Transformative learning

I just finished the chapter on transformative learning and found this video valuable in providing tips for this type of learning. I was unaware of what transformative learning was until it was defined by Clark.  "Transformative learning shapes people. They are different afterward in ways both they and others can recognize." (as cited in  Merriam, and Bierema, 2014)
I was trying to think of times that this has occurred with me and I kept on coming back to my experiences travelling. Many times travelling changed my opinions of what I previous knew, it gave me a different perspective. Often when you come home from along period of time family and friends will notice a change in you, I feel this is because of transformative learning. I always notice a change in myself when I go travelling as well.  I think this is why I love to travel!

References:

Merriam, S.B., & Bierema, L.L., (2014). Adult Learning: Linking theory and Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Image retrieved on July.28, 2017 from http://thegirlfriendmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RevengeTravelPartDeuxnewsroom.mastercard.com_.jpeg

Learning partner - key points

My leaning partner's name is Abhijit and he is an instructor/Chef in Alberta. This is the first time in this PIDP program that I have made a connection with a classmate over Skype, whatsapp etc. Our experiences are very similar in how we began our new careers in education and the trials and tribulations we have gone through. I have really enjoyed the conversations and this is the first time I have seen the value of these assignments.

Our discussion on trends in the field and education were very interesting. I'm not going to lie but I was drooling about the new possibilities in the pastry/dessert world that our coming our way. Abhijit talked about how the dessert experience is changing, specifically the culture. In the 90's customers would eat a dessert individually, and not really share. Now there seems to be a trend of shared plates and eventually the Chef will come out and make a dessert for everyone to share right at the table!! Most restaurants now are providing containers for dessert so there is no wasted food as well. We talked about how this will change how things are taught at his college and how it is important to keep current with your field and how it changes so rapidly. It all comes back to being a life-long learner. We also talked about how this is a great opportunity for the industry to show off their skills and to potentially recruit future Chefs into the field, thus ensuring that we have future students = job security for us!

 

How cool is that?! Makes you hungry doesn't it? I could see them extending this to being more interactive and getting the customers involved in the making of the dessert. A fantastic way to allow the Chef to be creative.

 

Abhijit's trend in education was online courses. We discussed the pros and cons and what we thought a perfect  online course for us would be. This trend looks like it will continue as it fits into the adults lifestyle, specifically with pace, comfort, liberty of finance.  This will have implications on our jobs in the future possibly as we might have to adapt our courses. We also both discussed different types of online courses and how they are set up. Some are open ended whereas others are set up so something is due every week and the course ends at a set time. All very interesting as we see education transforming to meet the student's needs.

 

Thanks again for your perspective Abhijit. I look forward to our next conversation.

 

Principles of Adult Learning Scale- Conti

 

Principles of Adult Learning Scale (PALS)

tilt.colostate.edu/files/eportfolios/167/File_4328F80C-C53… · DOC file · Web view

Principles of Adult Learning Scale (PALS) Developed by Gary J. Conti.


I just completed the PALS assessment and learned a lot about my teaching style. Is it "teacher centered" or "student centered"?

There were 6 factors and they were:

Factor 1: Learner-Centered Activities. I scored 47.
Factor 2: Personalizing Instruction. I scored 23.
Factor 3: Relating to Experience. I scored 24.
Factor 4: Assessing Student Needs. I scored 14.
Factor 5: Climate Building. I scored 17.
Factor 6: Participation in the Learning Process. I scored 8.
Factor 7: Flexibility for Personal Development. I scored 12.


Factors that were indicative of my teaching style through this assessment were Factors 1, 3, 4, and 5.

My total score was 145.

A total score between 0-145 indicates my style to be "teacher-centered" and 146-220 to be "student centered."
So this would say that I am teacher-centered but I look at as I am balanced between the two styles right now in my career. I would agree with the results of the assessment and feel that I might be slightly teacher centered due to my experience as a student with traditional teacher centered instructors and as I find my way in this profession I can see myself becoming more and more student centered.
 

Benefits of VR

http://immersivevreducation.com/virtual-reality-education-benefits/

Cone of learning shows benefits of VR, which is one of the trends in adult learning.

Trends in Adult Education

The article I have chosen is titled Is Virtual Reality the Future of Adult Education?

I have chosen this article because of previous course work in PIDP 3240 Media Enhanced Learning and a general interest which has now lead to a creativity and innovation project bringing VR into my classroom. I have also picked this topic because technology is not my strong suit and instead of shying away from it I have tried to embrace it and be a leader in our program/field/college. (social cognitive) I feel it is inevitable that it is coming, especially as prices are decreasing and more material is being made for the devices. I fell that this will greatly impact the learning and teaching experience. Where before you were limited by money, walls, time and environment - these devices can even the playing field and your only limitation will be your imagination.

