TEL 431: Learning in Workplaces

L2: Assignment

Adult Learners
Constructs: Intrinsic Motivation, Autonomy, and Self-Directed
Learning

Name: Kayla Meredith

Date: October 20, 2017
Your Assigned Facilitator: Workman

NOTE: Please bold all your responses so nothing is missed when your work is assessed.

This activity will help you realize where your innate abilities lie with respect to being
autonomous, so you can make good use of opportunities to be self directed. It will also help you
to realize your weaknesses, and to set goals to be mindful about improving your ability to be
self-directed.

The process is based on research by Tassarini (2012) related to the distinct but interrelated
dimensions the author believes are supportive to autonomous learning.

Before you begin, please read the following article about assessing language learners
autonomy.
Tassinari, M. G. (2012). Evaluating learner autonomy: A dynamic model with descriptors.
Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal, 3(1), 24-40. Available at
http://sisaljournal.org/archives/march12/tassinari/

Figure 1. The dynamic model of learner autonomy (Tassinari, 2012)

The model accounts for the wide spectrum of competencies, skills, and actions that support
ones ability to be autonomous.

Following this model, the desire to manage my own learning is superordinate to all other
components, and thus is required in order to address any other component. In essence,
learners can decide to address any component at any point in time, and move freely from one
component to another without following a given path, thus improving their abilities to be
autonomous.

For this lessons activity, the Tassinari model will be used, with adjustments made to eliminate
the need for a facilitator.

Building on Discussion Board

Intrinsic motivation was the small group discussion board topic for this lesson. This was meant
to help you situate yourself in adult learning needs. This activity will build on the discussion
board conversations.

YOUR CAPABILITIES
In the following prompts, you are asked to reflect about your capability to perform the functions
of autonomy, as defined by Tassinari (2012).

Recall the factors of the Tassinari model listed below:

Motivating Yourself. It is important to be able to motivate yourself at the beginning of the

learning process. As well, it is important to be able to re-motivate yourself when the initial
motivation wears thin.

Dealing with Your Feelings. It is important to recognize feelings that come up when learning,
and to process your feelings in order to organize learning effectively.

Structuring Knowledge. The ability to structure knowledge, sometimes disparate knowledge

bases, is a component that plays a role in all autonomous learning phases and activities.

Planning. It is important to recognize ones needs, to formulate these into realistic learning
objectives, and to structure these into steps that create a learning plan. In addition, one has to
be flexible enough to change the learning plan if the situation or needs should change.

Choosing Materials and Methods. The ability to choose and work with suitable learning
materials, methods, and strategies is acquired and developed bit by bit.

Completing Tasks. The ability to complete tasks is reliant upon access to any necessary tools
and resources, organizing time to learn, completing individual or multiple tasks, and employing
appropriate methods and strategies.

Monitoring. The ability to reflect on topics, tasks, the learning process, and to observe oneself
helps learners to identify their strengths and weaknesses and to structure or re-structure
learning activities accordingly.

Evaluating. The ability to review what you have learned, how well you have learned, and what
progress has been made toward competencies is the hardest part of autonomous learning. It
requires practice and normally occurs through an exchange with other learners or superiors.

Cooperating. The ability to cooperate extends learning from an isolated and independent activity
to learning in association with others. Cooperation can support learners to complete tasks,
realize a project, negotiate resources, evaluate the outcome, etc.
REFLECTION
Of the factors from the Tassinari model, pick 3 deficit areas that, if strengthened, would create
the most impact in your ability to be an autonomous learner.
Reflect ONLY on those three, using the thinking routine as outlined above. To attain maximum
points, provide relevant details and examples from your life in your reflection.

Factor #1: Planning

Reflect about this factor using the thinking routine outlined above. Write a paragraph for each
phase of the routine: what and so what.

