohort. I have always considered myself helpful, but now I have found a way to gain even more insight and understanding by helping others. My learning community has expanded to every classmate that joined the ADL 2021-2023 GroupMe. I created this group and posted an open invitation to the student lounge after being inspired by a similar DLL group last semester made up of those more advanced in the program. I knew I wanted to help create a culture that encouraged and supported one another throughout the program. Since I am not pursuing the accelerated option, I hoped for a group of positive collaborators from all levels to facilitate mentorship and mentoring opportunities. I found a wonderful sense of purpose through this course and by taking accountability for myself and my learning community through this expanded collaboration. I have encouraged my classmates via this group, and I modeled feedforward behavior with all the group members, hoping they would do the same. I hosted multiple zoom sessions for this course, upgraded to zoom pro to host longer sessions, and began hosting other sessions for those in the Innovation Course. I helped connect students who had not yet identified their core learning community with others in the same situation. The most exciting time came when members began hosting sessions for one another, providing the type of encouragement I hoped to foster.  

ADL Program, Advising, ePortfolios, Evolution, Growth, Growth Mindset, Learning Community, Personal, Professional, Reflecting

Reflecting

The Advisor That Cares

I came to the ADL Program hoping to understand better what my students experience in online graduate programs at LU. I assumed that I might pick up a few technology skills here and there, but my primary focus was on having a first-person experience so that I could better relate. I have been blown away by the relevance and value that just these first three classes have provided to my daily job duties as an advisor. The most valuable aspect of this program has been finding creative ways to meet my students’ needs 24/7 via my Portfolio. I have developed my Portfolio as questions arise or when different semester times come near (i.e., final grades, graduation, etc.). The ability to make my projects authentic and valuable has been an unexpected and highly appreciated aspect of the program. The shift from regurgitation to real-life projects was not one I expected when beginning this academic journey. The COVA model has been the educational experience I did not know I was missing, yet one I have longed for my whole life. The ownership that comes from this real-life need, the choice in how I will present my information and learning, and the incredible personal voice that is developing through the process of reflection are not things I expected to find while working on a graduate degree.

This program taught me more about collaboration and mentoring, in just these first three courses, than I ever expected (or honestly wanted) to learn. I am finding that by helping others, I can help myself. I am learning to stop being the stubborn silent student who only focuses on getting their work done to be a valuable member of a learning community and class cohort. I have thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the program.

The most significant aspect of the COVA Model I hope to incorporate into my ePortfolio is the ownership and choice aspects that allow my advisees to have their authentic path to degree completion. I want to develop resources that give students a choice on their preferred delivery method and equip them with information to make informed decisions along their academic path.

I can see that creating a Portfolio sheerly to meet this program’s requirements would lead to a lack of persistence. Reading the studies on Portfolio persistence makes me strive to keep this an authentic part of my personal and professional life so that my Portfolio can continue to grow and evolve to serve those I serve. I am lucky that our program allows us to use real-world learning situations to create a Portfolio that will help us for years to come, should we embrace it.

I think the most valuable personal lesson that I am carrying with me is the one of a growth mindset. I can learn to do anything I put my mind to if I remember that I don’t need to be perfect or know everything. There are so many opportunities that become available once the message of yet is accepted.

I look forward to my continued evolution as a learner, and I’m excited to see how that will impact my advisees.

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). Choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning. Creative Common License.

ADL Program, Advising, Learning Community, Professional, Reflecting

Networking

The Advisor That Cares

As I begin reflecting on the benefit of networking and what learning networks I would join, I had some difficulty. I realized I needed to do a little more research to determine what is considered a learning network so I started by performing an internet search. 

Stanford Social Innovation Review says “Learning networks are a form of collaboration that enables groups of stakeholders to cultivate connections across communities and organizations, and to strengthen a whole system simply by focusing on the potential for participants to share information and learn from one another” (Ehrlichman & Sawyer, 2018). 

As soon as I read this definition, I immediately realized that I am already actively participating in several learning networks through my professional organization. I am currently a member of the following learning networks: 

Technology in Advising Community

The purpose of NACADA’s Technology in Advising Community is to help academic advisors, faculty advisors, and advising administrators understand the impact of using technologies in advising, including:

  • Online communication & virtual advising
  • Degree audits & web registration
  • Student information systems & electronic advising notes  
  • Social and connected spaces for innovative staff/faculty resources
  • Understand the ideas and trends of how technology is being utilized in higher education

Our activities include:

  • annual review and sponsorship of national conference proposals
  • solicitation of national and regional conference presentations and workshops 
  • compiling web resources for advisors, arranged by topics
  • organizing Twitter chats throughout the year

This community seeks to serve as a central resource and clearinghouse for information about innovations and issues in academic advising technology. Through our webpage, listserv, and our social media platforms including our NACADA Technology in Advising Facebook Group, on Twitter (using the hashtag #AcAdv or #AdvTech), and at national and regional conferences, we actively seek to encourage NACADA members to engage in topical discussions and activities related to the uses of technology in advising. 

