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Linda Wahl
Professor Wyman
English 111
Success in Interaction
There are many different ways to learn any given subject. Or read instructions and
accomplish them. For me personally I am a hands on learner. This is very essential to one's
education. For example I'm not going to want to go into an office job. Personally I would get
bored and not do my job well or benefit my employer.
A key to learning is literacy practices. There is a social theory of literacy.
There is a link between reading and a writing and our social structures. Literary practices are the
general cultural ways of utilizing written language which we rely upon to in our everyday lives.
Literary practices involve values, attitudes, feelings and social relationships. Literacy is a how
we talk and make sense of what we read. These are a processes internal to the individual; at the
same time, practices are a social process which connect people to one another and sharing ideal
and defining are social identities. Often times this is affected by the rules in our surroundings.
Which changes depending on the atmosphere and situation.
I would like to emphases that literacy is a link to knowledge. For instance a lot of people
practice and learn by doing activities in repetition. There are different literacies associated with
different domains of life. I would like to focus on the work domain. Work is where relationships
and resources are developed differently than say the home domain. Like chores. Chores in a
work place are carried out differently than at home. Carrying out chores at work is

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Different than carrying out chores in the work place. The division of labor and operations is not
the same. The clothing required to wear is not the same. The way I communicate at home is
definitely different than the way I communicate in a work environment. The health and safety
precautions are different. It can be accurate to say that literacies are different in different
surroundings.
Literacy is used as a learning tool in everyday life. Educators tend to support dominant
literacy practices. Educators know that these practices can be seen as a part of whole discourse
formations. A power of knowledge is within social relationships and experiences. It is important
as individuals we must understand the meaning of experiences. Literacy practices are
purposeful and embedded in broader social goals and cultural practices. Barton and Thomas/
Literacy Practices (Pg250) we must learn to make our own interpretations in different
environments. We must value the learning in the work environment. Adult thinkers themselves
view learning to think s autonomous, responsible person as an important education
objective.(Pg. 271) Mezirow.
It is imperative to interact with people in the a work atmosphere to completely
understand the concept of the experience in the employee positon to fully know the extent of
what kind of career would be fit to his or her needs and wants. US National institute of literacy
(Stein, 1995) found that those who participate in literacy programs do so (1) gain access to
information so they can orient themselves(2)give voice to their ideas, with confidence that they
will be heard;(3) make decisions independently; and(4)build a bridge to the future by learning
how to learn."(pg271). You can't deny that such programs like work study would not only benefit

a student but enhance their education and benefit their major choice.
If you were for instance going to College to be a Phlebotomist. Your experience in
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College may differentiate from your experience in the work place. They are two different
domains. In the education domain. You may have sustain better literacy with the phlebotomy.
Your understanding of the reading material is outstanding. Your understanding of your professor
seemed to have be excelling. You may have been above and beyond in your understanding of
safety regulations of the field. Your understanding of bedside manner was great. In your clinical
you did very well with your interaction with patients. Your particular interpretation of the field
lead you to believe that your decision about pursuing a career in that field is a wise decision.
However, we did not fully experience the field or situation so could reflect or make an
assumption about any issue that may have arrived. It takes communicative learning to know how
we may react in certain situations. Reading a book helps, hearing another employee in that field
point of view also helps, engaging yourself in task-oriented problem solving scenarios is a good
way to fully experience a field. All of these things may transform your point of view. "The U.S.
Department of Labors SCANS report (1991) identifies acquiring and using information,
indemnifying and organizing resources, working with others, interpreting information, and
understanding complex interrelationships as essential competencies and skills."(Pg.270)
Therefore if the U.S. Department of Labors understands that these key competencies are vital to
the workforce educators such as colleges need to also. The way to do that is to provide on the
job training or a some type of program in which a student can experience the major and career
path which they are about to invest in for at least four years if not more depending on the degree

they are seeking.

If and individual such as myself is investing in a four your degree. It is my responsibility
to a responsible learner. It is my responsibility to have goals, to be focused and have objectives
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For myself. It is my responsibility to attain knowledge provided and be competent on my
education pathway. I am responsible to have proficiency with the tool of technology. I should be
able to build relationships with others and be able to solve problems collaboratively and cross
-culturally. I should be able to manage, analyze and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous
information .All these things a student is responsible for. In return an educator must be
responsible and be aware of the learner objectives and goals. The colleges responsibility is to
help students reach their objectives in a way that will enhance the students education so that
they may be socially responsible learners. The first step to do this is to assure the major the
student has decided on is he best fit for the student.
Overall, if a student is making a investment to their education and is going to be
proficient in a major and career path. We are expected to be competent in that major. Therefore it
should be equally responsible to the college to not let a student blindly pick a major in which
they know barely anything about. Giving a student the proper tools to be proficient in a major is
imperative. Even greater is the responsibility to make sure they are making the right decision
from the beginning and the best way to do that is to put the student in the environment to see if
the major of their choice is a good choice. The knowledge and proficiency come with interaction
of the field what better way to learn than to be in the environment.