Self Directed Learning & Training for the Human Resources

National Fire Team

Facilitated by:

Britni English

Many of us are virtual employees.

VIRTUAL EMPLOYMENT + LACK OF BUDGET

=

NO AVAILABILITY TO TRAVEL TO ALBUQUERQUE

FOR TRAINING

What can we do instead?

Many on the team want to learn new material There are resources available to do so

Self-Directed Learning “Self-planned learning” (Merriam, Caffaralla

& Baumgartner, 2007, p. 105). Autonomous learning

(Merriam et al., 2007)

Benefits of Self-Directed Learning

Independent work

You choose what you want to learn (with supervisor approval)

Flexibility

And you still have the ability to ask questions and receive guidance when needed

As a learner, you need to…

Plan, carry out and evaluate your own learning

Be proactive

Reflect on material

Be motivated

Ask questions when needed

(Merriam et al., 2007)

Learning Contract Each of you will create a learning

contract.

What is a learning contract? “Formal agreements written by learners that

detail what will be learned, how the learning will be accomplished, when the learning will occur, and what criteria will be used to evaluate the results of the learning” (Berger, N. O., Caffarella, R. S., & O'Donnell, J. M., 2004, p. 290).

Provides “an optimal experience for each person” (Berger et al., 2004, p. 294).

In a Learning Contract You will specify:

What you want to learn (objectives) How you are going to learn it (specific

resources and strategies) Target date of completion Explain how you are going to know you

have learned the material (evidence) How you are going to prove you have

learned the material (verification by judges)

Learner: ________________ Learning Experience:__________________

What are you going to learn?

How are you going to learn it?

Targetdate of completion

How are you going to know you have learned it?

How are you going to prove you learned it?

•Example Learning Contract

Examples of some possible topics to be learned… Coding 52’s

Building Individual Positions

Working in EmpowHR

Processing actions

Creating spreadsheets for fire hire

Qualifying applicants

Working in AVUE

Understanding Outlook

Learning all about NFC

These are just SOME examples; you DO NOT need to choose any of these if you already know them or don’t have a desire to learn more about them

Example of some resources that are available EmpowHR trainings

Aglearn trainings

Peers/Mentors

Supervisor

SOP’s

Toolkit

If you find valuable resources, please share them with supervisor and/or coworkers If one costs, don’t assume you won’t be able to use it.

PLEASE ASK YOUR SUPERVISOR!

What you need to do… Create a learning contract

Realize that the contract can always be altered if needed

Set up a time to meet with your supervisor to explain contract

Once you and the supervisor agree on the contract, begin your self-directed learning process

Remember to ask questions when you are unsure!

PLEASE PICK WHAT YOU WANT TO

LEARN (JOB RELATED), STAY

MOTIVATED & FEEL FREE TO SHARE INFORMATION

WITH YOUR PEERS!!!

References

Berger, N. O., Caffarella, R. S., & O'Donnell, J. M. (2004). Learning contracts. In M. W. Galbraith (Ed.), Adult Learning Methods A Guide for Effective Instruction (3rd ed., pp. 289-319). Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. (Original work published 1990)

Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007). Self-Directed learning. In Learning in Adulthood, A Comprehensive Guide (3rd ed., pp. 105-129). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.