Chapter 2 Connected Educator
Chapter 2 of the Connected Educator discusses a new model for professional development called connected learning communities. It is through connected learning communities that a career professional in the hospitality industry can collaborate through the use of professional learning communities, personal learning networks, and communities of practice of inquiry.
These three components of the connected learning communities model can be applied and used in an event coordinator career in the hospitality industry. A more in depth understanding of each of these key aspects is required in order to be applied to an event coordinator career.
Professional learning communities are essentially a traditional school-like construct where colleagues work together to learn, continuously improve, and share leadership. In a event coordinating career, professional learning communities can include a multitude of individuals that work together with the event coordinator in order to bring an event to fruition. An event coordinator will often times work with many different vendors, caterers, entertainment, etc. An event coordinator also works with the client. Learning about the professionals involved in putting together an event can produce a great amount of feedback for future events to run more smoothly and improve with each time. As an event coordinator it is important to be aware of the roles of each professional at the event and to understand the amount of work that plays into making an event a success. Staying connected with a host of different professionals that an event coordinator works with can be done through the use of collaboration and networking tools.
Personal learning networks are when an individual person gains information and shares resources that will lead to their own personal advancement in their personal and professional learning. An event coordinator can create a personal learning network through connecting on social media platforms with educational hospitality individuals. A professional platform that can be used is LinkedIn to share personal learning experiences as well as gain knowledge from others that are connected via LinkedIn.
Communities of practice or inquiry use the collective critical inquiry and reflection with the goal of creating a shared identity. Communities of practice are generally created through a group of people that share the same interests and collaborate with each other to learn and be better at what they do. The idea is that the knowledge of the group as a whole is greater than the knowledge of one person alone.
Communities of practice can be used as a event coordinator through collaborating with a small or large group of other event coordinators to share information and knowledge with one another. This can be accomplished through creating an online group where individuals can share their knowledge or experiences in event coordinating, helpful tips, or even a place for recommending different caterers, etc. Using social media such as a Facebook private group is a great way to implement communities of practice.
An important aspect of connected learning communities is the diversity of the people involved. It is critical that in order to connect with individuals we must also embrace their differences in background and experience. The more diverse the community is means that there is more opportunity for new ideas and concepts to be shared among the community.
Works Cited
Nussbaum-Beach, S., & Hall, L. R. (2012). The connected educator: Learning and leading in a digital age. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
I can see why you said that an online group where event coordinators could collaborate would be very beneficial. Planning small or large events is difficult and can lead people to believe they have hit obstacles that are impossible to get over. An online community would help people look for solutions to complex problems in their field. People with past experiences with event coordinating could also give amateurs advice on the ins and outs of the business. Do you think it would be difficult to get a large amount of event coordinators to all interact online?
ReplyDeleteHey Jenna! Thanks for your response to my post. I don't think it would be difficult to get a large amount of event coordinators to interact online because usually event coordinators use technology everyday for their work. They are constantly in contact with a multitude of different people for their job. I feel that many event coordinators would find it helpful and easy to have a group space online where they can share helpful experiences, collaborate, etc.
DeleteIt was very interesting to read how you applied the connected learning model to the hospitality industry, more specifically coordinating events. Your blog allowed me to visualize myself as a coordinator and I could definitely understand how the connected learning model would benefit. Being a coordinator definitely means that he or she are entering a very hectic atmosphere and in order to keep the operation running smoothly, they must have precise communication; having a professional learning community can definitely allow that. Which of the three components do you feel is the most important in this situation?
ReplyDeleteHello Cliandonica!
DeleteI feel that all three are important, I don't feel that one is more important than another for a particular reason. With all three working together, I feel that it allows for maximum growth and opportunity within the hospitality industry.
Hi Cara! The concepts discussed in this chapter can definitely be utilized in a career as an event coordinator. I agree with your point that the creation and utilization of a personal learning network can be helpful in becoming a successful coordinator. By using diverse platforms, it will be easier for individuals to connect and share their services. Event coordinators use many different vendors based on the needs of the client, so using a network can keep contacts for future jobs. This will also help to establish a professional relationship between all of your contacts. I liked your explanation of how communities of practice can be beneficial for event coordinators to share past experiences and recommendations for future vendors. Since this industry is so fast paced, it is important to consistently maintain your network. Where do you envision yourself being an event coordinator? Great post!
ReplyDeleteHey Audrey!
DeleteI'm not entirely sure where I would like to be an event coordinator. My plan is to try getting experience in multiple coordinating positions such as large scale events, weddings, etc. and see which one I like the most! I had the opportunity in Spring last year to help coordinate the AC Beer Festival Judging Competition with the Event Planning class at Stockton, which I really enjoyed a lot and would recommend to anyone interested in events. Thanks for your response!
Hi Cara, great blog post! It was very interesting to see the aspects of chapter 2 be applied to your field of study as an event coordinator in the hospitality industry. I am pursuing a career in the medical field, which is different than yours, but similar in some ways such as our ways of learning and in the aspect that we will both deal with many people. In your blog, it was clear that learning is essential in all careers and I could not agree more. One point you brought up was the importance of learning about professionals involved and related to your own. Most career paths are intertwined with others, such as someone studying nursing and someone studying to be a doctor. Both are different, however it is important to know about one another because there is a duel, common goal amongst the two. I really liked how this point was brought up because it is essential to know about other professions involved in your career. By learning about this, one can only further their own knowledge and efficiency in their personal career. Overall, great summary! What made you decide on this career?
ReplyDelete