Comments on: Lifelong learning http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/2009/01/23/lifelong-learning/ Preparing for and accomplishing a doctoral program at Capella Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:16:27 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Constance Davis http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/2009/01/23/lifelong-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 Constance Davis Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:42:47 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/?p=87#comment-1151 Sais, Congratulations on your position with the college in Iraq! You will be a terrific faculty member because of your attitude. Teaching is, without a doubt, one of those professions where you can never know enough. When you teach that first class, you realize how much you still want to learn so that you fully understand more of the background and nuances of your topic. Even if you wrote the book (or dissertation) on that topic, you will find there is always more you feel you want to learn. And if you teach classes on several different topics, you will find yourself wanting to know more and more about those areas. Absolutely, you want to go into your courses with as much preparation as possible. With any luck, you are prepared to respond to the difficult student questions that will, inevitably, come your way. Some of those questions, though, will send you scurrying to find those answers. Your students will be in good hands in your classes. Good luck! Sais,

Congratulations on your position with the college in Iraq! You will be a terrific faculty member because of your attitude. Teaching is, without a doubt, one of those professions where you can never know enough. When you teach that first class, you realize how much you still want to learn so that you fully understand more of the background and nuances of your topic. Even if you wrote the book (or dissertation) on that topic, you will find there is always more you feel you want to learn. And if you teach classes on several different topics, you will find yourself wanting to know more and more about those areas. Absolutely, you want to go into your courses with as much preparation as possible. With any luck, you are prepared to respond to the difficult student questions that will, inevitably, come your way. Some of those questions, though, will send you scurrying to find those answers. Your students will be in good hands in your classes. Good luck!

]]> By: Sais Singh http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/2009/01/23/lifelong-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 Sais Singh Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:11:37 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/?p=87#comment-1148 In the short time since I first posted, I was hired as an adjunct faculty member for a college here in Iraq, teaching servicemembers aboard a Coalition Base. I shared this news with some friends of mine back home and they asked me "why are you still going to college? You're a teacher now." I have come to the realization that I want to contribute to the field, younger learners and society. To do this adequately, I am required to continue learning forever. I want to provide the best body of knowledge to these students and all students in the future. I think you stated it perfectly, part of my own self-actualization will be that I will never learn enough. In the short time since I first posted, I was hired as an adjunct faculty member for a college here in Iraq, teaching servicemembers aboard a Coalition Base. I shared this news with some friends of mine back home and they asked me “why are you still going to college? You’re a teacher now.” I have come to the realization that I want to contribute to the field, younger learners and society. To do this adequately, I am required to continue learning forever. I want to provide the best body of knowledge to these students and all students in the future. I think you stated it perfectly, part of my own self-actualization will be that I will never learn enough.

]]> By: Constance Davis http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/2009/01/23/lifelong-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Constance Davis Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:26:46 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/?p=87#comment-763 I certainly wish you the best of luck, Sais, as you look forward to taking classes. You certainly ask questions that only you can really answer. Why DO you want to continue to learn? You ask the questions about Maslow's hierarchy and whether you will reach the self actualization level. Only you will be able to answer that. Is it the degree at the end of the journey that will help you reach that level -- or will it be the education you receive while you take that journey that will bring you closer to that level? Will additional education provide a more comfortable life for your family? Again, it is how to choose to use that education that will answer that question. Will you be able to contribute to society? Again, it is in how you choose to use the education you receive. Is part of attaining self-fulfillment the knowledge that you want to keep learning and somehow knowing that you will never be able to learn enough to satisfy yourself? I certainly wish you the best of luck, Sais, as you look forward to taking classes. You certainly ask questions that only you can really answer. Why DO you want to continue to learn? You ask the questions about Maslow’s hierarchy and whether you will reach the self actualization level. Only you will be able to answer that. Is it the degree at the end of the journey that will help you reach that level — or will it be the education you receive while you take that journey that will bring you closer to that level? Will additional education provide a more comfortable life for your family? Again, it is how to choose to use that education that will answer that question. Will you be able to contribute to society? Again, it is in how you choose to use the education you receive. Is part of attaining self-fulfillment the knowledge that you want to keep learning and somehow knowing that you will never be able to learn enough to satisfy yourself?

]]> By: Sais Singh http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/2009/01/23/lifelong-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-759 Sais Singh Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:25:51 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/askdoctoraladvising/?p=87#comment-759 As I continue step back to view my life, the person I look at is successful. He has finished almost every task he has set out to do. He is educated, a good family person and pursuing a road that most in his family did not ever know existed. What has driven me to these moments? Was it the impoverished life growing up? Was it the perception that educated people don't suffer as much financially? Or was it just a need to feel fulfilled? Maslow describes self actualization as "...implies the attainment of the basic needs of physiological, safety/security, love/belongingness, and self-esteem" (http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/maslow/self.htm, online). Based on this description, I have not reached self actualization. I step back to view my life and the person I look at is successful. He has finished almost every task he has set out to do. He is educated, a good family person and pursuing a road that most in his family did not ever know existed. What has driven me to these moments? Was it the impoverished life growing up? Was it the perception that educated people don't suffer as much financially? Or was it just a need to feel fulfilled? Maslow describes self actualization as "...implies the attainment of the basic needs of physiological, safety/security, love/belongingness, and self-esteem" (http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/maslow/self.htm, online). Based on this description, I have not reached self actualization. As I continue to push forward and reach plateaus never seen by any family member, will I become complacent and accept what I have or continue to strive for the absolute best? Who is the authority on what is best? Is it Maslow’s self actualization? Or is it a comfortable life for my family, myself while having the ability to contribute to society? This is a question that will not be answered anytime soon. I haven’t taken my first class yet, wish me luck. As I continue step back to view my life, the person I look at is successful. He has finished almost every task he has set out to do. He is educated, a good family person and pursuing a road that most in his family did not ever know existed. What has driven me to these moments? Was it the impoverished life growing up? Was it the perception that educated people don’t suffer as much financially? Or was it just a need to feel fulfilled? Maslow describes self actualization as “…implies the attainment of the basic needs of physiological, safety/security, love/belongingness, and self-esteem” (http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/maslow/self.htm, online). Based on this description, I have not reached self actualization. I step back to view my life and the person I look at is successful. He has finished almost every task he has set out to do. He is educated, a good family person and pursuing a road that most in his family did not ever know existed. What has driven me to these moments? Was it the impoverished life growing up? Was it the perception that educated people don’t suffer as much financially? Or was it just a need to feel fulfilled? Maslow describes self actualization as “…implies the attainment of the basic needs of physiological, safety/security, love/belongingness, and self-esteem” (http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/maslow/self.htm, online). Based on this description, I have not reached self actualization.
As I continue to push forward and reach plateaus never seen by any family member, will I become complacent and accept what I have or continue to strive for the absolute best? Who is the authority on what is best? Is it Maslow’s self actualization? Or is it a comfortable life for my family, myself while having the ability to contribute to society? This is a question that will not be answered anytime soon. I haven’t taken my first class yet, wish me luck.

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