FUTURE LEARNING GOALS
Moving Forward with Learning and Growth
by Casey Platt
Learning has always been my passion and priority and, throughout my journey of education, my interests and goals have evolved quite significantly. As I approach the conclusion of my Master of Arts in Education program, my interests have shifted focus from K-12 and higher education to workplace teaching and learning. In my pursuit of a career in Learning and Development, I hope to become a leader in the areas of adult learning and instructional design. Thus, in order to accomplish my goals, I must continue to make plans and move forward with my learning and growth. For my future learning goals, I have dedicated myself to staying up-to-date on adult learning research and strategies, building on my instructional design skills, and gaining experience and expertise as a leader.
Adult Learning
While I’ve learned a lot about this topic throughout my master’s program, the importance of adult learning for my career cannot be understated. Adult learning is complex, and there are various theories and strategies that consider how adults learn best. In order for me to be successful in the field of Learning and Development, it is essential that I continue to carefully study this topic, gaining new insights and developing new strategies for engaging adults with meaningful learning experiences. Reflecting on what I’ve already learned is not enough. In order to stay up-to-date on adult learning research and strategies, I plan to join a professional organization that will allow me to grow my knowledge on this nuanced topic. The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) is one such organizations that will provide me with a space to engage with other professionals on the topic of adult learning, and review enlightening publications and relevant research to expand my thinking. I’m particularly interested in exploring the publications and workshops offered by the AAACE, which appear to offer unique and useful insights. I’m confident that, in engaging with this professional organization and the resources they have to offer, I will be able to successfully continue my learning on the topic of adult learning and bring new knowledge and strategies to my work in Learning and Development.
Instructional Design
Understanding strategies for adult learning will undoubtedly help me achieve success in my work; however, I must combine this knowledge with instructional design skills. E-Learning technology is an essential part of delivering meaningful and convenient training experiences, and especially considering the circumstances of 2020, it is clear that online learning is here to stay. Therefore, building on my instructional design skills is crucial to my success in Learning and Development. The courses in my master’s program have served as a great introduction to this topic, but I know that I must dive deeper in order to grow my knowledge and skills in instructional design. One of the most exciting places for me to start would be engaging with DevLearn, a prestigious conference focused on innovation in digital learning experiences. However, a more realistic and affordable option for me to take my learning to the next level would be to pursue an online course or certification program, such as this e-Learning course offered by University of Illinois. For me, taking online courses is a phenomenal way to build instructional design skills because it allows me to reflect on my experience as a learner, which informs my work as a designer. These learning experiences will allow me to grow as an instructional designer and thrive as a Learning and Development professional.
Leadership
As a Career Advisor, I have a vision of my career growth and advancement that ultimately leads to leadership. While building my knowledge and skills around adult learning and instructional design are phenomenal steps to accomplishing my goals, I must also take steps to prepare myself to be an effective leader. While I do have some leadership experience, I know that I have much to learn. That is why I plan to join the Association for Talent Development (ATD) which offers courses, publications, and other resources for leadership development. In addition, I believe that reading the book Drive by Daniel H. Pink will give me useful insights and strategies for motivating, inspiring, and leading others. Growing my leadership skills will certainly take time, but I am confident that accomplishing these learning goals will help me grow in the right direction.
My journey of education is not finished at the conclusion of my master’s program. Pursuing and accomplishing these learning goals is an excellent next step in my learning and growth as a person and a professional, and will undoubtedly lead me to establish further learning goals throughout my lifetime.