Welcome to my academic blog. This blog is designed to consolidate my learning experience at the Master of Learning and Technology (MALAT) program at Royal Roads University (RRU).\u00a0 I hope you enjoy reading, and I am excited to explore the world of teaching and learning, emphasizing technology over the coming 2 years.<\/p>\n
The RRU Virtual Symposium took place from April 12th<\/sup> \u2013 16th<\/sup>, 2021. It provided our cohort with the opportunity to listen to leaders in education and meet the 2021 graduating class, albeit virtually.\u00a0 Our first assignment asked us to summarize our experience at the event, highlight ideas or concepts interesting, and explain why.<\/p>\n In reflection, four topics come to mind. Not only did I find them intriguing, but they also match well with the type of work I currently do as an NCCP Coach Developer in the sport of cycling:<\/p>\n As an aspiring athlete and later as a professional cyclist, I really enjoyed riding as many roads and trails as possible when I moved to a new area.\u00a0 This activity helped me understand the shape and feel of the place.\u00a0 In my professional work, I tend to explore the key tenets of or major obstacles that challenge the organizations I work with.\u00a0 Dino Hatziegeorgiou\u2019s presentation provided a valuable introduction to competency-based adult learning programs and the supporting literature, concepts that are fundamental to the National Coaches Certification Program (NCCP) since 2014. \u00a0Using the presentation as a launchpad, I explored a basic understanding of the Adult Learning Theoretical Framework (ALTF) (Knowles, 1968, 1980) and the importance of Adaptive Learning Environments (ALE) (Hatzigeorgiou, 2021).\u00a0 As an NCCP Master Coach developer, we are asked to fulfill 3 roles, guide, moderate, and finally, if needed, instruct and are tasked with creating an environment that promotes decision-making, problem-solving, and the coach’s needs. \u00a0I found similarities between the NCCP training methods and the concepts introduced in Hatzigeorgiou\u2019s presentation, including the importance of self-directed learning (Candy, 1991; Goodyear, 2000), the need to provide a personalized learning environment that promotes learner choice and control (Knapper & Crople, 2000; Klamma et al. l., 2007; Janssen et al., 2007), and the ability to use these methods on an individual basis (Wooldridge & Jennings, 1995).<\/p>\n It was not until later in the week that I watched Cormier’s 2017 talk discussing the “messiness” of teaching online or in open environments.\u00a0 However, it proved helpful as Cormier\u2019s Learning Ecosystem illustration summarized the conceptual methods I first learned about during Hatziegeorgiou\u2019s presentation.\u00a0 \u00a0The learning matrix not only provided simple action-based suggestions (Cormier, 2017), but it also helped me understand the methods supporting the various NCCP programs that currently exist and those we are currently building.\u00a0 Most notably, our new coach mentorship program, including a monthly study group, could indeed use a rhizome-inspired design.\u00a0 I am excited to work on such a program as I begin this new adventure at Royal Roads University.<\/p>\n\n
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