TEL 431: Learning in Workplaces

L2: Assignment

Adult Learners
Constructs: Intrinsic Motivation, Autonomy, and Self-Directed Learning

Name: Amanda Pile

Date: 10/19/17
Your Assigned Facilitator: Workman

NOTE: Please bold all your responses so nothing is missed when your work is assessed.

This activity will help you realize where your innate abilities lie with respect to being
autonomous, so you can make good use of opportunities to be self directed. It will also help you
to realize your weaknesses, and to set goals to be mindful about improving your ability to be
self-directed.

The process is based on research by Tassarini (2012) related to the distinct but interrelated
dimensions the author believes are supportive to autonomous learning.

Before you begin, please read the following article about assessing language learners autonomy.
Tassinari, M. G. (2012). Evaluating learner autonomy: A dynamic model with descriptors.
Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal, 3(1), 24-40. Available at
http://sisaljournal.org/archives/march12/tassinari/

Figure 1. The dynamic model of learner autonomy (Tassinari, 2012)

The model accounts for the wide spectrum of competencies, skills, and actions that support ones
ability to be autonomous.

Following this model, the desire to manage my own learning is superordinate to all other
components, and thus is required in order to address any other component. In essence, learners
can decide to address any component at any point in time, and move freely from one component
to another without following a given path, thus improving their abilities to be autonomous.

For this lessons activity, the Tassinari model will be used, with adjustments made to eliminate
the need for a facilitator.

Building on Discussion Board

Intrinsic motivation was the small group discussion board topic for this lesson. This was meant
to help you situate yourself in adult learning needs. This activity will build on the discussion
board conversations.

YOUR CAPABILITIES
In the following prompts, you are asked to reflect about your capability to perform the functions
of autonomy, as defined by Tassinari (2012).

Recall the factors of the Tassinari model listed below:

Motivating Yourself. It is important to be able to motivate yourself at the beginning of the

learning process. As well, it is important to be able to re-motivate yourself when the initial
motivation wears thin.

Dealing with Your Feelings. It is important to recognize feelings that come up when learning,
and to process your feelings in order to organize learning effectively.

Structuring Knowledge. The ability to structure knowledge, sometimes disparate knowledge

bases, is a component that plays a role in all autonomous learning phases and activities.

Planning. It is important to recognize ones needs, to formulate these into realistic learning
objectives, and to structure these into steps that create a learning plan. In addition, one has to be
flexible enough to change the learning plan if the situation or needs should change.

Choosing Materials and Methods. The ability to choose and work with suitable learning
materials, methods, and strategies is acquired and developed bit by bit.

Completing Tasks. The ability to complete tasks is reliant upon access to any necessary tools and
resources, organizing time to learn, completing individual or multiple tasks, and employing
appropriate methods and strategies.

Monitoring. The ability to reflect on topics, tasks, the learning process, and to observe oneself
helps learners to identify their strengths and weaknesses and to structure or re-structure learning
activities accordingly.

Evaluating. The ability to review what you have learned, how well you have learned, and what
progress has been made toward competencies is the hardest part of autonomous learning. It
requires practice and normally occurs through an exchange with other learners or superiors.
Cooperating. The ability to cooperate extends learning from an isolated and independent activity
to learning in association with others. Cooperation can support learners to complete tasks, realize
a project, negotiate resources, evaluate the outcome, etc.

REFLECTION
Of the factors from the Tassinari model, pick 3 deficit areas that, if strengthened, would create
the most impact in your ability to be an autonomous learner.
Reflect ONLY on those three, using the thinking routine as outlined above. To attain maximum
points, provide relevant details and examples from your life in your reflection.

Factor #1: Dealing with Your Feelings

Reflect about this factor using the thinking routine outlined above. Write a paragraph for each
phase of the routine: what and so what.

What?
What do you do, when you are not so mindful (or maybe when you are stressed)?
Describe how you are now. What thoughts and behaviors challenge you? What environmental
factors, personal patterns, beliefs, etc. exacerbate your challenges?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):

I must say, I am not the best at dealing with my feelings. I am very good at explaining how
I feel but when it comes to dealing with it and coping with feelings, I have many issues. For
example, when people are overly stressed and paranoid, I get upset. My family is more of a
paranoid family, they worry and obsess over the most ridiculous things. When they get this
way I cant help but feel frustrated. When i get frustrated I am stressed and start to lose
my cool. I am a very calm and relaxed person. I do feel as though I stress over weird things
because others do to an extreme. My family in particular do not really help me deal with
my feelings.

