A New Perspective

Hi everyone!

This blog is part of my connect activity for my Instructional Strategies and Assessment Methods course.

I started this program with a passion for education. For most of my nursing career I have loved learning and sharing what I know with others. I learned about educating patients and staff on the job but the information I received was mainly informal bits and pieces scattered over several years. Like so many others I did not realize that education did not have to take place primarily in a traditional classroom setting. I had no clue that I was surrounded by learning opportunities every day, in so many places. What I have learned from this course has changed how I view the world. That might sound over the top but it's really true. I am more aware of what's around me now and I see learning possibilities everywhere. Here are just a few examples:

• Museums are not just for art lovers. Now there are more museums than ever devoted to educating visitors about science and history.  One example is the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, TX. This museum does a great job of involving all of your senses. It has something for everyone, young and old. It inspired me to create more learning activities that take the learner to places outside of the work environment.
  
• Movies can be educational especially if they are based on historical facts. Many theaters often display trivia before the start of a movie. I went to see a film recently that was a narrated tour of an Edouard Manet art exhibit in London. Before the movie began there were several multiple choice questions about Manet that popped up on the screen. This happened during the week we studied assessment activities. Upon seeing these questions I immediately thought about their value as a form of assessment, one few  audience members probably realized. The wheels in my brain started spinning as I was thinking about how to incorporate assessment into my project.
  
• Television is one of the most captivating mediums we have. It could be argued that there is too much education on T.V. often providing details that you wouldn't want your children or even yourself to learn. There are a variety of shows that educate us, sometimes without us even knowing it. Documentaries, medical talk shows, investigative shows and news shows are only a few types of educational programs on the air. One reason I like to watch The Dr. Oz Show is because I really enjoy how he teaches his audience. During this course I have been able to see even more value in those teaching methods and I am motivated to integrate some of those ideas into my own teaching

There are many more examples of ways to learn in the real world, outside of the typical instructor-led classroom.  I challenge you to open your eyes and your ears and become aware of how and where you learn. Seize every  opportunity to grow. Who knows, you may start to view the world in a new way too!

"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives."  ~Clay P. Bedford