633 Learning Technology Blog 9/16

I will try to create my blogs on a weekly schedule. I'll promise to make it as reflective as possible so that it's 'educational' or at least somewhat enjoyable! We just had our first meeting this past Monday. I completed 'Situated learning Legitimate peripheral participation' by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger. I wasn't too impressed initially, but then after reading more into the experiences of the Midwives, Tailors, Quartermasters, Butchers, and Nondrinking Alcoholics, I started to understand a little more on what Lave and Wegner was talking about. By definition, (authors) they mean to draw attention to the point that learners inevitably participate in the sociocultural practices of a community. "LPP" provides a way to speak about the relations between newcomers and old-timers, and about activities, identities, artifacts, and communities of knowledge and practice.

What I got out of it was we all learn differently. Why is this important? Does this relate? Well, we talked alot this past Monday 9/14/2009 about THEORY. What is Theory? What is MY definition of theory? What is my style of learning theory. I must admit, I was using the word in a different manner than what it was supposed to be....When I say, well, in THEORY if you put gas into an automobile, it SHOULD work. Or the Cause and Effect method, etc.

Why is it called Situated learning? Is it because we learn in different situations? Like the Midwives, Butchers etc? That finally made sense to me. Each learning opportunity is unique. It's how we make the best of the opportunities. We need to be observant in different scenarios in order to 'take away' the most out of the situation. Midwives had to learn by watching, apprentices to tailors had to start out cutting templates, Quartermasters had to go step by step in their training, Butchers had to do the 'grunt' work prior to doing anything significant and finally Non-drinking alcoholics had to go through a process of telling stories, receiving support etc in order to move forward as well.

This was what I've learned this week... Do what it takes and learn from all situations, whether it's from reading a book, listening to people, reading someone's texting, responding to online posts/forums and so on and so forth. I am beginning to believe in the 'process' of reflection. As I read today: John Dewey says: ''To reflect is to look back over what has been done so as to extract the net meanings which are the capital stock for intelligent dealing with further experiences. It is the heart of intellectual organization and of the disciplined mind'' Experience and Education Pg. 87

Amen