Which learning theories are most relevant in your desired work environment?
Experiential learning theory is the most relevant for my desired work environment. Experiential learning, as the name suggests, involves learning through a transformational experience. David Kolb is the founder of this theory, following former works of Kurt Lewin, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget. It takes a holistic approach that encompasses cognition, experience, and emotion to foster the learning process (Cherry, 2020). This theory is relevant to me based on various reasons. They include; the use of concepts and data that find their application on hands-on-tasks to get results, provision of creativity opportunities, students are capable of applying reflective observation, students are in a position to learn from practical mistakes, which are more effective than virtual mistakes, guides students toward the future because the projects they handle are career-oriented.
How does collaboration connect to teaching and learning?
Collaboration in the teaching and learning process occurs when members of a learning community work harmoniously to increase the teaching and learning process's achievements. For example, teachers must collaborate if the ultimate goal of the process is to increase student achievement. Consequently, the teaching practice may improve due to the initial commitment to meet the student learning process's goals, which may attract reward or appraisal. Collaboration is an on-going process that is enhanced through access to new technology and social networks. Precisely, it should be perceived as a journey rather than a task that requires instantaneous handling for results. Collaborative teaching and learning tap into various perspectives and ideas and share students' learning responsibilities. Investing in students' learning process boosts their performance, which is an obvious positive outcome of collaborative teaching and learning.
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What is the role of a leader in collaboration? What is the role of a follower in collaboration?
Being a collaborative leader is not as easy as it may appear because they are required to meet various thresholds for one to be successful. For example, a collaborative leader is required to allow leadership to emerge rather than force their leadership skills or qualities on the people they lead. They should consider curiosity as the eye-opener for long-term solutions rather than implementing solutions based on first-hand information. They should genuinely care about the people they lead because they are human beings like them, who deserve respect. They should create infrastructure for information sharing and learning by supporting distributed power of decision-making and support an open flow of information.
Followers in a collaborative process have their set expectations for a successful process. A follower should be aware of other people's needs and potential and should be able to comprehend what motivates or upsets other people. They are good exercisers of diplomacy and consider respect for other people's opinions more important than starting a conversational fight with the sole purpose of winning, especially with their leaders (Morgan, 2014). They should be supportive by offering their skills through critical thinking to build on what their leaders instruct them to do.
Formulate a personal philosophy of teaching and learning.
Based on my long-term experience and research about the teaching and learning process, I believe that this process should be student-centered rather than teacher-centered. By student-centered, I mean that the teaching and learning process focuses on the student rather than the teacher. This is a modern teaching approach that has undoubtedly improved students' learning performance because the receivers of the information are regarded as a priority. In teacher-centered learning, teachers use a traditional lecturing approach to students without keenly following up to determine the milestone each student is making in the process. This is contrary to student-centered learning, where the teacher incorporates technology, allowing class discussions to foster collaboration, allowing students to lead the teaching in the learning process. At the same time, teachers or instructors follow in like the rest of the students. This approach is effective because the students own the teaching and learning process thus can easily follow through.
A concise statement of and rationale for your preferred theory of teaching and learning.
The experiential theory is the most suitable of all other learning theories because it involves hands-on-practice that fosters a better understanding of learning subjects and material. This theory prepares students adequately for real life because they learn from real mistakes, which are more corrective than virtual mistakes, including other reasons mentioned in the response to the first question.
References
Cherry, K. (2020). The David Kolb Theory of How Experience Influences Learning. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.verywellmind.com/experiential-learning-2795154
Moran, G. (2014, April 29). 5 Ways Being A Good Follower Makes You A Better Leader. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.fastcompany.com/3029840/5-ways-being-a-good-follower-makes-you-a-better-leader
