Finals Week Fall 2013

12/4/2012

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I have to say that as far as a term goes, this one has been pretty awesome. I have come away with some cool new tools and some new friends and colleagues (pictured left).


One of my finals was to write a reflection of my experience in my Instructional Technology class. See it below:


I really enjoyed this class, because I really got to expand my knowledge of the variety of free programs, which I think have been really enriching for me. The coolest thing for me has been making the website. I have tried to make one using one of these free sites, but like 10 years ago… and the result was sloppy and horrible. I then took a class in college which taught me Dreamweaver. The result was better, but still amateurish, and I really can’t remember much about it. I found this website building very easy to use (although a little limiting), but the results are really good. I have also decided to start blogging a little, and I have already used this website on a resume to show off some of my stuff.

I really can’t think of a specific low point, I know I struggled with the mind map for a bit, because I had no idea what to do it on. Then when I finally settled on something it ended up being huge and time consuming.  I still have some trouble with Prezi, but it may be a little bit of a personal bias, because I got kind of sea sick while watching the first couple. Plus when I was setting it up, the navigation wasn’t familiar, so it would be frustrating to get stuck somewhere, or with the paged turned askew and not knowing how to get back to normal.

I think that because I am already pretty savvy with technology, so for most of the projects I was really able to jump in and get started. I liked that the programs we weren’t super complicated, but they had awesome results.

What I am taking away is really just a huge amount of practical experience and a tool belt full of different ideas that will help me to mix up my activities and maximize the learning opportunities. I also have a rockin’ online portfolio, that looks great now, but I will be able to update and change as I do more with my career. Like I said I am already using this on my resume, both for jobs that I am interviewing for (cross your fingers for me, I applied to be a Trainer for DHS) and for the internships that I am seeking for next term.  I am really looking forward to next term, and thank you, Jonan for sharing your brain with us. Next term is going to be awesome!

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Personal Philosophy on Adult Education

12/2/2012

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As and assignment for a class, I had to write a personal philosophy of adult education. It really made me sit down and think. Anyhow, I figured it would be a great first blog post, so here it is.


Also, this photo is the only one from graduation (in 2009) that I actually like, so I hope my friend Mel, doesn't mind.

Personal Philosophy

     A personal philosophy for Adult Education is very important to have written down. Your personal philosophy is what guides the way you create and present in every aspect of your work. If you don’t have a road map, you may not wind up where you want to be. It’s important to check in with your philosophy, to remind yourself why you are doing this, and what you value, otherwise burn out and laziness can cause you to stray to what is easy, rather than what is right.


I believe strongly that good education involves 3 things. First, that everyone comes to the table with different experiences, and those experience not only shape how that students learn, but they are also valuable to the other co-learners. Second, that while it’s important for an instructor/facilitator to have a lot of preparation and planning for every class, it is also very important to leave room and have flexibility for student driven exploration. And three, mixing things up, and incorporating different types of activities will help keep your participants engaged, and maximize the experience for all of those involved.


If you have an understanding of Constructivist Learning Theory and Social Cognitive Learning Theory, you will see that I pull a lot of this from those philosophies. If people construct meaning based on their own experiences, which is an inescapable with adult learners, then their experiences are valuable. Because of this, I think that small group discussions, personal reflection, group work, and sharing are important parts of learning. As a human, you are more likely to get meaning out of a lesson if you can attach it to something meaningful to you, and the human experience is based on our relationship with others.


It is also important to remember, that every adult learner is seeking knowledge for a reason. In most situations it is important to provide certain information, however providing the experience that the learner is seeking is equally important. Otherwise, what is the point? This is why it is important to have expected outcomes and plans on how to get there (in fact, I think that you should always plan more material than you think you need), but allow for students to direct the learning when appropriate. Underneath adult education is the goal to impart valuable knowledge or experience onto the participants, but only the participant knows what is the most relevant for themselves.


As an adult learner myself, I know that the plain lecture only classes are the most difficult for me to engage in, so why would I do that as an educator myself? However, I also recognize that not everyone enjoys things like role plays, group work, student presentation, or discussions. This is why I feel it is important to mix it up. Use a bunch of different types of activities, so everyone will get something they like and maybe a couple of things that are a little uncomfortable. I think the it is important to push people a little bit so they can gain experience and possibly push the boundaries of their world, but not so much to have them shut down, which will not allow them to gain anything from the experience.


By embracing these three principals, and allowing room for growth in my philosophy, I hope to be an effective instructor/facilitator. By having a written philosophy, I have a living document to refer to, which will allow me to edit and change, as I learn and grow.
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