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