What?
I am someone that is usually very good at planning. Planning is something that I have
always worked hard at because I know that if I dont plan things will get messed up and it
will not be good. For example, in college you have to be very good at time management.
For example when I went to school on campus I was in a lot of classes and also in a
sorority. This meant that I had to balance schoolwork and a social life. I knew that I could
not save homework for a Sunday because I knew that I had chapter and chapter was
never short of a couple hours. On top of that, we had events and socials that we were
obligated to go to. At the same time, I was flying home to see my boyfriend at the time.
There were a lot of things that I had to plan out. Lucky for me, a planner really helped me.
Without my planner I would have forgotten a lot of things. Planning is something that is
imperative in life and can greatly help someone in their success.
What do you do, when you are not so mindful (or maybe when you are stressed)?
Describe how you are now. What thoughts and behaviors challenge you? What environmental
factors, personal patterns, beliefs, etc. exacerbate your challenges?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):
Personally for me planning gets confusing and harder when my husband is in the
picture. My husband is someone that I would not say is needy but depends on me. Just
like any relationship I feel that there is one that takes over most of the tasks. For example
a wife tends to do the grocery shopping, cleaning the house, paying the bills, taking care
of the dogs, cooking dinner, cleaning up dinner etc. At Least, this is how it was run in my
house growing up and this is how it is currently with my husband. On top of all of these
tasks I have to manage to do my homework. I also have to find time to make videos for
my other classes since a lot of them use videos for their discussion posts now. These
tasks are not too much to handle as long as you have your things organized. A planner is
what helps me and being on the same schedule is what helps me. When I was growing
up my parents did not allow me to be organized. They did not want me to be disorganized
because they knew that one day I was going to end up needing to be organized. With
their help it has made me a person that is well organized.

Your word count: 220

So What?
If I was not as organized as I am today it would be hard to live everyday successfully. I
would be missing assignments and ultimately, my mood would not be very happy. For
me when there is too much to do at once I get overwhelmed and stressed. For me, there
is no option but to be organized. By being organized and planning things out I feel that I
have a skill that can greatly help me in my teaching career. Teachers cannot be
disorganized and for me if they are they are probably the teachers that I necessarily do
not want to get. I feel that in order to be a successful teacher, you have to be organized.
At the end of the day you have students of various ages possibly looking at you and they
believe that what you're doing is good. Therefore, it is important to be organized.
How do you want to be?
Describe how you would like to be. What thoughts and behaviors would you like to change?
What environmental conditions (that you have influence over) would you like to change?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):
Being organized is something that I feel a necessity in order to live a happy life. I am
someone that gets stressed very easily. That has been a trait that I have been trying my
best to overcome. However, it is a trait that will not go away overnight but instead in
time. This is why being organized for me is such a necessity. The more organized I am
the less stressed that I get. Growing up, my dad always got stressed about the smallest
things and it is something that has rubbed off on me. It is something that I have been
working on changing about myself.

Your word count: 108

Factor #2: Cooperating

Reflect about this factor using the thinking routine outlined above. Write a paragraph for each
phase of the routine: what and so what.

What?
Cooperating is something that I have also learned is important. Over the years I have
learned that by not cooperating and listening to what other people want I am only hurting
myself and making matters worst. For example, if a teacher tells you to study and instead
you choose not to listen you are hurting yourself. Often times it is better if you just listen
to the advice that you were given. Not cooperating tends to cause more problems than it
does help. Especially growing up with my parents I knew that not cooperating was not an
option.
What do you do, when you are not so mindful (or maybe when you are stressed)?
Describe how you are now. What thoughts and behaviors challenge you? What environmental
factors, personal patterns, beliefs, etc. exacerbate your challenges?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):
When I am stressed I am someone that does not like to listen to others or cooperate with
others. At the same time, I am someone that likes to do things by myself sometimes. I
know that when I do assignments and tasks on my own I know that they will get done the
way that I want them to get done. Like I talked about previously being stressed is not
something that is good for me. It brings me a lot more problems than it does help. I am
someone that is trying to let stress affect me less.

