apcampbell

I would like to propose that there is a growing need to study and finally support human learning as it takes place outside institutionalized and formal contexts, or as it transcends these contexts in our individual and collective lives. In addition we should also try to find ways how we can support the transition from complete dependency on educational authorities who are in control of process and content, towards a more self-organized, conscious, and purpose-driven model of personal change. I would go so far and say: responsible educational institutions of the 21. century owe this type of preparation to the people who come to them in search for an education that is supposed to prepare them for the immediate future. We need a clear shift of attention towards the process level of learning.  (S Fiedler, 2003, 1.4, emphasis mine)

Well said.  This is particularly important for those of us involved in experiential, ’global education’ programs like Friends World, where learners are given considerable freedom to choose their own learning goals and the paths upon which to reach them.  One of the key elements of experiential learning is the process of reflection, through which insights can be gained and subsequently put right back into practice.  In this way, learners see first hand the integral relationship between their own personal learning and social change.  Sometimes however, I suspect certain learners struggle with the amount of freedom given and end up not being as successul as they could be.  One of the reasons could be a lack of awareness of their own internal processes and the behaviours which subconsciously support dependency on ‘educational authorities’, like teachers and advisors.  Perhaps the weblog can be useful in such cases; drawing learners’ attention from looking outside themselves for answers to looking within and taking more responsiblity for their own learning.  Once their attention becomes more process oriented, their learning deepens and becomes more personally meaningful. 

Might weblogs also be ideal learning tools for those in experiential based academic programs?   In addition to providing a space for reflection, they enable documention and archiving of those reflections for further reflection come portfolio time.  The comment features also allow others to participate in the process, helping to expose misunderstandings and to give advice, constructive criticism, and encouragement.   Since the learners are abroad, it also provides a means for them to share their unique experiences with family and friends back home in a much richer communicative medium than email.