What implications will this trend have for the way I will instruct over the coming years?
What will you need to do to prepare for such trends?

There are great implications that this trend will have on my teaching because I will have to keep up to date with all the technical changes that are occurring and be the expert with the material (devices). - a life long learner!(humanism)  The room I teach in might be completely different as it would need more space and might not have the traditional student desk. If VR is used, it may be a novelty item at first, or the excitement of using new technology may take away from the intended learning. This will mean that the lesson plan must be organized and explicit so that the outcome can be reached. This being new technology there may be issues with it so having resources for problems would be great. This technology may also be new to many students so there may be resistance to trying it.  I will also have to judge how the lesson is going and make adaptations so the intended learning outcome is met, such as time. The cost of the devices and material and students' inexperience with them may mean that more time is needed or not every student will be able to participate directly. The cost may also be a factor in using VR at all. There also most be more research to ensure VR is safe for developing minds. As the article mentioned there already seems to be research that shows greater empathy and learning occurs with VR. (cognitivism) What will I do for each individual to ensure that they are part of the lesson? I feel by incorporating this technology it will and can make me relate to the students better as well as making the educational experience more authentic. One of the biggest issues is whether or not their will be relevant material for these devices for my field. I might have to be the leader and create or find an expert who can create something and this might be the biggest hurdle I face. I need to make sure that the material is relevant to the outcome and not a gimmick. There must be purpose and value to using VR!  For example, out students are unable to go to an operating room setting in their first didactic term so we could use VR to bring this setting to them.

Creativity and Innovation Project - VR

Images for learning theories

Here are some images I have used to help me learn the theories. I am a visual learner and enjoy using humor so this is what has helped me remember what is what.

 

Cognitivism

Humanism

 

Behaviorism

 

Social Cognitive

 

 

Constructivism

 

 

 

References:

 

Images retrieved July.18, 2017 from the following websites:

 

 

 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2016/06/new-visual-on-blooms-digital-taxonomy.html   - Blooms taxonomy

https://wellthisiswhatithink.com/2013/08/21/maslows-new-hierarchy-of-needs/      - Maslows

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/366339750923755762 -Pavlov

https://www.pinterest.se/pin/550776229399313294/   social learning theory

http://www.salesprogress.com/hs-fs/hub/53724/file-14493332-jpg/images/self-reflection.jpg  constructivism

 

Learning Theories

Just finished Ch.2 - Traditional Learning Theories in Adult Learning:Linking Theory and Practice (Merriam& Bierema, 2014) and have done the self test. I originally thought behaviorism would fit my perspective on learning because this is a key component of one of the courses I teach as it is part of a technology program and is competency based .After doing the quiz I see that I jump around and end up having a mix of these perspectives (behaviorism, humanism, cognitivism, social cognitive, constructism). Depending on the situation at had I feel that all of these theories are used in my teaching, which I feel is a  good thing.

Below is a summary of the learning theories.

