practical vs. educational experience: what experienced professionals should consider when going back...
DESCRIPTION
To sustain oneself as a competitive employee in a tough economy, many people consider going back to school. For some this means getting their masters or doctorate and for others it means individual coursework to sharpen skills in an ever evolving communications industry. Join us Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:00pm EST as Dr. Amber Marcu and her colleague, Courtney Grose, discuss the special considerations of experienced professionals returning to school. This webinar will cover: • How to approach education, internships and core education-related experiences as an adult learner • How to navigate the challenges of getting an education AFTER starting a career • How to leverage your work experience in the classroomTRANSCRIPT
Practical vs. Educational Experience:
What Experienced Professionals Should Consider When Going Back to School
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Director of Faculty Development
18 years in Higher Education
4 years in industry and not-for-profit
18 years as a student
ABE Admissions Counselor
7+ years in Higher Education working with non-traditional students
20 years in workforce
Dr. Amber D. Marcu Courtney Grose
Center for Accelerated Learning (CAL) at Lincoln College-Normal
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Considering going back to school?1. How to approach education,
internships, and core education-related experiences as an adult learner.
2. How to navigate the challenges of getting an education AFTER starting a life.
3. How to leverage your work experience in classroom.
Purpose and Objectives
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education, internships, and core education-related experiences as an adult learner.
How to approach …
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Why return to school? Career advancement Self-actualization Mastery or Specialization Improved opportunities Higher pay (sometimes) Networking Recognition
Education / Schooling
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Where am I? (Current situation) What is my goal? (Desired situation) What marks progress?
Identify milestones What marks “the end” or success?
Individual freedom? Advancement? Modeling behavior? A “piece of paper”?
Perform a “gap analysis”
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Current
Desired
Where am I? What is my goal?
Experience,Time
(seniority) Education,Knowledge,
Skills & Abilities,
Resources
Connections, Resources, Opportunity
What is required?
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Andragogy (Knowles)
Transformational Learning (Mezirow)
Experiential Learning (Kolb)
Adulthood as Social Construction (Pogson & Tennant)
Adult Learning and Liberation (Freire)
Adult Learning as Constructive-Development Model (Kegan)
Know thyself as an Adult Learner
“Faculty are companions in the learning journey … True learning challenges the adult’s perception of self, community, and worldview.”
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the challenges of getting an education AFTER starting a life.
How to navigate …
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Sum of our experiences, successes, challenges and roles
Work-life balance Family support Employer support Finding long-term value in process
Degree/certificate is a “piece of paper”
Challenges of getting education AFTER starting a life
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Mother Partner Sister Daughter Caregiver Volunteer Community member Employee Supervisor
My roles … My hobbies … Exercise Reading for pleasure Cooking/dinner
parties Traveling
Career focus is least of roles
Work-Life Balance
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What do you perceive to be your primary role?
Poll
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Absent from responsibilities – will they be O.K.?!
GUILT!
Family Support
Employer Support Flexible schedule Research programs that are a good fit
for my needs
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What is the goal? More than just a “piece of paper” I want to make meaningful contributions!
Contribute to my industry Continue my education
Long-term value in process
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Partner Caregiver Daughter Sister Friend
Employee Supervisor
My roles … My hobbies … Exercise/Athletics Reading for pleasure Cooking/dinner
parties Arts/Crafts Traveling
Graduate (Masters) Balance
All above rotated as 1st role.
School was always 2nd role.
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Someone once said to me, “getting your Ph.D. is the most selfish thing you will ever do.”
They were right.
Graduate (Doctorate) Balance
Career/Partner/School shared 1st role.
School was also always 2nd role.
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Cheerleaders Partner became head-of-household. But missed weddings, showers, & parties. Denied sister’s request to be her Maid-of-Honor.
Family & Friend Support
Employer Support Flexible schedule & tuition waiver! Researched programs that were a good
fit in interest, but not for my needs.
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your work experience in classroom.
How to leverage …
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21 million students enrolled.
You are NOT alone
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21 million students enrolled. 8 million students are part-time.
You are NOT alone
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21 million students enrolled. 8 million students are part-time. 57% of part-time students are female.
You are NOT alone
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57% of part-time students are female.
That’s nearly 6 out of 10 part-time students!
All balancing work/life + school.
You are NOT alone
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Think of a life experience you believe to be a success.
For 2 minutes, write:• How the success came about, and• Why you feel it was a success.
Your Strengths
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Use your skills in and outside of the classroom: Rich work/life experience Problem-solving Understanding Observation Applied knowledge or theory Time management
Strengths you bring to learning
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What is the end? There is no end, but there are
MILESTONES! Achieving balance Critical thinking/problem solving Time Management
Long-term value in education
…BETTER IN MY ROLES!
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Assess “the gap”: Current vs. Desired
Identify challenges and supports Self-Assess: What kind of Learner are you?
Knowles, Mezirow, Kolb, Pogson and Tennant, Freire, Kegan, etc.
Research schools and programs Find a good fit. “Recognize that graduate school is a second
job.”
Best Practices for Success
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Use these tips to ensure your success once you are committed to returning to school: Be a student 2nd. Attend an orientation session. Identify ALL costs. List ALL student services available to you. When in doubt, reach out.
Buddy-system. Find a mentor. Use a calendar. Make a list. Stay on track.
Recommendations
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Director of Faculty Development
Center for Accelerated Learning
ABE Admissions Counselor
Accelerated Bridge to Education Program
Dr. Amber D. Marcu Courtney Grose
Thank YouVisit ABE in the Center for Accelerated Learning: http://abe.lincolncollege.edu/
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Brennan, S. (2010, September). An open letter to part-time graduate students, ProfHacker blog. Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/an-open-letter-to-part-time-graduate-students
Gomez, C. (2013, September). Return to college provides important lessons about how to help adults succeed. Recruiting and Retaining Adult Learners, 15(12).
Grose, C. (2013, November). My journey as an adult learner. CAP Connected, 11(3) newsletter.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Total fall enrollment in degree-granting institutions, by attendance status, sex of student, and control of institution: Selected years, 1947 through 2010. http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d11/tables/dt11_198asp
References & Resources