Your word count: 100

So What?
I have seen and learned that stressing is not the best trait for me. It is important to
remember the less stressed you are the calmer you will be. I tend to get worked up and
agitated when things that I want/need dont go my way. That has always been my
personality. However, when I get upset or mad it usually makes matters worst so I have
learned just to cooperate and go along with the things that are being asked of me.
How do you want to be?
Describe how you would like to be. What thoughts and behaviors would you like to change?
What environmental conditions (that you have influence over) would you like to change?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):
I wish that I was someone that was able to cooperate with others. I know for me when
someone gets on my bad side it is really hard to come back from that. I know college did
not help me there with roommates and things. I know that in my profession I will be able
to cooperate with others as long as they are professional and hardworking like I am. I do
not like when people go against their word and dont do the things that they said that
they were going to. Cooperating with others is a part of life and we all have to do it to be
successful.

Your word count: 111

Factor #3: Dealing with your Feelings

Reflect about this factor using the thinking routine outlined above. Write a paragraph for each
phase of the routine: what and so what.

What?
What do you do, when you are not so mindful (or maybe when you are stressed)?
Describe how you are now. What thoughts and behaviors challenge you? What environmental
factors, personal patterns, beliefs, etc. exacerbate your challenges?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):
I am someone that does not cope with their feelings to well. Sadly, I am one of those
people that let my feelings get the best of me. However, I know that with the career path
that I have chosen I need to have thick skin. Thick skin is important because there will be
evaluations and things will go wrong. Your students may be having a bad day and it may
make you look bad. Also, students tend to say whatever they want and dont have a filter.
You cant let others affect you. This is why having thick skin is something that I am going
to have to have since I let people get to me easily.
Your word count: 118

So What?

How do you want to be?

Describe how you would like to be. What thoughts and behaviors would you like to change?
What environmental conditions (that you have influence over) would you like to change?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):
I want to be someone that lets very little get to me. I know some days someone can say
the smallest thing and I feel like the world is coming to an end. It is important to
remember that what others say does not always matter. It is also important to remember
that there will be good days and there will be bad days. You cant let the bad days get the
best of you. I also get this trait from my dad as he is the same way. He lets the small
things get to him. It is a trait I am working on to overcome.

Your word count: 107

RESOURCES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Write a detailed plan for improvement of the three areas by completing the tables below.

Deficit Area #1 Planning

What is the area of improvement:

Three actions you want Two information sources that might People/mentors who
to do right now to improve help you get ideas for further might help you
in this deficit area. improvement in this deficit area (e.g., improve in this deficit
(3 pts) find articles, blog posts, videos, web area. (Explain their
sites, discussion boards, etc.) related expertise or
(Add these to the Reference list experience.)
below) (1 pt)
(2 pts)

Get less stressed when https://simplelifestrategies.com/sls- -For this, I can

events come up and darwinchange/ follow any mentor
they arent planned for that is organized.
For example it can
 I want to be more easy
going and less stressed
about planning
I want to not always
focus on others but
focus on myself
Deficit Area #2 Cooperating
What is the area of improvement:
Three actions you will
take to improve in this
deficit area.
(3 pts)
Don't be to quick to say
no
Dont get an attitude
Dont let one person one erate-team-member-workplace-
day make you change
how you think of them
be a teacher, a
http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/3 librarian, a singer
1/study-25-of-happiness-depends- etc as long as they
on-stress-management/ are organized you
can follow them
around to see what
skills you should
pick up. They can
help talk you
through what they
do.
Two information sources that will People/mentors who
help you improve in this deficit area might help you
(e.g., find articles, blog posts, videos, improve in this deficit
web sites, discussion boards, etc.) area. (Explain their
(Add these to the Reference list related expertise or
below) experience.)
(2 pts) (1 pt)
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand I can look at my
style/2008/mar/15/healthandwellbein mom who is a
g.features teacher who can
teach me how to
cooperate with
others. She has
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/coop been doing it for
years in the
11347.html profession that i
have chose to be in.
This means that she
can give me all of
the tools and advice.
Deficit Area #3 Dealing with your Feelings

What is the area of improvement:

