Assignment 4.1

In chapter four and in the article found at: http://www.mentoring-association.org/membersonly/CBAM.html the authors discuss the Concerns-Based Adoption Model. How do you feel these seven phases apply to you and what do you need to do to become a better educator? What phase are you in right now? What will you need to do to get to the final phase? If you are already in the final phase, what did you need to do to get there?

I can see the fingerprints of this model in all of the workshops and training opportunities I provide or have taken. It seems we can all be at different stages depending on the project, experience we have, and mentoring/collaborative opportunities given to that specific project. For most of the workshops I facilitate, I give the opportunity to get them to the consequence stage but fail in the collaboration and refocusing stages. Although some districts I work with have provided collaboration, I could become a better educator by providing those other districts a chance for peer collaboration and expert coaching. I can also see the importance of a needs assessment and objectives outline so participants can be clear on what the district goals are versus their own personal learning objectives for taking the course. I can see working with district administration more in determining what they need in terms of a sustained professional development program, providing them direction in this process, working together to create a needs assessment and putting the necessary items in place to build a successful program.

With the curriculum technology integration workshops, we try to provide sharing time for participants to travel to our building and build relationships with other teachers in the same curricular area.  As the “Bridge” model (Sweeny, 2003) suggests, we are at the point of building trust so participants can feel less threatened as they integration certain technologies into the classroom. I see the collaboration and trust building needing to happen at ALL stages of the process. It is my experience that when an adult learning has a trusted peer to talk to and work with throughout the stages, they are more likely to reach the other side of the bridge (implementation of knowledge, skills, and strategies.) It is important to have this from the awareness stage through the refocusing stage.

As far as the Bellevue Adult Education program goes, I would say I am at the information stage. I am still figuring out how this all works and am ready for the next stage of integrating how this impacts me and my plan to use the material in my everyday workshops. I can see progressing through each stage and what that might look like over time. The management stage of putting my learning into practice. The consequence stage and figuring out if it is working or not. I see this stage cycling with other stages. If it doesn’t work, do I need more practice? Do I need better planning? Do I need more information? Or do I need to start over with new awareness. The next stage, collaboration, like I mentioned earlier, really needs to happen in all the stages. The ability to talk and collaborate with others in all stages brings a rich perspective I don’t think you would get without that experience. And finally, refocusing, or as I see this stage, evaluating your progress and seeing what you need to do next. We often have “retreats” for certain projects at our ESU and I really see this as being that stage.