Advising community for wellbeing and advisor retention

The Well-Being & Advisor Retention Advising Community community exists to encourage advisors to address wellbeing and self-care with their students, while also encouraging the same for advisors. This community thus hopes to decrease burnout amongst advisors and increase retention in the field. This community views wellbeing as a holistic and human need for students and advisors alike, and views self-care as ensuring student and advisor needs are met. This community hopes to encourage discussion among advisors about integrating wellbeing and self-care into advising appointments with students, while also encouraging institutions to consider the needs of their advising staff, and advisors to consider their own self-care. This community will do this by conducting research of both advisors and students, and considering and creating innovative approaches for both students and advisors. 

Our Advising Community has identified the following areas of focus: 

  • Research –  Coordinate academic research and review existing works for the committee’s use
  • Innovative Practice: Students –  Focus on new/emerging practices in incorporating wellness/wellbeing into the advising relationship, contributing to student retention/success
  • Innovative Practice: Advisors –  Focus on new/emerging practices in incorporating wellness/wellbeing into an advisor’s work, contributing to staff retention/success  
  • Regional Liaisons – Connect with regional chairs and conference chairs to incorporate wellness/wellbeing into regional events/planning; reach out to region chairs to find out what the region needs are in the areas of wellness and retention and the ways our community can assist them.

Advising Community on Distance Advising for Online Education

This community is dedicated to providing advisors with resources and insight into best practices relating to distance advising in online education. Advisors within this community can network with professionals who are responsible for providing advising services to students whose primary method of instruction is online.

Establishing an essential relationship with a student can be difficult in the online world of advising and distance learning. The Advising Community on Distance Education Advising hopes to become the community where advisors in any discipline can come network and share best practices regarding advising students whose primary method of instruction is online.

Goals:

  • Recruit members for the community address book and utilize these individuals to assist with research, writing, and presentation proposals for NACADA conferences.
  • Create an interactive online advising guidebook and publish sections to the commission website.
  • Host at least three webinars for the 2016-2017 year relating to advising online students.
  • Create a Facebook page to increase commission awareness and inform advisors of best practices relating to distance advising for online education. 

Benefits: https://nacada.ksu.edu/Community/Advising-Communities/Get-Involved-Benefits.aspx

In addition to these communities available through NACADA, I also frequently participate with TEXAAN. Both of these professional organizations believe strongly in connecting advisors with others within the advising profession. Some are professional advisors, some are faculty advisors, and still others are administrators; but we all find ways to learn from one another. For example, both these organizations and individual learning networks try to hold monthly coffee and connect sessions where topics of different interests are covered. These learning networks have been extremely helpful, especially through the shutdowns of 2020. Our communities have held frequent webinars about how each of our institutions was addressing technology concerns, how we were helping our students navigate online learning, and pushed one another to remember self-care through such a challenging event. I have participated in several online discussions within my profession. 

The benefit of these learning networks cannot be expressed enough. These networks provide us with a safe space to share the challenges (and victories) we each face guiding students through their academic paths. We have collaborated on solutions and new perspectives by maintaining a safe space to bring our challenges to one another. 

Reference

Ehrlichman, D., & Sawyer, D. (2018, July 27). Learn before you leap: The catalytic power of a learning network (SSIR). Stanford Social Innovation Review: Informing and Inspiring Leaders of Social Change. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://ssir.org/articles/entry/learn_before_you_leap_the_catalytic_power_of_a_learning_network#:~:text=Learning%20networks%20are%20a%20form,and%20learn%20from%20one%20another.

ADL Program, Contributions, Growth, Learning, Learning Community, Reflecting

Contributions, 5303

The Advisor That Cares

ePortfolio Course

  • Spring 2022
  • Course Number: EDLD 5303
  • Course Title: Applying Digital Technology Portfolio
On a background of blue sky with fluffy white clouds are green street signs. One has arrows pointing in opposite directions and the other reads "take and give."

Contributions to learning and learning community.

I am giving myself a score of 93 out of 100

Crediting Group Members: Bethany Eisele, Lera Longbottom, and Rachael Lancon

Key and Supporting Contributions

Reflecting on this ePortfolio course my second of the ADL program, I can say with confidence that I worked throughout the semester to be sure I read all of the assigned materials, watched all of the accompanying videos, and followed the subsequent links. I would sometimes ask about a link deep down the links trail to find that not everyone link dived as deeply as I. It took a while to create a systematic method to go through the material to avoid getting lost. I am doing my best to adapt the skills, knowledge, and information I learn into my ePortfolio development and personal learning. I revised all assignments and reflected on being deliberate with the choice of content on my ePortfolio by taking complete ownership of my authentic experience, which helped me develop my voice.