Three actions you will Two information sources that will People/mentors who
take to improve in this help you improve in this deficit area might help you
deficit area. (e.g., find articles, blog posts, videos, improve in this deficit
(3 pts) web sites, discussion boards, etc.) area. (Explain their
(Add these to the Reference list related expertise or
below) experience.)
(2 pts) (1 pt)

Be less sensitive For this portion, I

http://www.theemotionmachine.com/ would want to talk to
how-to-build-thick-skin-and-stop- my husband. My
being-so-sensitive/ husband is in the
Military so he has to
have thick skin. He
Let things get to you cant let others and
less https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014 things get the best
/02/26/highly-sensitive-people-signs- of him.
Grow a thicker skin habits_n_4810794.html

PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT

Review the resources provided for this lesson as well as the resources you explored above.
Then write a Plan for Improvement for how you will address your professional learning from a
self-directed standpoint. Reference follow APA guidelines for in-text citations and references.
For each response, include in-text citations to at least 1 of the information sources assigned
from this lesson and 1 (or more) information resources you listed in the above table. Save your
sources, as you will be asked to create a Reference list for these sources below.

Factor #1: Planning

Now What?
What would you like to learn?
Describe whats in store for the future now that youve learned more about yourself. What you
are going to do to continue your professional development in light of this learning. What future
learning opportunities will help you grow in this area? What new experiences or situations will
help you grow in this area? How will you engage in them differently now? What mistakes do you
want to prepare to avoid?
Explanation (250-300 words) (8 pts.):
Planning is something I feel is imperative for teachers. For example, we have to make
lesson plans, we have to keep track of grades, we need to know about staff events, we
need to know about back to school night etc. These things are things that teachers have
to plan for. Planning is something that teachers cannot necessarily be bad at. I know
personally, I do not want to be that teacher that people think are organized. Instead, I
want staff members to know how organized I am. Planning is something that people must
learn to do overtime. For example, people are not automatically going to know how to
plan for things. They are going to have to practice. Planning is something that can cause
a lot of stress. It can cause stress in a couple of ways. For example, it can make people
like myself stressed if they did not plan accordingly or just planning things out or a
schedule can be stressful. Per Paleaz, 25% of our happiness hinges on how well were
able to manage stress (Paleaz, 2011). This statistic proves why I have mood swings. I
am someone that allows stress to get the best of me. When I have an event or an
assignment coming up I get stressed and overwhelmed. I can then tell that my mood is
changing and is not very happy. Over the years I have been trying to get better at
managing my stress. Per this weekly reading, self-assessment can be defined as the
independent judgment of the learner on their own competencies or achievements on the
basis of self-determined criteria (Tassinari, 2012). Along the way it is important that we
check to see our progress. Ultimately, we are not going to change overnight and
planning and stressing less is something that takes time.

Your word count: 304

Factor #2: Cooperating

Now What?
What would you like to learn?
Describe whats in store for the future now that youve learned more about yourself. What you
are going to do to continue your professional development in light of this learning. What future
learning opportunities will help you grow in this area? What new experiences or situations will
help you grow in this area? How will you engage in them differently now? What mistakes do you
want to prepare to avoid?
Explanation (250-300 words) (8 pts.):

Cooperating with others is not something that I have always been the best at. I am
someone that either gets along with someone or does not. It Is extremely hard for me to
put a fake smile on my face. This is something that I know I need to work on. This is
something that I know I need to work on because educating the future is something that
is important to me. It is important to show the students that I am able to get along with
anyone. Your students will mock what you do so it is important that you set a good
example. It is important to take what others want into consideration as well. This is key
when it comes to cooperating and getting along with others. In my near future I will have
the opportunity to begin substitute teaching. This will give me the opportunity to work
with various students, various teachers, and various districts. This means that I will
meet a lot of new people. I need to show that I am able to work with others so that I can
begin networking for when I need a permanent job. One key thing that I learned through a
reading this week is that it is important to, List potential roadblocks you see getting in
the way (How To). This is an important step as I feel that most people skip this step. I
am someone that lies to plan everything including the events or situations that may
occur. It is better to discuss these things ahead of time because then everyone will be
prepared. It is important to be, problem-based and collaborative (Queensland, 2007). At
the end of the day it is important that everyone learns how to cooperate with one
another. Things in life would then run a lot smoother.

