Reflective Writing #1

PID 3100 – Assignment 4: Reflection 1 has us reflecting on quotes out of Merriam & Bierema’s Adult Learning – Linking Theory and Practice textbook. I chose my first reflective writing assignment to be on Rogers’ quote:

“an educated person is one who has learned how to learn…how to adapt and change.” (p.31)

Below is the full text of my reflection.

Assignment 4: Reflection 1

Objective

For my first reflective writing assignment, I’ve chosen to reflect on Rogers statement (as cited in Merriam & Bierema, 2014) that, “[An educated person is one] who has learned how to learn… how to adapt and change” (p. 31). Here, Rogers was reflecting on the notion that in our fast paced modern world, it is not enough to merely learn facts; we must learn how to rapidly adapt to changing circumstances, and self-learn to address new challenges. In essence, we must redefine what it means to be educated.

Reflective

This quote caught my attention because it reminded me of some very motivating words spoken to me by an instructor I met in the Electrical Engineering program at UBC. I was scarcely 20 years old and found myself in uncharted waters as I entered university. Unaccustomed to the stresses and pacing of university life, I was sinking under the seemingly impossible problems posed by my instructor.

I felt completely ill prepared for the challenges of the Engineering program. I confided this, and the instructor explained that the engineering program was not about solving problems that have already been solved. It was about teaching us how to analyze a problem, identify shortcomings in our knowledge, and go about self-learning. In essence, they were teaching us how to learn and adapt.

This was a pivotal point in my educational journey. Up to that point, I was learning facts and skills to do a specific job. Viewing the program through this new perspective, I started to develop as a person; to learn how to learn.

Interpretive

Now in my 30s, I am sitting on the other side of the educational table. As a student, I took that instructor’s words to heart. I’ve used them as words to live by – to be a lifelong learner, to strive to be adaptable, and to not fear change. My “Aha!” moment was the realization that I can’t just live it. It is my responsibility as an instructor to teach it.

This fundamentally changed my view of the student – instructor relationship. I gained the insight that as an instructor, I must do more than convey analytical skills and information. I must teach students the value of self-learning, adaptation, and developing their whole self. As Briggs suggests to teachers in her 2015 article The Changing Role of The Teacher: “Don’t be a content expert; be a luminary. Be influential. Teach students how to think, laugh, share, fail, and succeed”.

Decisional

In Electrical education, it is important for the students to be able to analyze circuits, perform calculations, and interpret codes. Through insight from Rogers’ quote, I’ve come to realize it is equally important for students to be able to adapt to changing circumstances and have the ability to self-learn to address the challenges presented to them throughout their careers.

To this end, I will begin by addressing wiring methods while examining the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) Part 1 (Canadian Standards Association, 2015). Apprentices will typically only learn their employers preferred wiring methods. These methods, although effective, may not be the most cost effective or labour efficient methods available for use today. I intend to have students tell me the method they use to accomplish a certain electrical task, and then examine the financial and labour requirements to perform the task that way. Their assignment will be to research the actual governing rules in the CEC, and challenge them to find a more efficient way.

It is my hope students will see the value in challenging the status quo and see the opportunity to change and adapt.

References

Briggs, S. (2015). The Changing Role of the Teacher: 5 Ways to Adapt. Retrieved from

http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/the-changing-role-of-the-student-9-ways-to-adapt-in-2015/

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) (2015). Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1. Mississauga, ON: CSA.

Merriam, S. B. & Bierema, L. L. (2014). Adult Learning. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.