Learning Theories	Main Ideas	Main Theorists	Other
Behaviorism	-learning is a change in observable behavior  -believe that  human behavior is the result of the arrangement of particular stimuli in the environment -reward, reinforce, use behavioral objectives in instruction	Pavlov – dog experiment with bell (1890s) Watson (1920) – founder Skinner (1971) – developer of theory – arrange environment to bring about desired behavior	-integrated in K-12, and adult education -used for learning outcomes, competency based curricula, instructional design models, program planning models -evident in adult career and technical education, business and industry, and military -other examples – instructional technology, computer based training programs, programs to modify behavior, biofeedback programs -recognize role of feedback - Too mechanistic and too controlling- ignores complexity of human being in learning process ** MRAD program, specifically positioning MRAD 117 and clinical
Humanism	-learning is about development of the person	Maslow and Rogers (1950) – assumption that human beings have the potential for growth and development and that people are free to make choices and determine their behavior Maslow (1970) goal of learning is  self- actualization – become everything that one is capable of Rogers (1983) goal of learning fully functioning person Rogers (1950) – client centered therapy approach = student –centered vs teacher-centered approach	-opposite of behaviorism -spotlight is on the whole person including body, mind and spirit -Maslow’s Triangle –hierarchy of needs     -focus is on inner person, that person’s needs, desires, and wants and how these require attending to in any learning encounter     -emphasis on motivation -teacher is a facilitator rather than a dispenser (Rogers) ** What we are striving for – Camosun and MRAD program Rogers- defines learning with 5 principles 1)       Personal involvement 2)       Self-initiated 3)       Pervasive 4)       Evaluated by learner 5)       Essence  is meaning   Rogers (1969) – lifelong learners – “an educated person is one who can adapt and change” 3 major adult learning theories have roots in humanistic psychology
Cognitivism	- information-processing -used to facilitate learning and plan instruction with adults. -explains a lot about how we use the brain and our senses to process information	-Shift to the learner’s mental process -mind sees patterns and uses prior knowledge to process new information - (Grippin,Peters, 1984) – “the thinking person interprets sensations and gives meaning to the events that impinge upon his consciousness” -cognitivists “focus on insight, information processing, problem solving, memory and the brain.” -Piaget (1972) – cognitive development – 4 stages (infancy, child, ..adult) Arlin,Sinnot – problem finding Ausubel (1967) – meaningful learning-connect with concepts already in person’s cognitive structure Gagne (1985) –taxonomy of learning outcomes Bloom’s taxonomy (1956) – learning outcomes- cognitive, affective and psychomotor	Gestalt- pattern/shape Metaphor- computer: input, throughput and output  “information processing”   -cognitive development, memory, instructional design theories -memory research (Driscoll, 2005)    -sensory, short and long term   -adult learning- hearing and vision loss in aging may impact sensory memory     ** use blooms in lesson planning- outcomes and curriculum planning
Social Cognitive	-Subset of cognitive theory -Highlights the idea that much human learning occurs in a social environment -by observing others, people acquire knowledge, rules, skills, strategies, beliefs, and attitudes. -also learn about usefulness and appropriateness of behaviors (Shunk, 1996) -observe others and model their behaviour - draws from both behaviorism and cognitive theory -learning is social and context bound	-Bandura (1976, 86) – major theorists    - “persons can regulate their own behavior to some extent by visualizing self-generated consequences.”   - “ model is a triangle in which learning, the person, and the environment are interactive and reciprocal”   - Gibsons (2004) – suggests social cognitive theory is relevant to the workplace where-on-the job training and behavior modeling can assist in socializing employees to the workplace.	-adults learn social roles by observing and modeling others. -mentoring      - cognitive apprenticeships – wherein the mentor or instructor models how to think about whatever is being learned.
Constructivism	-collection of perspectives that share a common assumption that learning is how people make sense of their experience -learning is construction of meaning from experience	-constructivists see knowledge as “constructed by learners as they attempt to make sense of their experiences. Learners are not empty vessels waiting to be filled but rather active organisms seeking meaning.” (Driscoll, 2005) -draw from Piaget, Dewey, Vygotsky -Piaget- cognitive structure changes as we mature, allowing us to construct meaning at more sophisticated levels. Dewey’s (1938)- genuine education Vgotsky (1978) – role of sociocultural context in how people construct meaning from experience Candy (1991) teaching and learning is a process of negotiation Brooks and Brooks (1999) – mediators of students and environments –encourage dialogue with instructor, building on what students know -Brandon and All (2010) – nursing example – active learning	-foundational for understanding much of adult learning -aspects are central to self-directed learning, transformational learning, experiential learning, reflective practice, situated cognition and communities of practice ** self-reflection in courses -situated cognition theory-learning is situation specific ie. workplace learning - learning in context is emphasized in cognitive apprenticeships (Wenger, 1998) - makes learning ”authentic” ie. field trips

 

References:

Merriam, S.B., & Bierema, L.L., (2014). Adult Learning: Linking theory and Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

I also decided to test my Emotional Intelligence.

"Research from Harvard Business School demonstrated that EQ counts for twice as much as IQ and Technical Skills in determining who will be successful!" (IHHP, 2017)

What until I tell my parents IQ doesn't count but it's all about the emotional intelligence!!! I do find this very interesting, and I feel it is important to know where you are as a person, which will help myself grow and allow me to know my strengths and weaknesses. I am hoping to be able to use this information to be a better teacher and to also understand my students.

Good EQ

Congratulations! You have high emotional intelligence. This is good news! EQ counts for twice as much as IQ and technical skills combined in determining who will be a star performer. Your level of EQ likely has been and will be a driver of your high performance under pressure for years to come. Areas to work on: While you are doing well, don’t forget to take time out of your busy day-to-day activities to stop and reflect on what brings you the greatest meaning in your life. If we fail to do this on a regular basis, we risk becoming tranquilized by the trivial, sedated by the small details. Yes, deadlines need to be met and goals achieved. But if we are working toward goals that are not in alignment with our key values and greater purpose, we face becoming frustrated and cynical when we face pressure – losing sight of the reason we are doing ‘all of this’ in the first place!



