Self Directed Learning & Training for the Human Resources National Fire Team

1. Self Directed Learning & Training for the Human Resources National Fire Team Facilitated by: Britni English

2. Many of us are virtual employees. VIRTUAL EMPLOYMENT + LACK OF BUDGET = NO AVAILABILITY TO TRAVEL TO ALBUQUERQUE FOR TRAINING

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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).

7. 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)

8. Learner: ________________ Learning Experience:__________________ • Example Learning Contract

9. 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

10. 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!

11. 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!

12. PLEASE PICK WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN (job related), STAY MOTIVATED & FEEL FREE TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOUR PEERS!!!

13. 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.