Assignment:
My Learning Journals
You will compose journals that offer written critical reflections based upon your reading of assigned portions of "Orienting Adults to Learning in Graduate Theological Education." Each journal will have a prompt that you must respond to, based upon assigned reading for that week/module. There is no word count requirement; you must answer the prompt thoroughly yet concisely.
Based upon your reading of Chapter One and its description of an adult self-directed learner, how would you currently evaluate yourself as a self-directed adult learner? What self-directed characteristics already.
Introduction
Knowles (1975), identified self-directed learning as a form of study in which people take the primary initiative, with or without the help of others, for planning, conducting, and evaluating their own learning activities. He further went on to say that self-directed learning is an initiative aimed at diagnosing their learning needs, formulating goals, identifying human and material resources and evaluating learning outcomes.
Kasworm (1983b), also cited in Merriam and Caffarella (1991) proposes that self-directed learning "represents a qualitative evolvement of a person's sense of cognitive definition and developmental readiness for ambiguous and non-defined actions".
After continuous reflection on chapter 1, I alluded to the fact that for my professional growth and development as a Pastor. I needed to move beyond not only seminars and workshops that are held once or twice per month but to become a product of my own learning. Hence, I decided to pursue my online studies. This has now resulted in me being a self -directed adult learner. After careful reading and reflection on the subject, I have concluded that it is imperative for me to be able to balance my time with work, church, family and study. "Allen Tough at the University of Toronto focused on the self - directedness of adults who initiated their own learning projects". He found that 90% of the adult population engaged in at least one major learning project each year that involved a minimum of 100 hours".
Thus, being a self -directed learner will enable me to be more assertive as it relates to my academic online studies. In this regard, I will be entrusted with the responsibility of not being spoon fed by my lecturers but I will be an active and responsible participant for my own learning.
1. How would you currently evaluate yourself as a self-directed adult learner?
2. What self-directed characteristics already mark your approach to learning?
3. What skills and attitudes do you still need to improve?
Reference
Costa, A. L., &Kallick, B. (Eds.). (2008). Learning and leading with habits of mind: 16 essential characteristics for success. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Knowles, M. (1998). The adult learner. Woburn, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Swan, D. (2006, September 22). Learning styles.
Readings:
Orienting Adults to Learning in Graduate Theological Education
By Stephen D. Lowe