Learning Shapes Your Future vs. the Degrees of Difficulties

Phase 1 — Read Before You Write Consider the prompt(s) thoroughly. Recognize and underline the question(s) you are being asked. Connect the questions to the week's readings, class discussions, or your notes, as appropriate to the discussion. Reflect and list all the possible responses. Isolate the strongest responses, or arguments, that fit the discussion prompt(s). Phase 2 — Write a Draft Before You Post Open a new Word document for each Discussion Forum post. (Note: You will copy and paste the final draft into the Forum.) Cut and paste the prompt(s) at the top of the Word doc to keep you on task. Begin each paragraph with the strongest response or argument that you isolated in Phase 1. Develop your response(s) by providing examples, quotes, or personal experiences—as appropriate to the discussion—to support your response(s). Review the length and content of your response(s). Having only 1-2 sentences is not substantive. Phase 3 — Review Your Post Before You Submit Did you completely answer each of the questions? If necessary or required, did you use examples from personal experience to illustrate your point? If necessary or required, did you refer to class readings or discussions to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts? Did you proofread your post for typos and misspellings? Are the grammar and punctuation correct? Did you cite any references to the text or other sources used in your discussion posts? Consult the Ashford Writing Center for more information about references and citations. Did you read your post out loud to yourself to make sure it "sounds" clear? Marjorie.Chappell@Faculty.Ashford.edu Learning Objectives By the end of this chapter, you should be able to: List the factors most central to whether students succeed in meeting their educational goals. Define what it means to learn and explain why learning is so important for success. Describe the concept of intentional learning and identify the challenges of learning in the digital age. Describe the characteristics of a science-based theory of learning and explain why it is important to be aware of your personal Learning Patterns. Both work readiness and literacy organizations have articulated what it means to "take responsibility for learning" as an adult. Based on the National Work Readiness Council's (NWRC) (2006) explanation of the workforce credential the list that follows relates the specifics of how to become an intentional learner who takes responsibility for learning: Establish learning goals that are based on an understanding of one's current and future learning needs. Identify own strengths and weaknesses as a learner and seek out opportunities for learning that help build self-concept as a learner. Become familiar with a range of learning strategies to acquire or retain knowledge. Identify and use strategies that are appropriate to goals, task, context, and the resources available for learning. Monitor progress toward goals and modify strategies or other features of the learning situation as necessary to achieve goals. Test out new learning in real-life applications. (Ford, Knight & McDonald-Littelton, 2001, p.62) Learning empowers you in three significant ways: It allows you to gain new knowledge that enables you to understand yourself, others, and life more clearly. It enables you to develop new skills that can be used to increase productivity in your life and in your work. It prepares you to initiate change, allowing you to grow, adapt, and mature. Every time you apply new knowledge or new skills in your workplace, with your family, or within yourself, you are actively learning (Alexander, Clugston, & Tice, 2010, p. 3). Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle. — Plato (via purplebuddhaproject)