The new culture of learning by Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown is a great read and eye opener. It gave me a fresh new view on teaching and learning. It also gave me a feeling of some accomplishment in my teaching and learning. But realizing, I will always be improving and learning. The book covers several cultures of learning, some of which I use in my classrooms and labs today. The reading also opened my eyes to new strategies to consider such as a gaming and industry apps.
When I was working in industry and training new hires, the teaching methodology was "Watch One, Do One, Teach One". The new hire was given the information to read on their own. The new employee was shown basic skills. All the while being taught the reasons or diagnosis for the testing. The next step was to shadow the new technician with a patient or two then let them fly on their own for the second or third patient. If they have a problem they should get help from a senior technician. All the while I was teaching the new hire up to six to seven other skills to master in a ninety-day period. This on-the-job (OTJ) method is still used in most all private ophthalmology practices today. A method of a one size fits all approach but at the same time it puts the learning back in the hands of the learner. The learner must find self-fortitude to master skills to continue employment.
I will also add the knowledge and inspiration of the New culture of learning to making my innovation plan a future reality. And to share this passion with not only my peers in the allied health technical areas but across the campus to academic community. The college is currently preparing for re-accreditation with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This preparation is having the college look at pathways, making a track for students to follow to complete the desired degree or certificate. I believe the information on a new culture will aid me in helping our college met students’ needs in tracking a pathway. And to move our community college into the 21st Century of learning with collaboration, teamwork, engagement and our new QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan), critical thinking. I think these areas of learning mirror the concepts introduced in the culture of learning in the collective, personal with the collective and making play.
Learning in the collective is a peer-to-peer learning.
A method I have used for several years, where the student is learning by teaching. Per Thomas and Brown, “people learn through their interaction and participation in fluid relationships that are result of shared interest and opportunity” (2011). The student picks a topic from a list that matches the course material. The student is given the leeway to use their imagination on how they will teach the assignment. I have had great student presentations using different teaching methods. A few of the best are: a student made a big puzzle to put all the pieces together for taking a medical history and a student came in as the company sales representative with her creative brochure, training video, and the instrument which was her presentation topic. There is always a question and answer session with each presentation. Each student is bringing their own unique personality and knowledge to education the group and learning is enhanced with the exchange of information. My only role is to give guidance upon request and facilitate the class during presentations.
My innovation plan will put the advance second year partnered with a basic first year student to interact in lab performing mock patient work-ups. The first year will perform the skill they are learning at a set time, then they will switch, the second year will perform their new attained skill. After which they will be given time to collaborate on what was good and what needs improvement on each other’s skills.
Personal with the Collective is a blog discussion area.
An unnerving use of digital media can be a teacher and employers biggest nightmare. It is our responsibility to teach the student social media protocol. What’s appropriate, what could be considered bullying, and what an employer considers as correct protocol i.e. following HIPAA guidelines (patients privacy). But as a society, we must embrace this new social living and make it a valuable teaching tool.
I have used discussion boards in the past as assignments with the use of webinars and journals readings. But upon reading the new culture of learning, I recently made the discussion board a blog area as well. The student must blog in a two week period on a subject, giving a personal touch and research knowledge on the subject. Example as we covered the nervous system, subject was Alzheimer’s (AD) relationship to the Eye. The students gave personal account of loved ones or someone they knew with AD on their first blog then moved into the research of how eye exams can give early detection of AD. And then would they have DNA test for markers for AD upon a positive family history. As the instructor, I was ecstatic reading all the blogs and posts to each other in just one week. The blogging through the discussion board will become a mainstay for my future courses in my innovation plan. A key ingredient in lifelong learning is bring the connection of the personal into the collective. We are learning from others as it should be. Even if it’s posting a picture of your dinner plate with the recipe.
Learning by play: CSLE (Creating Significant Learning Environment
I think we all have and enjoy our down time, hobbies, play time. And don’t we learn something from these each time we are engaged in them? I know when we were ballooning, I learned something new every flight for twenty years. So why have we quit playing in the schools to learn? As for me, we still play in our labs. When the student is introduced to a new skill we have lab “play” time whether it’s mastering taking a medical history or navigating a slit lamp. Practice makes a perfect mastered skilled technician.
We can use this method of practice, a fun, inviting and significant learning environment to increase experience. Wouldn't this increase our low retention from course to course? Yes, I believe it will.
Impact on My Organization
So where do we go from here? As for me, I will continue to look and try new ideas to peak the students learning. I have already shared the Influencer and Crucial Conversations with my program colleagues and will pass on the New Culture of Learning.
I am suggesting the New Culture of Learning to our CETL (Center for Excellence Teaching and Learning) team to be add to SJC book club and or use as a base for the next teaching workshop. I believe The New Culture of Learning will inspire all, new and longtime, faculty into looking at changes in teaching to met our new learners wants and needs.
I plan to encouraging my department and SJC in having a boarder approach in meeting our students learning. We need to a create significant learning environment by changing our culture to met our students culture.
We all desire to see our future in the faces of our students today.
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References
Miller, R. (2000). ‘A brief introduction to holistic education’, the encyclopaedia of informal education. [http://infed.org/mobi/a-brief-introduction-to-holistic-education/. Retrieved: insert date].
Thomas, D., and Brown, J.S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for the world of constant change. Lexington, KY, CreateSpace.
