Analyses learner’s strengths, weaknesses and learning opportunitiesIdentifying learning objectives and pursuing them proactively,Learning to learnSkill to analyze learners’ strengths, weaknesses and learning opportunities

Check Your Emotional – Attitudinal Readiness Before a Training

Working as a trainer requires learning through experience. In this article you will analyze your strengths and weaknesses regarding your learning readiness.

Why did I choose this tool? 

While coaching many trainers I have noticed that the working time is very often a “black hole” in the professional development. Trainers are so focused on work that they forget about their own personal growth. 

How does this apply to being a trainer? 

As a trainer, it’s important to be aware of how open we are for receiving feedback and coping with other impulses during the training that might have an impact on our professional trainer profile.

Content:

Working as a trainer requires learning through experience.

Dressel (1980) suggests that student-centered teaching at the core of experiential learning practice must consider both cognitive and affective dynamics and orientations.

Nick Maddox, Monique Forte, and Robert Boozer from Stetson University (2000) have created The Holistic Model of Learning Readiness that is based within the conceptual framework of social learning/social cognitive theory. In this context they were generating and evaluating cognitive, emotional-attitudinal, and behavioral factors that are related to learning readiness.

Exercise:

Before you enter a workshop in the role of a trainer, make an analysis of your own strengths and weaknesses regarding learning readiness.

Analyze following features and assess them according to your strengths and weaknesses.

Use a scale to visualize your outcomes:

Emotive-Attitudinal Readiness:

  • How am I emotionally ready to take responsibility for my own learning during a training?
    ___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                         I am ready
    Weakness                                                                                                      Strength
  • How much I am enthusiastic about learning during the training?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                         I am very enthusiastic
    Weakness                                                                                                      Strength
  • How willing I am to adapt to the ambiguous and open-ended nature of experiential learning during training?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                         I am totally open
    Weakness                                                                                                      Strength
  • How much do I feel comfortable with self-direction and autonomy in learning?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                         I feel totally comfortable
    Weakness                                                                                                      Strength
  • How much do I appreciate the intrinsic value of learning?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                         I appreciate fully
    Weakness                                                                                                      Strength

Cognitive Readiness:

  • How much do I possess the cognitive and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed as a learner?
    ___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                        I possess them
    Weakness                                                                                                      Strength
  • How much I am aware of my own strengths and limitations in learning during a training?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                        I am fully aware
    Weakness                                                                                                     Strength
  • To what extent am I ready to make connections between learning and “real world” applications?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                        I am ready
    Weakness                                                                                                     Strength
  • How much am I aware of my personal values and willing to disclose them in the learning process?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                        I am aware and willing…
    Weakness                                                                                                     Strength
  • Am I able to integrate concepts and tools from various academic disciplines?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                       I am able
    Weakness                                                                                                     Strength

Behavioral Readiness:

  • How much am I willing to function in a partnership with my learning peers and co-facilitators?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                      I am willing
    Weakness                                                                                                    Strength
  • How much can I adapt at organizing time demands to achieve learning goals?___________________________________________________________________
    not at all                                                                                                      I can fully
    Weakness                                                                                                    Strength

Use the following graph to illustrate your level of learning readiness. Look above at the scales, summarize the results and visualize your learning readiness. Use different colors for different features:

Graph: Learning readiness strengths / by Dagna Gmitrowicz
Graph: Learning readiness strengths / by Dagna Gmitrowicz

My learning plan:

Choose three factors that are calling your attention and interest.

1……………….

2………………

3………………

Write down ways, ideas and strategies how to strengthen chosen factors of learning readiness?

1. _____________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________

Reflection questions:

  1. Which other ways do you have to analyze your learning readiness?
  2. Which one of the categories of learning readiness is most interesting for you: Behavioral Readiness, Cognitive Readiness or Emotional-Attitudinal Readiness? Why is it so?
  3. Do you agree that your working time is also your learning time? How would you explain it in your own words?

Author of the article: Dagna Gmitrowicz

Dagna Gmitrowicz – a senior trainer in the field of nonformal education, conducting international/national training and facilitating conferences since 2001. Creator of innovative educational tools and curriculum – Academy of Nonformal Education (PAJP), TOSCA training cycle, learning cycle in BECC Bridge to Cultural Centres, Colours and Needs cards, and many more. Member of several international trainers’ pools (It’s up to Me, TOSCA, European Solidarity Corp Polish NA pool and other). The member of the International Society for Self-Directed Learning after giving a lecture during SSDL Symposium 2020 in USA/Florida. Dagna Gmitrowicz is also a professional painter, and performer actively participating in a cultural scene in Germany and Poland, actively supporting cultural events and projects.
Website: www.dagna.space
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dagnagmitrowicz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dagna.space
TOY profile: https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/dagna-gmitrowicz.1048/
Click here to read more about Dagna Gmitrowicz

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Hande S. Strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats of blended learning: Students' perceptions. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2014;4:336-9.Developments in Business Simulation & Experiential Learning, Volume 27, 2000 LEARNING READINESS: AN UNDERAPPRECIATED YET , VITAL DIMENSION IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING . Nick Maddox, Monique Forte, Robert Boozer, Stetson UniversityDressel, P.L. (1980). Improving degree programs: A guide to curriculun development, administration, and review. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Gagne, R.M. (1977).

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