Your word count: 128

So What?
How do you want to be?
Describe how you would like to be. What thoughts and behaviors would you like to change?
What environmental conditions (that you have influence over) would you like to change?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):

I would love if when I felt something, I knew how to deal with it. There are many cases in
which I feel as though if I were better at managing my feelings and how I acted, I would be
a much happier person. I would like to be more of my own person, I would like to worry
less about how others affect my life and life life for myself and to make myself happy. I am
very wrapped up in how others feel and how they are doing that my feelings become too
much to handle. I think the best thing and place for me to relax and get a handle on things
would be just any where away from friends, family, and work. The reason I say this is
because I will be able to focus on myself and what makes me happy.

Your word count: 146

Factor #2: Motivating Yourself

Reflect about this factor using the thinking routine outlined above. Write a paragraph for each
phase of the routine: what and so what.

What?
What do you do, when you are not so mindful (or maybe when you are stressed)?
Describe how you are now. What thoughts and behaviors challenge you? What environmental
factors, personal patterns, beliefs, etc. exacerbate your challenges?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):

Motivating myself is something I am not the best at. I feel very stressed out at a very young
age and due to this I find it hard to motivate myself to do better. What I mean by this is I
know plenty of people who have a lot of time on their hand and they feel more motivated.
The reason they are so motivated is because they are not feeling as though they are being
pulled every which way as I am. I am currently a senior in College, I am graduating over a
year earlier than the people in which I started with, I work two jobs, and take care of a
puppy. It has become very hard to motivate myself as I feel very exhausted.

Your word count: 128

So What?
How do you want to be?
Describe how you would like to be. What thoughts and behaviors would you like to change?
What environmental conditions (that you have influence over) would you like to change?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):

I would like to be able to motivate myself more. I would love to feel like I am young and
ready to conquer the world. I feel the thing I need is to just get away from job, school, and
work. The reason this would help is because once I have time to relax and come to my
senses, I will be able to find it within myself to succeed and want to be the best I can be. I
am really wanting to be the person I look up to, my dad. My dad is probably the most
motivated person and is so ready and prepared to give his all on a daily basis. I want to
wake up everyday and want to do something to better myself. I want to think about all I
can be and how I can achieve it. I will do it when I have the time to regather myself from
the overly busy lifestyle.

Your word count: 161

Factor #3: Completing Tasks

Reflect about this factor using the thinking routine outlined above. Write a paragraph for each
phase of the routine: what and so what.

What?
What do you do, when you are not so mindful (or maybe when you are stressed)?
Describe how you are now. What thoughts and behaviors challenge you? What environmental
factors, personal patterns, beliefs, etc. exacerbate your challenges?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):

I find myself having issues when completing tasks. The reason in which I believe I have this
issue is because I have so much already going on. In my head, I like to think I can do
anything. When it comes down to it I am genuinely too busy. On a daily basis I work
multiple dogs, go over full time for school, and take care of a puppy. Some days when I
have a break, I like to think to myself that I can maybe paint, or go hang out with a friend
but in reality when I start one of the things I think I can do, I can never finish.

Your word count: 113

So What?
How do you want to be?
Describe how you would like to be. What thoughts and behaviors would you like to change?
What environmental conditions (that you have influence over) would you like to change?
Explanation (100-200 word count) (3 pts.):

I would love to be able to start and finish anything I want to. I feel as though I am
definitely not a quitter but when I have not time to complete something like a project or
something, I really have no choice. I feel like the environment I need is to be with my long
term boyfriend who gives me all the love and support a girl could ever ask for. When I am
in his presence, I get a lot done and feel like there is a reason in which I am doing what I
am doing, I have a purpose. I think I am capable of anything, in fact I know that I am. I
will soon understand the exact place in which I strive to complete anything and everything
I set my mind to.

Your word count: 138

RESOURCES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Write a detailed plan for improvement of the three areas by completing the tables below.

Deficit Area #1

What is the area of improvement: Dealing with feelings

Three actions you want to Two information sources that might People/mentors who
do right now to improve in help you get ideas for further might help you
this deficit area. improvement in this deficit area (e.g., improve in this deficit
(3 pts) find articles, blog posts, videos, web area. (Explain their
sites, discussion boards, etc.) related expertise or
(Add these to the Reference list experience.)
below) (1 pt)
(2 pts)

Try to understand http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/stress My mother, my

people better ful-feelings.html mom is a wonderful
women. She is a
Understanding how to https://tinybuddha.com/blog/how- teacher and knows
be around things that to-deal-with-uncomfortable- all the things in
bring out the best in me feelings/ which I am going
See things in multiple through to be
points of views successful. She has
years of insight and
advice to help me
through.

