From this course,
I learned more about the educational arena I work in and had my eyes opened up
to possible directions my career path could take. Because my background is in
adult community education through a university system, it was fascinating to
explore how it looks outside that system. In fact, because of the research I
did for our Organizations paper, I have made a connection with the Director at
CASA of Rock County and am currently exploring the possibility of doing an
evaluation of their training program as part of my internship credits for my
degree. Being tied to the University of Wisconsin, our programs are under
constant evaluative scrutiny. I was shocked to learn that other programs often
do not have the time or funding to evaluate what they are doing because it
takes all the resources they have just to keep doing it. CASA of Rock County
recently received a federal grant that can be used towards evaluating their
programming and researching new models of education and training.
While I have
enjoyed learning the theories of adult education in other classes, this
semester was my first in taking classes that felt far more practical in nature.
Exploring the history of adult education was interesting but researching an
actual practitioner and an organization was far more engaging for me. It was
also interesting to take two classes with Dr. Chang this semester. I often
found it difficult to remember what I was reading for which course, which made
discussions somewhat challenging, but it also made keeping track of what
assignments and expectations I had much easier because both classes had the
same basic pattern of expectations.
This was an
exceptionally difficult semester for me in my personal/professional life.
Unfortunately much of that bled into my ability to engage in the classroom.
While I gave every ounce of what I had to my group because not only was it my
grade but it was theirs as well, I found that there were a couple of weeks
where I just didn’t have the capacity to engage in the online discussions. I
know I could have gotten more out of the class if I had the time and mental
energy. In the past I have always enjoyed the online discussions and I
recognize that I need to find a way to better manage my non-academic life so
that my learning engagement doesn’t suffer.
The group
assignments were so exciting for me in this class. Because I am a highly
relational learner, I made the choice to not just do research on a person or an
organization but to actually pick up the phone and have a conversation. I was
on my way back from an emotionally exhausting Title IX meeting and a brutal
board of directors meeting when I was scheduled for my phone call with Dr. Nicelma
King. Parked in a McDonalds parking lot, in the pouring rain, my conversation
with her was as complex as the job is. Her thoughts and experiences were gritty
and real. She discussed how the outcomes of her efforts aren’t always
appreciated, and yet she keeps doing it because it matters so very much. I
remember driving home in tears after that conversation, thinking that while I
wanted to sleep for an entire week, I would get up the next day and keep doing
this because community education is a marathon, not a sprint. My conversation
with the people of CASA was just as gut wrenching but in a very different way.
Rather than the personal challenges, we were focused on the organizational
challenges. The amount of life changing good that can come out of a program
like CASA is mind blowing. And yet, it is a struggle to keep the program
moving. Not only did I learn more about the complexities of an educational
program that works with volunteers on a shoe string budget, I also learned
about the lack of capacity to do some very important things, like program
evaluation. Following this call I felt rejuvenated rather than just
teeth-gritting resolve. Without a doubt, these interviews of real people doing
the real work of adult community education impacted me personally and
professionally in a profound way. It was then having the conversations with my
group and having to put what I learned in writing that created such tremendous
learning for me. I was able to connect the passion of these people and the
challenges they shared with the theories I have been studying for the past
year. Right there in front of me I had real life examples of learning styles,
experiential learning, and how programs and educators must morph and adapt to
meet the needs of the learner.
In the weekly
discussions, I found that having different resources kept me engaged in the
learning. All the different articles kept the information fresh and
interesting. In some classes I have had just a text and an occasional added
resource or video. I found that the diversity of sources and information
mediums in this class was really important for me, particularly this semester
when staying focused on my classes was so difficult.
I continue to
struggle with the APA citations and references. I have used the APA style book,
I have used various university sponsored sheets that help to explain it, and in
every single assignment I think “I’ve got it this time!” and then it turns out
that I don’t. I’m not certain what would help me here but I definitely need to
find something. Perhaps rather than trying to understand via written sources, I
should sit down and talk to someone. It is deflating to be so excited about a
project and to have the feedback feel so negative because of the citations.
Whatever the answer is here, I recognize that I definitely need something other
than what I have found so far to help me get a better handle on these.
Without a doubt,
this semester has been challenging for me. It has also been the most profound
from a learning stand point. This class, in conjunction with the other one was
the perfect combination of practical study.
