Activity Task 2
Q1 Focus on your prospective learners: will they have any of the same issues as the students in Dearnley’s paper?
I think that my prospective learners will face same issues as the students in Dearnley's article because as she mentions in her article: "Students must be recognised as adults with life responsibilities who are prone to life events". By definition, life responsibilities represent all the social and professional roles and responsibilities that happen along within a course, thus they are constant and predictable (Dearnley, 2003). Whereas, life events, represent all the traumas and stressors that accompany adulthood (bereavement, divorce, pregnancy and new relationships) that are unpredicted.
This is every day life and students have to maintain the support needed to achieve their goals whatever the circumstances they are going through...this support can come from three networks:
- academic network-peers from the tutorial groups and personal tutors
- professional network-Being "allowed" to do the course during your work, being funded or being allocated time to study. "Practical and emotional support was central to the part played by professional networks" (Dearnley, 2003). Something to add here is that when a student is not well supported at work then the process of development is slower than a student who is well supported at work. This is mentioned in Dearnley's (2003) article too.
- social network-when a student has "domestic harmony" then it is more likely to keep himself/herself motivated and keep up the good work and continue studying. Emotional support is also important and the time needed to complete a course is a long time. Thus, the people around you have to grant you with an extended amount of time in order to offer you the right emotional and practical support to make it through.
Q2 Which social, academic and professional frameworks do you access as a student – for example, in your study of H807? I’m not assuming that everyone will use all three or will have access to all of them, a point that Dearnley also makes.
I have to be honest on this question and I feel that on this course H807 I am not facing any particular difficulties from my social or academic framework. However, in my professional framework, since my job is not associated with learning at this point, I do not receive the right support. Emotionally, I feel a little bit (mixed) because when there is a mistake at work, the boss says that it is because our brain or our mind is not at work but on my Master (this is not happening regularly but once in a year for example) but the blame goes to my brain and my master that I cannot concentrate on my job and then I get
and I say to myself that it's enough! I cannot take it anymore...all this pressure at work and then the times I am working, the time I have to go home and study and all these factors, cannot make me feel
because they are reflecting bad on my emotions. I have boundaries! I am a person who likes to have limits and when is working time it's working time, when is studying time, it is studying time. I cannot work without schedule! And having someone over me telling me that I am not doing my job ok because of my master? That's stupid!!!
However, when I am at work and I do not have something important to do, I am studying, but nobody knows! I am doing my job, I am finishing with it and I am studying...fair enough!!! This is life!!! And we all have to compromise!!! As far as the social network I can say that I am satisfied from it. However, television sometimes capture my attention while I am studying and I have to start reading again from the beginning of the article
For the academic network, I have to say the best. I do not have any specific problem from my colleagues, peers or tutor. I am very satisfied with their responses, attitude and feedback they are offering me. The support is great from their side and I hope that it will continue like that till the end of this master and course H807!!!
So, let's all keep up the good work and keep on walking...
We have a few steps to go more and then this is it!!!
BW
Elena
Reference:
Dearnley, C. (2003) ‘Student support in open learning: sustaining the process’, International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning [online] http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/132/212 (Accessed 13 May 2010).