A500.9.3.RB_VoreDan

A500.9.3.RB_VoreDan

Course Reflections

I view my learning experiences in MSLD500 to have extremely high value.  I will probably repeat here entire sections of my comments from A500.9.2.DQ, Self-directed Learning, because I think that my earlier words apply to the questions asked here for Course Reflection.  As discussed in the Self-directed Learning writing assignment, a great deal of the value of this course lies in the manner in which it was structured and how that structure enhanced my own desire to dig in to the topics and direct my own learning.  This is the first online “classroom” experience for me.  Therefore, this is also my first, truly self-directed learning course and degree program.  Compared to my undergraduate degree experience (Michigan Tech, class of 1984), and my first Master’s program (Air Force Institute of Technology, Class of 1990), this degree program reflects a huge culture shift from what I was used to in academia.

Online, self-directed learning, which offered the ability to voice our own opinions, research topics of our own choosing (e.g., we weren't told what to research for our Action Research effort), and interact with the curriculum and our virtual classmates on our own terms was completely new to me.  At first, I was somewhat bewildered and a bit overwhelmed because I had never been exposed to this kind of learning environment, and with the relative freedom that we had for self-directed learning, well...it took some getting used to.  Sometimes, at least initially, that much freedom is difficult to handle.  But as I got used to it, and finally figured out that this was indeed how things were going to work, I came to like this approach much more than any previous programs.

As I get older, I have much less patience for the traditional lecture in a classroom setting.  I've had enough of that in previous degree programs and professional training.  As a general principle, I don't much care for "meetings".  What I prefer is that you tell me what you require, point me in a general direction, and let me go dig into it on my own time and to the degree I believe is warranted to maintain a high academic or professional standard.  I did the readings when it fit my weekly schedule, and I felt more motivated to push myself than I would have with the traditional "class-is-done-and-it’s-time-to-go-home" format.  In my last Master's program, I'll never forget the first day of statistics class when the Professor walked in, put his notes on the podium, looked at us, and said, "You all are going to get at least a 'B' in this class, so stop worrying and now show me what you can do."  I worked harder in that class (because I wanted to) than in any other.  My competition was with myself at that point.  I believe that the same general philosophy holds with self-directed learning.  You truly get out of it what you put into it.  At this point in my life, I believe it's the only way to truly get educated.  You don’t just talk about it, and answer some homework or test questions; instead you live it.

If there was one thing that Embry Riddle might have done slightly differently, it would have been to explain (perhaps in a short reading) how this self-directed, online course thing works.  While some may have already known what to expect, I was brand new to this approach and thus a bit “off balance” for the first week or two.  But maybe that’s an intentional part of the experience.  In retrospect, having to figure out how this course worked on my own was in itself a good and challenging learning experience.  And let me answer two more of the “prompt” questions right here: The University and the Instructor did a fine job on this course in every respect.  I also want to say that I was continuously impressed with the deliberate structure and method of this course where we didn’t “talk” about each topic (like critical thinking); instead we were immersed and we experienced each aspect directly.  We each had to figure it out; it was not spoon-fed to us.  Sure, we did some reading, but we were caught up in doing all of the things that we needed to learn and not just passively observing or hearing about each topic.  Additionally, I found this course to be cleverly designed to teach us about leadership from day one by putting us to work directly on tasks that reflect the kind of thinking and doing that any leader must be engaged in on a daily basis.

But the biggest thing that I got out of this course was a reinvigoration of lifelong learning.  In a way, lifelong learning is (and has been) a requirement in my profession; but I had lost the overall picture over the years and therefore sensed that my mind was stale.  Lifelong learning is a mantra for me now and this course has both reawakened me to my love of learning and to the critical importance of seeing this degree through to the end.  My Action Research dealt with Intellectual Perseverance, and if one develops such perseverance throughout life (because it's a journey, not a destination), then one will also develop a love of lifelong learning.  Going a step further, as I said in my Action Research report, a leader must be a lifelong learner.  There is no sitting back and thinking, "Okay, I know how to do the leader thing now."  No, everything is in a state of constant change.  Technology, the external environment, business practices, legal requirements, company policies, constraints…the entire corporate landscape continuously shifts beneath our feet.  If you're going to lead, you have to remain at the top of your game, and that means that you must continually learn, adapt, and thereby improve so that you can not only deal with the challenges of leadership but you can anticipate them.

I did not necessarily have this perspective, at least not to this extent, before taking this course.  This is one of the reasons that I decided to pursue another Master's degree; I wanted to see what new things were out there.  And this course, not unexpectedly, was right on target.  In fact, it far exceeded my expectations.  Critical Thinking, Intellectual Perseverance, Action Research, Lifelong Learning are the synergistic elements of Leadership.  I'm sure that as I proceed through this program, I will add other things to that list, but this course has certainly given me a solid foundation for all that is yet to come.  The things that we have been exposed to here, studied here, and done here are not just "coursework" activities.  They are the very things that leaders must do every day.  I've rarely seen any curriculum, or course, more directly and immediately applicable to my job, which is leadership.  The key thing that this course did, through self-directed learning is to add an entirely new dimension on top of what I have learned over a thirty-two-year career involving many leadership experiences and positions.  To me, this is how learning should be; the things taught (or, rather that we learned) in this course are now almost as second nature as breathing.  Through the work I have done here, I now have a framework, or roadmap on what leadership is.  Going forward, I foresee completing the map.

I expect, from the “preview” in MSLD500 to build upon these foundations, expand them, and to use the skills and concepts that we have learned here to complete the work that is to come.  I further expect now that each succeeding course in the MS in Leadership program will be designed in much the same clever, self-directed learning way.  I expect that we will continue to learn by doing and to enjoy the freedom to pursue the various topics to the places we want them to take us.  As I said above, we will each get out of this program exactly what we put into it.  And being self-directed, I will enjoy the freedom to delve into as many particulars as I want and especially those that deal directly with previous problems that I have faced, but perhaps never fully understood, in my leadership positions.