I am just a few weeks into my MA in Learning and Technology (MALAT) program at Royal Roads University. I am trying push the imposter syndrome aside, as I adjust to managing a full-time work schedule with a part-time academic schedule.
Desmond Tutu once said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” I often relay this advice to my students when they feel overwhelmed by an assignment. Now, I find myself needing the same reminder as I navigate the complexities of balancing professional and academic life.
Facing Challenges
The initiation into the MALAT program was marked by a week-long virtual symposium, designed to immerse us in our new field of study. I often found myself playing catch-up, with several live sessions conflicting with my teaching schedule and some resources being inaccessible. Dave Cormier’s talk on the “Intentional Messiness of Online Communities” reassured me that such challenges were a normal part of the learning process, stating, “[open learning] can get really messy; you do get the learning all over you” (26:55).
Building Community
Amidst these challenges, the power of community became evident. When a peer encountered an “access denied” error when trying to access a video, our cohort rallied to provide support. This collaborative spirit was echoed in Cormier’s presentation, where he emphasised the importance of building a learning community, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support (Cormier, 2017).
Listening and Learning
Julia Szucs’s session on “Successful Teaming” gave insight to the art of listening, from internal conversational listening to global, empathic listening. As an actor and improviser, I related this to improv principles where active listening can lead to a rich and responsive performance. Moving forward, I am committed to practicing this level of attentive listening, whether I’m on stage or having class discussions.
Paying It Forward
Unfortunately, I missed the live MALAT Cross-Cohort Social due to a scheduling conflict but caught up through the recording. Darren Wilson highlighted the serendipitous origins of the cross-cohort interaction. Necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 MALAT cohort was unable to complete their first courses as planned. This led to them catching up on these courses at the end of their program, resulting in a mixed-classroom environment with the 2022 cohort. The unforeseen benefits of this blending were significant enough that the 2022 cohort chose to formalise this interaction, creating a structured cross-cohort session as part of LRNT 521 (Wilson, 2024).
Sometimes circumstances initially viewed as accommodations can transform into something more valuable.
Conclusion
As often attributed to Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This captures my initial experiences at RRU—overcoming challenges and engaging in a new community. The support of the MALAT community has not only eased my transition but also shaped my approach to welcoming future cohorts. Together, we navigate the messiness, support one another, and build a vibrant learning environment.
References
Cormier, D. (2017). Intentional Messiness of Online Communities [Video]. 2017 Royal Roads University MALAT Symposium. mediaspace.royalroads.ca/id/0_mm564uhv
Szucs, J. (2024). Successful Teaming [Video]. 2017 Royal Roads University MALAT Symposium.
Wilson, D. (2024). MALAT Cross Cohort Social [Video]. 2024 Royal Roads University MALAT Symposium.
Attributions
Cameron, J. M. (2020). [Person using silver iMac while holding a pencil] [Photograph]. Pexels. pexels.com/photo/person-using-silver-imac-while-holding-pencil-4144228
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