As William James said: "I have no doubt whatsoever that most people live, whether physically, intellectually, or morally, in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness… much like a man who, out of his whole body organism, should get into the habit of using and moving only his little finger… We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon, of which we do not dream."

Reference:

Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP) (2017) Test your Emotional Intelligence: Free EQ Quiz  Retrieved from http://www.ihhp.com/free-eq-quiz/

 

Brain Dominance

After reading Ch.9 The Brain and Cognitive Functioning I wanted to find out a few things about myself regarding brain dominance and emotional intelligence.

Here are the results:

Right or left

I am right brain dominant but seem to be fairly equal. I am not surprised by the results as I feel I am fairly balanced when I look at the characteristics or right and left hemisphere dominant persons.
If you would like to take the test click on this link. I do find this very interesting because I have been in the science field most of my life (left brain) but have a very creative side (right) . I feel the profession of teaching allows me to do both!

Trends in the Field

My field is Medical Radiography, and the end result is becoming an x-ray technologist. There are a few trends that are occurring in our field which will directly affect my role as an educator and an x-ray technologist. The two I would like to mention are the profession joining a college. This seems inevitable, that we will be joining the college of diagnostic and therapeutic health professions.  The college is meant to protect the public and will in turn have specific requirements of its' members, such as educational standards, and continued education credits. There will also be new or modified standards of practice and ethics. These changes will affect my courses in the future as I will have to make the necessary adaptations in course outcomes and learning activities. Having an educational requirement for each technologist annually may also create an opportunity for me to instruct new classes and develop in-services for credits that will cover what the technologist's would like to know more about. I think this is a great opportunity for me and the college. As a technologist in the field this new change will force/encourage me to keep up to date, which should lead to more enjoyment in the career, and potentially new roles at the workplace. My one fear is finding time and money to take extra courses , as at times the demands of the job already feel like a lot. Will the technologist population feel that they are being forced to do this or will they embrace the new requirements? As mentioned in previous education books in the PIDP program the adult learner does enjoy autonomy. I guess they will have some though because I do not know if there are only specific subjects that will get educational credits. Lots to think about and get explained before the switch is made. It would be nice if  the workplace provided a way to achieve some of theses credits during in-services as well.

Another trend that is occurring is the advanced practice role for radiological technologists. Reasoning behind this potential change is due to population growth and service provider numbers declining. One of the roles would be a radiologist assistant. "This role would take the lead in patient assessment, management and education as well as perform selected radiological procedures as delegated by the radiologist." (Paul, 2009) These new changes could change our whole program and therefore the whole curriculum. This change would also affect me as a technologist in the hospital setting because as roles change in the workplace my skills, if they do not adapt, will be come less favorable to an employer, as I will not be as flexible. It is kind of scary  because you have trained for this job and over time the job changes due to demands and if you do not keep adapting then you will be unable to be employed. I think this will be difficult for everyone in the profession, especially those who have been in the job for decades. How will the job sites, the college, and educational institutions provide a way for all employers to meet the demands of the workplace?

Overall, the changes that are occurring in our field greatly affect what is happening in my classroom and the workforce as I will have to keep up to date and ensure that my course outline and outcomes are meeting the standards set by the college and the workplace. This may also include a change in how the program is structured. Basically, I will have to keep learning and adapting.



References:

Paul, D. (2009). An overview of initiatives relating to advanced practice role development for radiological technologists. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 40(3), 90-99.

Me

Hello everybody. PIDP 3100 is my last course in the program before I tackle my capstone project. I actually tried to take this course first but found it too overwhelming while teaching a full course load and getting used to the online format. I am hoping for a different result this time and a different perspective now that I have taken the other courses. I am currently about to start my third year teaching at Camosun College in the Medical Radiography program (x-ray) and have grown so much as an instructor, with the help of these courses and support of my colleagues. I have two beautiful children, 2 and 5 years of age and a beautiful supportive wife that have helped me get through the first few years of teaching as it has had it's ups and downs.  Anyone that is starting their career and taking these courses is taking a step forward to success in my opinion as they have really given me ideas and information to allow me to better understand what is going on in the classroom. As far as spare time, (who has that the first years as a teacher? :) ) , I enjoy playing basketball but am currently recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.