Situational learning is an umbrella term for a number of methodologies including simulations, case studies, scenario based learning and online role plays. These methodologies put learners (working individually or in groups) into a situation where they face a sequence of concrete, real life problems. To solve these, they must make decisions and deal with the consequences as they continue to try to reach a satisfactory outcome… The online learning environment is particularly conducive to situational learning and new technologies (e.g. images, sound, and access to email or mobile technologies) can be used to boost engagement and immersion in the story. Support features such as discussion boards and facilitated sessions (face to face or online in live classrooms) are incorporated to encourage learners to reflect on what has been happening, what they have been experiencing and what they have been learning.

The OES center says that learners, both young and old, want to find new, fun, interactive learning technologies. I am having a great experience on moodle (now that I’ve got the hang of it) and I am thrilled to be in the MALAT program because I believe this is an up and coming field which will change the way education is delivered in way I can only imagine! 

Growing up in a painfully small town is strange.  With only one stop light, a Co-Op and a busy slaughter house on the edge of Main Street, there really was not much for a girl to do.  The movie theatre that my grandparents held hands in every Saturday night the 50′s had been long since converted into a Dutch Reform Church and the only watering hole was the Legion.

So what does a Big Fish do in a small pond?  Find a stream, go with the flow and eventually become ONE with the great blue sea, of course!  Eventually, after many years of going with the tide, I came to see that it is all relative. The TRUTH is I feel totally different every day (notwithstanding the fact that I am exactly the same)  depending on where I am and the choices I make, the people I meet and the words that I speak.   

After going belly up in many puddles, lakes and streams, this Big Fish has come to know one fact that is undeniable- that I am’s who I am’s no matter where I go and I is who’s I is no matter where I be. That’s it. That’s all.  Some days I feel big, some days I feel small. Some days I feel short and some days I feel tall. And some days…well,  Dr. Seuss says it best of them all!

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’ t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…

…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

—Dr. Seuss

1) The intrapersonal set includes such skills as critical thinking, self-reflection and self-control.

2) The interpersonal set includes such skills as engaging in dialogue with others and reporting on the interactive dimension of learning in the ongoing dialectical process.

Through the group assignments I have become very aware of the difference. I realize through the residential portion of the program that this is a very important distinction and, as Laurie and Maureen pointed out this morning, mastering both is crucial for success in any online group activity.

To anyone in my previous, current and future teams, I pledge to do my best to stay in the Equity part of the grid. The ability to foresee problems, to stay organized, to eliminate disruptions, create and stick to the schedule, to understand reasons for compromise and to focus on content over delivery style. 

I think we all agree that there is to be no “free riders” or “social loafing” in any of the groups, right?   

Lorne used more of a Personal Model/Expert/ Formal Authority which Mackeracher says is used by 22% of faculty. He was illustrating what he had learned about wine making by sharing personal stories, coaching and guiding. As it turned out, he had been a university professor at one time….by that’s another story.

Lorena’s style, on the other hand, was more of a Formal Authority who gave us a tour, rhyming off her pre-meditated lecture by rote.

Guess which teacher this group of adult learners paid more attention to after a couple of glasses of wine…

I loved this Community Building Game!!!  I thought this was so much fun and I can’t wait to do it at my next party…but I have to confess, I may have cheated just a little. Right at the beginning of the game, I was standing with Leslie and Cliff. Leslie showed Cliff the tag on her back and asked her first question (I think it was “Am I famous?” but I can’t remember now) and Cliff said yes. Then Cliff turned to show Leslie his tag and asked if he was a Super Hero and Leslie said no. Then I showed Leslie my back and asked her if I was a man or a woman. She confirmed that I was a woman. Then she showed me her tag which said “Superman.” AHA! That is why Cliff asked her if she was a Super Hero!!  Then Leslie asked me if she was a historical figure so I thought “Hey! Maybe I am a historical figure!?” As I watched, I noticed a pattern emerging so I started choosing my next question based on the question that I had been asked by the last person. Of course, this strategy only worked for so long but long enough to get to “Jane Austin” within about 5 question.  I wish finding myself had been that easy in my 20′s!

While I am at it, I have another confession…I used to secretly unwrap my Christmas presents when no one was looking and re-wrap them before anyone noticed.

What a little brat, eh?!

In the words of my hero, Joseph Campbell, “Is the system going to flatten you out and deny you your humanity, or are you going to be able to make use of the system to the attainment of human purposes?“  With Colleen’s help, I am confident that we will be able to do the later. 

Perhaps the most striking similarity that I have observed among the two residential learning experiences is the opportunity for intense community building.  In both experiences the development of strong, supportive relationships with fellow learners is directly related to the level of enjoyment and the ability to succeed in the program.

In order to further enhance team cohesiveness, each student in our class completed the MBTI assessment today. This was an excellent and unique opportunity for us to get a better understanding of the people we will be working with on team assignments throughout the program. The information that we learned about each other today will allow us to work more effectively in a group dynamic by allowing us to assign tasks and position each team member in ways that complement our natural preferences, strengths and differences. I believe that the experiential group work that we did with Hillary today was invaluable and will continue to serve us as we embark on the virtual part of the RRU MALAT program.