Group Six Project Summary

James Brunson commented on project demonstrations for Groups 1, 3 and 5.
Wilisha Scaife commented on project demonstration for Group 1, 3, 4

“Reminiscence” Program Summary

EDAC 634, Adult as a Learner, Ball State University

Spring 2013

Group Six: Aaron Bean, Wilisha Scaife, James Brunson

Topic Summary and Selection

Creation of “Reminiscence” and Group Six began with the first step of the EDAC 634 semester project, which was an individual assignment to investigate and summarize seven learning theories related to adults and their lives. These seven theories were Andragogy, Self-Directed/Individual Learning, Transformational Learning, Experiential Learning, Embodied Learning, Spiritual Learning, and Narrative Learning. Three EDAC 634 students, Aaron Bean, Wilisha Scaife, and James Brunson, expressed special interest in Narrative Learning, which is learning through stories. These three students recognized and appreciated the sense-making capabilities of narrative learning and narrative learning programs for adult learners. They became Group Six.

Literature Review

This second step of the semester project was also an individual assignment. Each Group Six member delved more deeply into Narrative Learning and researched approaches described by different prominent educational theorists, such as Sharan B. Merriam, Rosemary S. Caffarella, Lisa M. Baumgartner, M. Carolyn Clark, Marsha Rossiter, Elena Michelson, and John M. Dirkx.  

Group Six members learned about cultural, familial, individual, and organizational narrative learning approaches. Individual narrative learning program possibilities began to attract special attention from each Group Six member.

Program Investigation

The Program Investigation portion (third step) of the Group Six semester project involved selecting and investigating two learning programs that incorporated Narrative Learning in their practice. All three Group Six members are involved with education in their careers presently. Aaron Bean is a Career and Technical Education teacher in California at the secondary level. Wilisha Scaife is the Muncie P3 Program Director at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. James Brunson is the Program Chair for Building Construction Management at Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. James’ Building Construction Management program is for adult learners and incorporates individual narrative learning as part of the instructional plan so it became one of the programs investigated. Aaron discovered an innovative program incorporating individual narrative learning entitled “REAL* E-Portfolio Academy for K-12 Teachers”. Aaron’s discovery of this writing-intensive individual narrative learning program captured the interest and imagination of all Group Six members and became the genesis of the Group Six Program Design.

Program Design

Aaron seized the initiative for this fourth step of the Group Six semester project by conceiving the idea for “Reminiscence”, the Group Six individual narrative learning program. This program’s purpose is leading and encouraging adult learners in writing their life narratives. It is organized around four steps:

1.      Reminisce, where students gather their ideas and begin mapping their narratives;

2.      Voice, where students reflect upon their uniqueness and seek to identify the writing style that is most reflective of their unique personalities;

3.      Write, where students express themselves freely as they create their narratives in a fully developed draft document;

4.      Share, where students share their draft narratives with one another and profit from feedback received from each other as they perfect their final narrative document and publish it.

Program Evaluation

Group six considered the fifth step of the semester project and determined that it divided nicely into thirds. Wilisha and Aaron each identified an experienced educator, presented the Reminiscence Program to them, and secured their evaluations. Jim received what Wilisha and Aaron obtained and prepared the Group Six Program Evaluation document. Deringer Dietz, a high school Language Arts teacher in California with thirteen years of experience, was interviewed by Aaron. Dr. Eva Zygmunt, an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Ball State University with twenty-seven years of experience, was interviewed by Wilisha. Both of these helpful professionals provided insightful observations and excellent suggestions to Group Six for improving the Reminiscence Program. Suggestions for improvement were:

1.      Target additional research into benefits of personal narrative in order to strengthen the authority of the program;

2.      Create more clarity within the program processes, with special emphasis upon mapping and voicing;

3.      Be zealous in editing so the intent of adult learners is in no way changed, but merely clarified.

Team Six is indebted to these fine educators for the time they invested in the Reminiscence Program and are grateful for their suggestions.

Project Demonstration

This sixth and final step of the Group Six semester project was welcomed by the group members with enthusiasm. The developmental process involved with creation of the Reminiscence Program through the preceding five steps had involved much work, but it had also captured the imagination of the group and Team Six was eager to bring its program to fruition in its Project Demonstration. Aaron and Wilisha collaborated on creation of the Group Six PowerPoint and Jim wrote the summary. Group Six is confident that its demonstration clearly portrays the therapeutic efficacy and strength of the Reminiscence Program for its target student population of adult learners.