Word Count: 307

Factor #3: Dealing with your feelings

Now What?
What would you like to learn?
Describe whats in store for the future now that youve learned more about yourself. What you
are going to do to continue your professional development in light of this learning. What future
learning opportunities will help you grow in this area? What new experiences or situations will
help you grow in this area? How will you engage in them differently now? What mistakes do you
want to prepare to avoid?
Explanation (250-300 words) (8 pts.):

Dealing with my feelings is something that I have always had a hard time with growing
up. I am someone that did not know how to handle a situation when I got upset.
Normally, I would just get stressed or have a breakdown. Over the years I have been
working on reacting to situations and my feelings better. In my family, I get this trait from
my dad. My dad has always been someone that had a hard time coping with his feelings.
However, I have learned that when you are in a professional setting you must hold it
together. An article this week stated, If you think about it, its often our resistance to
change that causes us the most problems in life. Generally, we get upset when
something doesnt work out how we wanted it to (When Things). I am someone that gets
this way. However, this characteristic is not something that is acceptable in the
profession that I have chosen. I have improved immensely over the last few years but
feel that I have some more growing to do. Just like everyone else, we all have our own
flaws and imperfections. Per Guglielmino the personal characteristics of the learner
including his or her attitudes (Guglielmino, 2007). Attitudes are everything. When it
comes to various situations you must be able to hold it together. As a teacher, you cant
give attitude or rude. You must be able to act like a professional at all times. This is
something that I have been working on improving on the last few years. Although I am
much better now I still have some progress to make.
Your word count: 275

References (10 pts)

Note: no credit will be given unless your references are formatted per APA. See Owl at Purdue
as a guide.

Course Resources Cited:

Guglielmino, L. M. (2008). Why Self-Directed Learning? International

Journal of

Self-Directed Learning 5(1), 1-14. Please read only pages 1-14.

Retrieved from
http://media.wix.com/ugd/dfdeaf_d98e41d57bfe4b159fa98e60bcf5c4d2.p
df

Tassinari, M. G. (2012). Evaluating learner autonomy: A dynamic model

with

descriptors. Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal, 3(1), 24-40.

Available at http://sisaljournal.org/archives/march12/tassinari/

Queensland Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Collaborative. (2007). Adult learning

theories

and principles: Become familiar with adult learning theory and the six
principles of adult learning. Available at:
https://brucedwatson.wordpress.com/2015/05/05/adult-learning-theory-
and-the-six-principles-of-adult-learning/

Outside Resources Cited:

Browning, G. (2008, March 14). How to... cooperate. Retrieved October 21, 2017, from
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/mar/15/healthandwellbeing.features

Chan, A. L. (2014, February 26). 16 Habits Of Highly Sensitive People. Retrieved October
21,
2017, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/highly-sensitive-people-signs-
habits_n_4810794.html

How to Build Thick Skin and Stop Being So Sensitive. (2017, June 19). Retrieved October
21,
2017, from http://www.theemotionmachine.com/how-to-build-thick-skin-and-stop-being-
so-sensitive/

How to Cooperate As a Team Member In a Workplace. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2017,
from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/cooperate-team-member-workplace-11347.html

Pelez, M. W. (2011, May 31). Plan Your Way to Less Stress, More Happiness. Retrieved
October 21, 2017, from http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/31/study-25-of-happiness-
depends-on-stress-management/

When Things Dont Go Your Way | Simple Life Strategy. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21,
2017,
from https://simplelifestrategies.com/sls-darwinchange/

Professional presentation (professional language, grammar, spelling, word count) (10

pts).
Please proofread your work to be sure it meets university level writing standards. Note that if
your written work does not meet this standard, you will be asked to revise and resubmit within 3
days, and these points will be lost. The Writing Center can provide support. See
https://tutoring.asu.edu/writing-centers for details.