‘Tell me and I forget it, teach me and I may remember it, involve me and I learn’ Benjamin Franklyn
What has this module taught me?
Throughout the module, I have learned a great deal from reading, reflecting and commenting on the work of my peers. Being very involved in the teaching and learning has been of great use as it allows me to share in the wealth of knowledge offered by the future leaders on this course.
It was useful to hear of Mark’s experiences of football coaching as this was an area where I had not expected technology to have much impact.
Hearing personal perspectives has given me a great appreciation for the way that culture and background impact the outlook different people have on issues. This is one aspect of joint learning that is particularly useful. Swing and Peterson (1982) support this, suggesting that collaborative learning encourages more diversity understanding amongst those involved.
This skill will prove particularly important for me as workplaces are increasingly diverse and so it is great to have a good understanding of other ways of thinking. Now, when reading through articles or blog posts in general, I feel myself looking more analytically and curiously at content, which has proven to improve memory and learning.
Learning to be a better learner
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein
Being able to compare different perspectives on the same issue is a skill I have developed to help me become a better learner. When comparing Roy’s blog on Just Eat with Mark’s on Airbnb, I identified a theme in the problems faced by platform business models concerning regulation. By thinking synoptically, I can now look thematically at problems to help identify solutions.
Key Learning point – Striving to become a third space thinker
This module has improved my ability to be a third space thinker, a skill which is in demand but undersupplied in the employment market (Weishaupt, 2017). Ernest J. Wilson summarises what this means in the video below.
Third space thinking is an invaluable attribute that will allow me to ask different kinds of questions, offer unique solutions whilst ‘creating different kinds of work units with different incentives which are different from what you’d find in a traditional business unit’ (Weishaupt, 2017).
As a third space thinker, this module has afforded me with a number of unique skills and attributes that will be invaluable to me going forward and for that I am greatly thankful!
References:
Swing, S.R. & Peterson, P.L. (1982). The relationship of student ability and small group interaction to student achievement. American Educational Research Journal, 19 (2), pp. 259-274.
Weishaupt, P. (2017) :“’Third space thinkers” required to compete in the digital economy’
Matt Jackson's BEMM129 blog 