Stephanie,
Thanks for your mail. I will try to clarify some other points. Please
note that I am speaking only from my experience and, in this field, all
the experiences are always limited and parcial...
At 14:41 09-10-1998 -0400, you wrote:
>In our discussion of LO's in Higher Education, you wrote: "The main
>question, I think, is how to develop a "passion for learning" and a
>"passion for dialogue and communication."
You can find more about "A passion for learning" and "dialogue" in the
Archives of this list.
[Host's Note: These are at http://www.learning-org.com and are organized
month by month. Sometimes the internet search engines do a good job with
our archives, other times not. ...Rick]
>Up to this point, it seems to me, that a large portion of the discussion
>revolving around LO's in higher education concerns classroom teaching.
Yes AND No ;-)
Yes - to try to implement LO concepts at an University one must begin by
the core of the "business" - learning and teaching. ( I think that,
answering you, Doc said something similar. )
No - This does not imply to change only "classroom teaching" - one needs
to change all the class and out-of-class activities, related to one or
more subjects, and this will promote change in other parts of the
University.
>What I'm curious about is the learning that goes on outside of the
>classroom. Granted that universities are large institutions, but how can
>a learning experience occur when a student talks with a janitor or a
>secretary? How does one go about developing a pasion for learning? how
>do we, at an institution, convey this thought to people or staff who
>aren't interested in learning?
Again, from my "portuguese experience", some more points :
- During the organization of the "Conference" by the students, part of
the staff ( secretary and accounting staff, maily) have been envolved in
the process; they began to share, first, a passion for a "job well done"
and an event that was giving prestige to the Department; then the way to
answer phone questions improved, as weel as some other "small things". I
think that staff made a progress, at least in "tacit knowledge"; this is
probably a very small change - but when one is trying to introduce LO
concepts going slowly is a good ideia (I think).
Then others emulated the same standards - the staff of the Library, for
instance, proposed a serie of ways to improve the use of the Library by
teachers and students.
Some "clubs" have been created on different technical and cultural
matters, with teachers, students and staff to discuss and learn further,
either in meetings or, mainly, through mailing lists.
Again, these are only small steps; and we have until now concentrated our
efforts more in creating the "preconditions for learning and sharing"
then in teaching any "disciplines".
>Lastly, as I learn about LOs, it seems that if a true LO were to exist,
>the amount of time spent on dialoguing, learning etc., might be quite
>considerable. How does one balance this with their "job description?"
After one has created ( even only the first elements of) "a passion for
learning", dialogue and fruitfull sharing does not take longer than the
current discussions and tensions. Taking part in the discussions of some
"mailing lists" does not use more time than "playing games", or doing
nothing.
Is the paradigm on "how to be in the organization" that you have to gently
change; all the other things, I think, will come in due time.
Changing now to a different (?) subject let me make one comment to the
beginning of your first message :
>I've been reading the list with great interest but have
>noticed that very few of the postings have directly related to higher
>education.
That is true; from time to time, a post on this subject is sent, but
quickly it is dead again. I think that a lot of Professors prefer not to
put in question their "mental models" and "organizational models". As they
are not prepared to begin a dialogue on this subject, and they would have
do "discuss it", in a "judgemental way", it is easier to let the thread
die, and introduce a new one that is not so "controversial".
That is of the reasons why I would prefer "judgemental discussion" than
"non judgemental silence".
Best Regards
Artur
Artur Silva
artsilva@mail.eunet.pt
--"Artur F. Silva" <artsilva@individual.eunet.pt>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>