I believe I helped build our core group by reaching out via course mail after our first class meeting. A few classmates contributed to the class conversation and just had a generally positive perspective that made me want to collaborate with them. After a few days of coordination, we formed our core learning community. Having worked in a learning community in the first course, I quickly jumped on creating a GroupMe channel for our group and set up a google drive so that we could share documents and collaborate. I made a “getting to know one another” ice breaker type document within the google drive to allow group members to share and start building relationships. We had cute short bios, including photos that allowed us to connect on a personal level. We gave information about ourselves, our ePortfolio platform, and our innovation strategy. Our core group was great about contributing to weekly group discussions and provided commentary on each other’s thoughts. As we discussed weekly content, we explored further our thoughts, our learning, and our ePortfolio development, leading to additional ideas, blog posts, and blackboard discussion posts. We each worked to give one another timely feedback on discussions and our ePortfolios. I created weekly to-do list to help our learning community keep track of course content, readings, discussion posts, group discussions, and blog suggestions from the weekly modules.

Sharing two classes with my learning cohort allowed us to get to know one another through class discussions. The last two weeks of discussion posts were the most collaborative our cohort has been. It was amazing to see the class come together to help one another with ePortfolio feedforward suggestions. The part that I think I could do better would have been to offer group collaboration sessions regularly for the whole class. I did post in the student lounge that I was interested in mentorship and mentoring opportunities. I connected with several classmates via course mail in the first few weeks of the course, but none grew into the mentoring/mentorship type collaboration I envisioned.

Learning Community Key and Supporting Contributions

I was able to take leadership responsibility in my group in various ways. First, by creating communication avenues and a place to collaborate, as previously described. Then, as the most experienced member of our group (which is quite humorous considering I had only completed one course at the time), I provided feedback on my learning communities’ innovation coursework.

I set up weekly zoom meetings for Tuesdays at 7 pm immediately following the class meeting. I contributed to all learning activities and opportunities and actively participated in the meetings and discussions. Through our group discussions, I was able to dive more deeply into the content of the weekly modules and reflect upon my learning process.

I attended a literature review information session hosted by the Mary and John Gray Library. I informed my learning community about it since I knew they were working on that component in their innovation course. I shared my thoughts, feelings, and struggles with my learning community. Their support through having a peer group discuss content, vent about frustrations, celebrate victories, and with whom to share the learning experience with has been valuable. I only wish for more; more collaboration, more discussions, and more interaction.

I still struggled to keep up with discussion posts once I had added mine to the LMS. However, I eventually figured out how to subscribe to the discussion posts and was able to respond in real-time to my classmates’ posts. I even created a discussion post in the student lounge and a blog post, hoping to help current and future classmates who struggle with this aspect. Had I figured this out earlier in the semester I may have experienced more real-time dialog about the course material.

ADL Program, Contributions, ePortfolios, Evolution, Growth, Learning, Learning Community, Personal, Reflecting

Hugs

The Advisor That Cares
Two women wearing black shirts embrace in a hug. Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

I always do my best to shine a little light, encouragement, and love with those willing to connect. Tonight, I stopped at the local drug store. The employee was having a rough night, and I asked how much longer her shift was (10:30 pm with 7 am return).

My husband picked up chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and she said she would come over to cry and help me eat it. She said something about being a hug person, and I lamented how much I also miss hugs.

As I was preparing to leave, I asked, “can I give you a hug?” She accepted and met me at the end of the counter for a genuine hug.

My favorite days are the days I get to hug strangers. I’ve missed it so much.


As I said goodbye to my classmates Tuesday night (our last class meeting), I had to say out loud that I would miss seeing many of them next semester (accelerated post coming soon). Some will be graduating by December, and our classes no longer overlap. Tonight, I reflected on our one-two sessions together, our growth and vulnerabilities.

Then I realized that some of them will walk at the commencement ceremonies. I volunteer at those events and hug strangers at those events. Surely, I will get to meet some classmates at graduation! I started to imagine the next two years! Three ceremonies a year, potentially meeting the people with whom I will undoubtedly grow so much.

  • Who will we be after completing another class? What about two classes from now? Four?
  • Can you imagine looking at our final projects, reflections, innovation plans, and these digital babies (our ePortfolios)?
  • How much will they/we change through the evolution of this program?
  • How are you feeling?
  • Have you taken a good deep breath lately?
  • Have you hugged a stranger? (Okay, I know that the last one’s not for everyone)