Genuine Development

What a way to wrap up the book. This chapter was by far the simplest to comprehend, interpret, and relate to. I wanted to reflect on a few observations the text mentioned this week.

-There are several types/areas of development. Development includes intelligence, cognition, social roles, moral understanding, and identity. I would want to add that development is also physical. Most people would say that is obvious, but physical development is a direct correlation of the other attributes mentioned above.

-Multiple Developmental Pathways. Development can AND will take alternative routes. This is the biggest obstacle for instructors. It only proves that they are not teaching ONE curriculum among a class of 30, but thirty development factors among one class. So, would that make it a class of 60?

Development Theories
1. Encouraging students to call on and reflect on their experiences. That is really what this quarter has really been about. Some people might argue this quarter's classes have been opinion based, but really they have been a tremendous tool for learning. It's called development.
2. Peer groups and review. I don't one person in this program would ever underestimate the significance and importance of this process.
3. Exposure to conflict and its resolution. I am not saying people threw down their gloves and duked it out, but this week has been an eye opener with ethical conflicts. Ethics will always continue to present conflict, some of which might not be able to be resolved.
4. Recognizing student achievements. We have a wonderful group of complimentary cohort members.
5. Placing students in situations requiring new responses and action. Blogging! Enough said.
6. Providing students with relative freedom (internally and externally) and encouraging them to take risks. Pat has taken us down a technological pathway none of us ever envisioned. It's been a fun and exciting ride.

Next weeks blog entry is really going to be a fun one. I have been thinking about the future a lot lately, but I want to save all of those thoughts for next week's Crossroads blog.

See you then.