My Rights. My Responsibilities. (Ongoing Blog Assignment: Week 4 of 5)

Vocabulary

Find three unfamiliar vocabulary words in your day to day reading. (Do NOT use our vocabulary book or a dictionary site as a source) Use context clues to determine the meaning and post that process, along with an original sentence for each word on your blog.

Time Management

Post your Google calendar, with any important schedule items and your study plan. Also post a To Do list for the day of your top three priority items.

Reflection Post

Address the following prompt with a minimum of 250 words.

Last week, we discussed the rights of adult learners, as proposed by the College Reading and Learning Association.  These rights included the follows:

Adult learners have a right to instructors who:

* Engage in ongoing development and have a commitment to lifelong learning for themselves and their students

* Are knowledgeable about adult development and learning and understand the unique needs and complexities of the diverse adult learner population

* Possess expertise in their content area

* Have knowledge of learning theories, the ability to relate theory to practice, skill and confidence in methods of presentation, modeling, and facilitating learning

* Are self-reflective, solicit feedback, and make accommodations to improve instruction

* Have a repertoire of interpersonal skills necessary to establish, maintain, and develop effective relationships (instructor/student and student/student) and a secure, positive classroom environment that will promote active learning

* Understand their responsibilities in facilitating and guiding the learning activities of adult students while acknowledging that the adult learner retains the right and responsibility to manage his/her own life and learning, growth, discovery and increasing skills and knowledge.

Adult learners have a right to instruction that:

* allows them to see reading as a constructive process

* encourages reflection, critical analysis, and affective response
* includes social interaction such as collaborative and cooperative group work
* promotes interest and excitement
* is personalized to meet the needs of each learner
* is based on current theory and practice
* encourages students to become learners who are independent, autonomous, lifelong planners, and problem solvers
* integrates technology and promotes information competence

Adult learners have a right to assessment that:

* Is appropriate--matching the level, purposes, and content of instruction
* Includes the student in the assessment process (e.g. self-assessment, peer review, interview, consultation)
* Occurs at frequent intervals with meaningful feedback
* Focuses on outcomes and informs instruction
* Involves multiple measures

Adult learners have a right to materials that:

* are relevant, current, and multi-disciplinary
* reflect a variety of media, genres, and cultures
* present opportunities for self-selection 

******************************

Now I want you to reflect on your role in your education.  What are YOUR responsibilities?  Consider specifically your responsibilities to:

• your instructors
• your instruction
• your assessments
• your materials

NOTE: This week, I would also like you to go to two (2) of your classmates' blogs and comment on their reflection posts.  (It can be just the latest post, in case they haven't put up their Week 4 post yet.)

Respond, in an appropriate manner to their reflection.  You may agree or disagree with something they said; HOWEVER, any comments should be respectfully given. 

For my ease in grading these comments, I would like you to go to the list of your classemates' blogs in the sidebar and pick the two blogs that are below yours in the list.  The last couple of blogs will return to the top of the list to comment.

If you have any questions, please contact me.