EXP105_G30 Assignments Week 2 – Assignment- Intentional Learning

     Learning is defined as taking in the world around me through my senses, making sense of it and then responding appropriately. This is the definition of learning. To me this means 1) I observe the world around me, 2) try to understand it in my own way, and 3) then I react appropriately to it. Being an intentional learner means having an educational goal, a laser like focus, a growth mindset and grit. To me this means 1) having the goal of getting my BA in Social Science, 2) focusing on my goal, 3) having a willingness to listen-read and absorb information, and 4) finally, my determination to get to my set goal. These are what learning and being an intentional learner means and what they mean to me. Then with the first two chapters from our book I learned more in depth what this all means. I took the “learning connections inventory’’ and learned specifically how I take in the world around me. With the results I learned how I take in and process the world around me.

     Knowing what I know now about learning patterns I see how I am quit confluent. I now see how my conversations are a big example of this. I can begin talking about one subject with my wife and will randomly go to a few different other subjects and come back to what we had started talking and finish our conversation that way. I do this a lot when I have a lot on my mind. For example, one day we were talking about my schedule for work, her schedule for work, while we make plans for the week. I went from making these plans to asking her is she had checked her face book because I tagged her in a post I thought she would like. Then we talked about the boy’s school and making sure we had food for them. Then I went back to our schedules and setting reminders for us both to remember what was going on that week. Another pattern I use is precision. This pattern has been difficult for me to identify. As I have had time to let the patterns settle in my head. I do see how I use precision. Examples of me using precision would be with my current job. When nothing is going on its nice and quiet. However, when something happens, I or whoever is there must take thorough notes and make the best decisions of what to do. Like in the past I have noticed when a resident hasn’t been taking their mood medications. The resident in question had became very moody with staff. He was rude, short and looked unhappy. Instead of this being like a one-time incident, it happened been over a week and few days he was like this. I went back to his medication, that we monitor and noticed he hadn’t been taking his medications for over two weeks. I reported this to my supervisor. As soon as he could he had a meeting with the resident to address this issue. After writing this out I can see how I used precision, and confluence.

     My results were use first sequence 27, use as needed precision 23, use as needed technical reasoning 23, and use as needed confluence 18. This makes perfect sense to me right now. At my current job I can see how I use sequence a lot. I like directions when doing an assignment, and I use a prioritized list when it comes to completing an assignment. I like checking in with whoever gave me the assignment to make sure it is what they want, and I get a since of accomplishment as I complete my list. Use as needed precision was hard for me to wrap my head around. I don’t like to read for pleasure, I don’t ask many questions when given an assignment, and I don’t do a lot of research when looking up something. I ask specific questions and keep things short most of the time. When it comes to research I will look up something online, usually 2-5 articles. If they are similar or saying the same thing, I will go with the information provided from them. As

I have had more time to let this sink in, I do see how I use precision more than I thought.

Technical reasoning, I can see a lot around me. I prefer doing anything hands on, I don’t like unnecessary communication, and I try to relate any situation. Confluence is interesting to me. I use this, in the sense that I don’t try new things until I’ve observed others go first, I know its safe, and I think I can do it well. I am not a risk taker. I do agree with my learning connections inventory. The only one I think might be a little off is my confluence. I believe this one should be a little higher. Like around the 23 area as well as my other two use as needed scores. Reason being is that I see this one just as much as the other two in my way of processing the world around me.

     At home I tend to be more technical reasoning, precision and confluent. The reason I see it this way is because at home I prefer to show my boys how to do something, rather than explain it to them. I use precision in the since that when they tell me something happened at school, I like exact answer and no guessing. If the boys had a bad day I figure out what happened to cause the bad day. I look for the connectiveness to try to help them identify what caused them to have a bad day. Which is very helpful with my oldest son who has some disabilities. In school I tend to be sequence, precision and confluent. I look at an assignment, turn it into a prioritized list and tackle each part one at a time. For each task I complete I give myself a reward. I use the precision here a lot I noticed by refereeing back to our book a lot. Trying to make sure I am not referencing the wrong patterns and making sure I am using the correct terms. I find myself also connecting every situation in one way or another. At work I tend to be sequence and confluent mostly. I find myself tackling tasks in a list format and making connections to everything. Knowing all this helps me identify how best to tackle assignments. Also, it helps me to understand why I interact different at work then I do at home. At work I must communicate more thoroughly. At home I prefer to be more hands on with my family. This will help me to better set up my schedule for family, work and school.