Considerations around learners and our role as educators

16/12/2015

Interesting to listen to Sharon Thomas Parrott from the USA speak at the NAEEA conference about higher education in the states. It seems that no matter which country you are in, there are issues around higher education. However, my thinking is that as a lecturer, my key objective should be around my students and ensuring their success through this educational journey. One comment that Sharon made that resonated with me was "meet the students where they are at in order to take them to where they need to go". As adult educators, we play an important role in scaffolding their knowledge and supporting them emotionally. However, I have witnessed that where there is a reduction in compassion towards where the students are at, there is reduced student engagement and ultimately higher levels of student attrition and disempowerment.

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Author

Trixie James lectures within the STEPS program at CQUniversity on the Bundaberg Campus. Trixie’s research interests centre on the support and engagement of under-represented adults in the tertiary sector, with special interest in student engagement, quality teaching practices and positive psychology. She completed a Masters of Learning Management in Executive Leadership with a minor thesis that investigated enabling students’ successful transition into undergraduate studies.

Contributing Authors

Biography
Frank Armstrong is the Access Coordinator for the STEPS course at CQUniversity on the Mackay Campus. He has completed his Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training. His main areas of teaching are in Preparatory Skills and Technical Writing areas within the STEPS Enabling Course. His research interest has focused on males and the challenges they face whilst undertaking enabling programs and is has now expanded to the development of critical thinking skills.

Katrina Johnston is an Associate Lecturer in the School of Access Education, teaching computing skills in the STEPS enabling program and providing computing support to undergraduate students in the Academic Learning Centre. Katrina has also teaches in the Digital Media program at CQUniversity. She has completed a Bachelor of Infomatics (Distinction); Majoring in Multimedia and has since gone on to work in the Digital Media industry for 10 years as a Graphic Designer. Katrina has completed a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary and Adult Education and is currently studying a Master of Information Technology; Majoring in Mobile Application Development. Katrina’s research interests involve both the support and engagement of under-represented adults in the tertiary sector.

I invite all interested people to read my thoughts and share their experiences using the HE Framework.