Deficit Area #2
What is the area of improvement: Motivating Yourself

Three actions you will Two information sources that will People/mentors who
take to improve in this help you improve in this deficit area might help you
deficit area. (e.g., find articles, blog posts, videos, improve in this deficit
(3 pts) web sites, discussion boards, etc.) area. (Explain their
(Add these to the Reference list related expertise or
below) experience.)
(2 pts) (1 pt)

Looking for a reason to https://www.popsugar.com/smart- Like I explained

do something living/Ways-Motivate-Yourself- above, my dad is the
33284380 best person to teach
me how to be
Understanding positive https://www.positivityblog.com/mot motivated and push
effects ivate-yourself/ myself. My dad has
Knowing how you can been a marine for 23
improve overall quality years and
of life understand how to
stay motivated
through daily tasks.

Deficit Area #3

What is the area of improvement: Completing a task

Three actions you will Two information sources that will People/mentors who
take to improve in this help you improve in this deficit area might help you
deficit area. (e.g., find articles, blog posts, videos, improve in this deficit
(3 pts) web sites, discussion boards, etc.) area. (Explain their
(Add these to the Reference list related expertise or
below) experience.)
(2 pts) (1 pt)

Think of the benefits of https://www.fastcompany.com/3026 I think my brother

completing task
Think of who can
benefit from you doing
task
Think of long term
habits
738/5-ways-to-make-your-to-do- is the best person to
lists-more-effective teach my to complete
something.
http://www.creativitypost.com/crea Throughout my life
te/work_smarter_not_harder_21_ti my brother has been
me_management_tips_to_hack_pro the best person to
ductivity rely on besides my
parents who worked
extremely hard and
finished everything
he has started. Now
being a marine he
demonstrates his
talents daily.

PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT

Review the resources provided for this lesson as well as the resources you explored above. Then
write a Plan for Improvement for how you will address your professional learning from a self-
directed standpoint. Reference follow APA guidelines for in-text citations and references. For
each response, include in-text citations to at least 1 of the information sources assigned from this
lesson and 1 (or more) information resources you listed in the above table. Save your sources, as
you will be asked to create a Reference list for these sources below.

Factor #1:Dealing with Feelings

Now What?
What would you like to learn?
Describe whats in store for the future now that youve learned more about yourself. What you
are going to do to continue your professional development in light of this learning. What future
learning opportunities will help you grow in this area? What new experiences or situations will
help you grow in this area? How will you engage in them differently now? What mistakes do
you want to prepare to avoid?
Explanation (250-300 words) (8 pts.):

Now that I have realized that I need to be better when dealing with my feelings, I think I
am capable of it. What I mean by this is I am now aware that I can be better. Since I know
I can be better, I will do everything in my power to do that. If I try to be better and fail, I
will get back up and try harder. Due to my professional interests I must get a hold of how
to deal with feelings and how to go about various situations. As a teacher there will be
many times I need to deal with many different feelings. There are many growing
opportunities that will help me grow. Just being around people and watching my actions
will help me learn. There are many different things and experiences I can go about having
to assist myself when dealing with feelings. I think working with so many people in my
multiple jobs will help a lot. In my jobs I am both retail, and a dog trainer. Both of these
jobs of being in retail and being a trainer call for various attitudes, happy, mellow, calm,
excited. All the different feelings I have in a day working help me to be better at dealing
with them. In the article I read, Dealing with Uncomfortable Feelings & Creating Positive
Ones, psychologists suggest that we are driven by two connected motivations: to feel
pleasure and avoid pain. Most of us devote more energy to the latter than the former. I
think this is absolutely true. The only reason we deal with feelings is if we are happy about
them or not happy about them. Feelings are either good or bad, they make you feel good,
or they dont.

Your word count: 295

Factor #2: Motivate Yourself

Now What?
What would you like to learn?
Describe whats in store for the future now that youve learned more about yourself. What you
are going to do to continue your professional development in light of this learning. What future
learning opportunities will help you grow in this area? What new experiences or situations will
help you grow in this area? How will you engage in them differently now? What mistakes do
you want to prepare to avoid?
Explanation (250-300 words) (8 pts.):

