Connective transformation model - PERSONAL LEARNING NODES #15 (Originally posted to Twitwall on Dec. 10, 2008)

Continuing from yesterday's reflection.. ..having ended up with the idea that connective learning in practice is transformative learning added with - or actually experienced, made real, accomplished with help of - using (micro/photo)blogging as a means of proceeding.

This leads me into the need of defining, what transformative learning means in practice. My theoretical background - summarised a year ago when studying ELECTRA online course for intercultural understanding - is the following:

1) My approach: Learning according to Holistic Cultural Competence Assessment (HCCA) Learning Model (Copyright Lic.Educ. Venla Varis); HCCA Model teaches transformation based on four validated learning objects: Diversity orientation, Team skills orientation, Value competence and Learning strategies.

2) HCCA Model = Change management model

3) In transformative – renewing – learning conscious off-learning is essential. In emergent learning it is significant that all participants understand their responsibility of building confidence and committing to the learning process. Knowledge building is a way to externalize one’s transformative and emergent learning. The process proceeds from individual towards collective – the learning process helps the learner to integrate to new communities by increasing her/his cultural self-awareness. Authentic learning is a way to bind the before mentioned theories to practical working occasions. Meaning and knowledge intensiveness in facilitating for learning takes into account all the above.

4) HCCA Model conducts the learner through the above steps of learning. It starts several simultaneous cognitive processes.

==> I've got the theory. I've got the competence: I've completed the Teacher's Certificate for HCCA Model learning issued by the coordinating partner of the EU Socrates Minerva Programme during which the HCCA model was developed to the first prototype level

==> Before starting the #cck08 course I planned to use HCCA Model as the context and the frame of reference for a case study belonging to my Master's Thesis on industrial management during next spring. I've explored outlines - and a number of details - of connective knowledge in order to understand: Is HCCA Model a connective learning tool?

I've come to and end of one of my personal learning => knowledge building cycles. In addition to the theory and competence, #cck08 course has taught me the 2.0 way of externalizing and sharing my learning.

==> My series of Personal Learning Nodes #1-15 is a practical, reflective case study on my thinking, learning and sharing process for finding the answer to the above question. My approach has 100% based on the HCCA Model way of learning. For the first time I've proceeded in a 2.0 way. The difference in and meaning for my personal learning has been huge.

All this put together is my reasoning for completing my Final Project of #cck08 on evaluating HCCA learning toward the 12 themes of the 12 weeks of #cck08. Both HCCA Model and #cck08 are huge clouds formulated by cognitive nodes split in a mesh like construction. Collecting the Personal Learning Nodes #1-15 has made visible the particular nodes I needed for completing the remaining assignments of the #cck08. As #cck08 was meant to be a living experiment of experiencing connectivism - I consider my learning process so far a success.

How big is your key area of learning..? - PERSONAL LEARNING NODES #14 (Originally posted to Twitwall on Dec. 09, 2008)

One fundamental milestone in my learning toward connective thinking was my first personal learning report portfolio I completed in May 2004 when participating the last pilot course belonging to the European Union Socrates Programme Minerva Project "Intercultural Learning in the Internet". Holistic Cultural Competence Assessment (HCCA) Learning Model (Copyright Lic.Educ. Venla Varis) was built into the first protype level during that course.

An essential part of finalizing the HCCA Learning course was creating a Personal Development Plan. HCCA Learning Model is fully based on transformative learning. I was describing connectivism in my earlier Twitwall post that connectivism and connective learning equals transformative learning, added with the social elements created by the use of web 2.0 collaboration, network building and sharing.

Us participating the HCCA04 were like us participating the CCK08 this autumn. There were no previous courses - meaning no examples of previous outcomes of learning according to the emerging new model.

When creating my transformative personal development plan from scratch - it was as follows:

"My key areas of development (in May 2004, learning according to the HCCA Model): Self management – from the point of view of the group I collaborate with. Methods: Deepening my understanding of my impact by consciously paying attention to it, self-assessment tools. Development themes from around the world - Related with my studies I’ve recently familiarized with the development themes of the European Union: Europe to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based society in the world by the end of this decade. – I intend to learn the corresponding themes regarding the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Africa. Method: Collecting and analyzing information from the media. The meaning of the spirit - Learning more about, what was the theme of the chapter 8 of the module 1.2 of the HCCA Model: Harmony exists in many collective cultures - Holy Spirit in Christian cultures - Internal energy. Method: Collecting and analyzing information from books."

And this is what I called KEY AREAS...?!! Realizing my personal development plan was tightly bound with my further learning, project work - and especially with a heavy and long bureaucratic fight in order to arrange for proper care for my differently abled son. I really truly was fully learning all the above areas - non stop.

Reflections originated by the CCK08 course have made me realize that I've managed to follow my personal development plan quite thoroughly, no exceptions on the way. Now I realize as well that us CCK08 participants - quite many of us I believe - face the same situation as us when completing the HCCA04. Loading more and more objectives for further learning - and no previous practical examples existing of how to start to complete it?!

When I compare HCCA04 and CCK08 - there's one significant difference. And that's the successfulness of the network building during the course. The network with whom to proceed was lacking after HCCA04 - although it otherwise included a convincing amount of connective elements. Writing this post is an evidence of a supporting learning network existing - increasing my self-confidence enough for continuing. Day by day.

I realize I've been somewhat afraid of facing - what's waiting after starting the real emergent learning phase after the scheduled theme weeks of the CCK08 course. I just couldn't have taken another four years of the kind of learning HCCA04 caused - no matter if the transformation started by it was for me a point of no return in a most positive sense. Two weeks of sharing my personal learning node construction has clarified the case - this time my emergent learning is / will be different. (Micro/photo)blogging cuts it into manageable pieces. And there's always someone who - if not already created a solution - struggles/creates/enjoys/innovates/wins/looses => learns facing similar occasions. My today's visualization (CC my Flickr):