I am pleased to support Carrie Graham’s application for your tenure-track faculty position in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. I have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Graham since 2010 as her major advisor and course instructor in her doctoral studies in the Adult Learning concentration of our Department of Educational Leadership’s Learning, Leadership, & Education Policy PhD program. Our program prepares academics and education leaders who have a strong theoretical foundation and empirically validated set of skills for studying, leading, designing, and managing learning systems for a variety of learners in a variety of contexts.
Ms. Graham is scheduled to defend her dissertation, titled Career Advancement Experiences of
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In her current position as an Assistant Professor at Catawba College, Ms. Graham has gained much experience facilitation learning in classroom settings, particularly for undergraduates. As colleagues striving for excellence in course instruction, Ms. Graham and I have had numerous conversations about our successes and challenges supporting student learning, and how we can apply adult learning theory to conceptualize our challenges in ways that give rise to new ideas to try out in our classes. I am confident you will find Ms. Graham an exceptional instructor—one who is able to provide an evidence-based rationale for teaching strategies and to engage in the risk taking that is essential to creativity and innovation in teaching.
Scholarship
I am also confident you will find Ms. Graham has the skills, knowledge, and passion for research and scholarship that is essential for success in a tenure-track position. Last night I completed a final read-through of Ms. Graham’s dissertation, Career Advancement Experiences of Female Faculty across African, Latinx, and Asian Diasporas in Athletic Training Education Programs: The Impact of Workplace Microaggressions and Mentorship. Once again, I appreciated the important contributions her work makes to understanding the variety of factors that impact career advancement for female faculty in institutions of higher education, particularly for women
In an effort to determine how adults learn, experts examine and evaluate studies that have been done that involve the adult learner. The more that experts understand how the learner processes information, the better the understanding will be on how to structure their learning environment. Research is continually changing in this area, and educators know there are differences in how each adult learner attains information. In the two articles, “Adult Learning Theory for the Twenty-First Century” by Sharan B. Merriam, and “Adult Learning Theory: Applications to Non-Traditional College Students” by Kenner and Weinerman, different theories are discussed.
I am a dedicated educator who has devoted her life to educating low-income families in New Orleans, Louisiana. By pursuing my doctorate at Argosy University, I believe that the rigorous course of study will enhance my knowledge and productivity in the workplace. Argosy University Educational Leadership program is compatible with my career goals. My career goals are to obtain higher education, teach adult learners and to start a non-profit organization. The non-profit organization will focus on low-economics families while giving needed educational services to students who attend the charter schools of Orleans parish. As I researched Argosy University curriculum and conversated with an admission counselor I am convinced the University gives a supportive learning environment for student’s lives and careers.
Looking at learning theories through two different views was interesting. In the article, Revisiting Adult Learning Theory through the Lens of an Adult Learner, it was the basic guidelines and idea of adult learning theories. In the article, Revisiting Adult Learning Theory through the Lens of an Adult Learner, the article was written from the view of an adult student and covered what some of the first article had addressed. Author discussed about how some adult learners make their own learning theories. Also, saw some of the pressures that adult students can be faced with and they were addressed in the article. It was about how some adult learners make their own learning theories some of the pressures
Some of the major challenges that African American women face in higher education are (a) being able to balance family, community, and career (b) hiring and promotion (c) sexism and racism and (d) isolation and tokenism. First, I will begin this the literature review with a brief explanation of how the literature review was conducted. Second, I will provide a historical synopsis of African American women in higher education. Third, I will discuss the barriers affecting African American women administrators in higher education associated with recruitment, retention and
Becoming familiar with adult learning theory and the six principles of adult learning. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.qotfc.edu.au/resource/?page=65375
I have acquired a host of titles during the course of my life: protégée, mentor, educator, scholar, author, coordinator, analyst, manager, ambassador, AmeriCorps VISTA, paramedic, combat medic, Doc, soldier and veteran. Significant experiences and life events that accompany these titles have shaped me into the self-motivated and competent leader that I am now. Thus, it is with deep conviction that I express my commitment to completing a Doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning from the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University (GWU).
The assumptions of Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory, first proposed in 1980, have since become an accepted part of the framework when one considers how adults learn. It is difficult to argue with the fact that adults enter each new day with a background of previous experiences. In formal learning situations, an instructor can use the variety of life experiences brought in by students to build a learning
I am seeking admission to Concordia University-Chicago’s Educational Leadership Doctoral program. Currently I am an Instructional Leader with the Rockford Public School District. I would like to pursue a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership to further my knowledge of the required leadership traits, essential skills and educational systems, practices and laws so that I may ultimately become a contributing member of a school district’s administrative cabinet.
Above all else, I view leadership within the school system as essential for its success. My cumulative experiences provide a strong background that will allow me to excel as a school leader. I possess an understanding of the challenges and intricacies of a wide variety of school systems, ranging from small rural programs to inner-city and sub-urban high schools to research universities. My experience teaching at the college level gives me a unique perspective that will allow me to guide a program aimed at cultivating high school students capable of excelling in their educational endeavors. In addition, I believe that to be a truly successful leader, one must have a clear understanding of the challenges faced by educators. My years as a high school teacher have provided me a keen perspective in this regard. University of Northern Colorado’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program will be an invaluable avenue for me to learn from experienced educators as I hone my leadership abilities with the goal of using my life to lead improvements in the public education system. I look forward to the opportunity to develop as an educator,
The adult learning theory Also known as andragogy is the concept of Adult learning as a science in the field of education. Created by Malcolm Knowles , the theory is comprised of four different concepts. A fifth concept was later added by Knowles. within these different concepts, Knowles set forth compilation of expectations for educators within the Adult Education community. Firstly, he suggests setting a corporative climate in the classroom for learning. (Knowles, 1984, p.76) An assessment of the learners needs and a compilation of objectives and educational activities to help learner reach needs
My purpose for seeking a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership is to expand my knowledge of theory and research methods as it pertains to education. I especially want to fine-tune my research skills as I feel that the importance of gaining research skills is imperative to becoming a lifelong learner and developing intellectual self-actualization as I prepare myself for a career in Education. I realize the importance of gaining credibility among my future colleagues and people that I will be serving in the field.
Basically, this article by Malcolm Knowles is a conglomerate of all aspects of adult learning. It outlines aspects of adult learning, theories of adult learning, and expands on them. The main idea of this article is to create awareness on the existence of adult learning, and to help instructors of adult learning to know how to go about it successfully. Additionally, the article is of help to adult learners to enable them to learn the most they can (Knowles, 2007).
The teacher I interviewed has taught for more than ten years at the same school. She started as a fourth grade teacher but she now works as an interventionist.
My impression of adult education has changed immensely. First and foremost, the first lesson learned that teaching adults are a separate, intensive, and long debated process. Portions of certain theories learned illustrated below. I have extended knowledge about Meizrow (Transformational Learning) and Knowles (Andragogy). The six key features of Adult Learners are:
Gadbow believes it is the duty of adult educators to instill a life-long love of learning into their students, "helping adults learn how to learn is the most important thing a teacher ever does" (p. 53). The first responsibility of educators working with adults is to help them identify their learning styles and differences as well as other special learning needs, and then provide effective strategies to adapt to these individual learning needs (53). The author's contention that all learners are special means seeing the possibilities as well as the problems or particular needs of each student as they present themselves.