I feel like i have grasped a deep understanding of who I am as a person and how I can go
about getting myself motivated. There are many ways I can go about increasing my daily
motivation. Like I explained above, I am working two jobs, going to school over full time,
and taking care of a puppy. I have a lot on my plate and typically my motivation slows
down. I have figured out that motivation is something you need to be successful at whatever
youre doing. There are many learning opportunities, I can surround myself with people
who are highly motivated. When surrounding yourself with people, you want to ensure
they have goals, and they have a purpose. In the article, 27 Smart and Simple Ways to
Motivate Yourself, the author shares that, If a project or task feels too big and daunting
dont let that lead you into procrastination. Instead, break it down into small steps and
then take just one of them to start moving forward. The key to having motivation is
believing and knowing you can do anything. This quote explains every reason why
someone would not feel motivated to do something, it is simply too big. I will give myself no
time off from my busy life, for now. The reason in which I am not going to give myself free
time is because I need to grasp how to do all that i do and feel some sort of motivation. This
motivation will help me tremendously as a teacher. When I am a teacher I will ensure my
students know what it means to have motivation and push yourself to be your best. I want
to prepare to avoid crashing and burning. I do not want to over do it, I do not want to have
too much on my plate that all my work begins to be average.

Your word count: 316

Factor #3: Completing a Task

Now What?
What would you like to learn?
Describe whats in store for the future now that youve learned more about yourself. What you
are going to do to continue your professional development in light of this learning. What future
learning opportunities will help you grow in this area? What new experiences or situations will
help you grow in this area? How will you engage in them differently now? What mistakes do
you want to prepare to avoid?
Explanation (250-300 words) (8 pts.):

Now that I have reflected on my need to complete things more often when I start them, I
feel as though I will complete all that I start. I will continue beginning tasks though I will
ensure each and everything gets done prior to me starting something new. I will be given
so many opportunities to show I can complete a task. Some of the opportunities will be
classes, work, and being a dog mom. All things I do in my life require that I complete my
tasks For example, I cant half way feed my dog, I can show up to work and leave half way
through, and I most definitely cant stray from getting my school work done. All of these
examples are great reasons as to why I need to understand completing tasks are important.
I will begin to surround myself with people who love to start new things and complete
them. I have many friends who start things and finish them because they enjoy it, they see
fun in it. I will engage in all opportunities with a positive mind, I will give all situations and
tasks my full amount of effort and do them to the fullest of my abilities. In the article, Work
Smarter, Not Harder: 21 Time Management Tips to Hack Productivity shares that, your
objective should be to take on only those commitments that you know you have time for
and that you truly care about. I think this is a great, the reason in which my tasks may not
be being fully completed is because I am not fully interested in what I am doing. I want to
avoid signing up for tasks I am not fully invested in or interested in completing.

Your word count: 292

 References (10 pts)
Note: no credit will be given unless your references are formatted per APA. See Owl at Purdue
as a guide.

Course Resources Cited:

Queensland Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Collaborative. (2007). Adult learning
theories and principles: Become familiar with adult learning theory and the six principles
of adult learning. Available at: https://brucedwatson.wordpress.com/2015/05/05/adult-
learning-theory-and-the-six-principles-of-adult-learning/

Tassinari, M. G. (2012). Evaluating learner autonomy: A dynamic model with descriptors.

Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal, 3(1), 24-40. Available at
http://sisaljournal.org/archives/march12/tassinari/

Guglielmino, L. M. (2008). Why Self-Directed Learning? International Journal of Self-

Directed Learning 5(1), 1-14. Retrieved from
http://media.wix.com/ugd/dfdeaf_d98e41d57bfe4b159fa98e60bcf5c4d2.pdf

Outside Resources Cited:

Lyness, D. (2017, January). Retrieved October 24, 2017, from
http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/stressful-feelings.html

Dealing with Uncomfortable Feelings & Creating Positive Ones. (2017, March 15).
Retrieved October 24, 2017, from https://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-
uncomfortable-feelings/

Co, E. (2017, June 09). 52 Easy Yet Highly Effective Ways to Motivate Yourself. Retrieved
October 24, 2017, from https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Ways-Motivate-Yourself-
33284380

Edberg, H. (2017, October 04). 27 Smart and Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself. Retrieved
October 24, 2017, from https://www.positivityblog.com/motivate-yourself/

Bates, J. (n.d.). Work Smarter, Not Harder: 21 Time Management Tips to Hack
Productivity. Retrieved October 24, 2017, from
http://www.creativitypost.com/create/work_smarter_not_harder_21_time_management_ti
ps_to_hack_productivity

Moran, G. (2014, December 31). 5 Ways to Make Your To-Do Lists More Effective.
Retrieved October 24, 2017, from https://www.fastcompany.com/3026738/5-ways-to-make-
your-to-do-lists-more-effective

Professional presentation (professional language, grammar, spelling, word count) (10 pts).
Please proofread your work to be sure it meets university level writing standards. Note that if
your written work does not meet this standard, you will be asked to revise and resubmit within 3
days, and these points will be lost. The Writing Center can provide support. See
https://tutoring.asu.edu/writing-centers for details.