Welcome!
Happy Birthday!
On my 50th birthday I made the decision to return to graduate school. When I told people about this decision the most common reaction was “why would you do that?”. In many ways it was not logical. I had a stimulating and rich career as a Television Producer, my children were launching, and this could have been my time to sit back and relax. But I realized that I had reached a stage in my life where I had a burning desire to dig deeper into issues of which I had merely skimmed the surface as a television producer. And I had another motivation to return to school. I wanted to focus my skills (and the wisdom that comes with age) on making the world a better place - especially for children and their families. The words Human Development, Learning and Culture appealed to me. They resonated with the kind of learning I wanted to do. And so I applied to the Faculty of Education (HDLC).
Dr Kim and Maria Presenting at UBC
When I met the woman who would become my advisor – Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl – I knew I was in the right place. Dr. Kim has a deep understanding of social and emotional learning, as well as unbridled energy and creativity.
We have become strong partners in learning.
When I first entered Graduate School I was not certain why I was in the Faculty of Education. I knew that I did not want to be a classroom teacher. But I also knew that all of the work I had done as a television and video producer/interviewer was intended to spark learning. Whether it was a series on Healing From Abuse, or a documentary about Autism, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or Dementia - my purpose was to impart new information and to inspire action. As I moved through my coursework and readings I arrived at a much broader definition of "education". I realized that, in some ways, through my videos I had been creating opportunities for learning. Graduate school has helped me become more knowledgeable about how people learn, and how tools like videos can be instrumental in that process. Now I know that I have a role in the world of learning. I am a knowledge translator!
I believe that we all learn every day. Sometimes we are the teacher, sometimes we are the student. The lessons we are taught in a classroom are only fully integrated when we apply them consciously to our lives – at work and in our relationships with family and friends. We cannot separate living from learning. My portfolio was put together with this philosophy in mind. I share my educational and professional goals, and provide examples of how I tried to apply my new learning to meet these goals through a wide range of activities.
I am grateful for this opportunity to look back on my 5 years in graduate school, and to reflect on what I have learned about social and emotional learning, human development, and myself.
Enjoy!
We have become strong partners in learning.
When I first entered Graduate School I was not certain why I was in the Faculty of Education. I knew that I did not want to be a classroom teacher. But I also knew that all of the work I had done as a television and video producer/interviewer was intended to spark learning. Whether it was a series on Healing From Abuse, or a documentary about Autism, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or Dementia - my purpose was to impart new information and to inspire action. As I moved through my coursework and readings I arrived at a much broader definition of "education". I realized that, in some ways, through my videos I had been creating opportunities for learning. Graduate school has helped me become more knowledgeable about how people learn, and how tools like videos can be instrumental in that process. Now I know that I have a role in the world of learning. I am a knowledge translator!
I believe that we all learn every day. Sometimes we are the teacher, sometimes we are the student. The lessons we are taught in a classroom are only fully integrated when we apply them consciously to our lives – at work and in our relationships with family and friends. We cannot separate living from learning. My portfolio was put together with this philosophy in mind. I share my educational and professional goals, and provide examples of how I tried to apply my new learning to meet these goals through a wide range of activities.
I am grateful for this opportunity to look back on my 5 years in graduate school, and to reflect on what I have learned about social and emotional learning, human development, and myself.
Enjoy!