The typical busy intersection appears chaotic at first
glance. And it is. There are at least four or maybe six different exit points. Some
of the exit points are permanent and others are temporary rest areas – an
option to “check out” while you deal with other aspects of your life. You will
be back in the flow soon though, as you remain committed to the education goal
you set. There are other supports and services that you pass on your way
through, that you may require now or later. It can be very hard to know where
you want to go. And once you know where you want to go, you still need to know the
best way to get there.
This is where the Navigator comes in. Think of a directional
traffic cop. The traffic cop makes observations and clears the way for you to
get to your goal, destination or exit from the intersection. Need services
along the way? Just as our magical traffic cop has already noted that your
tires are low and your headlight needs replacement, the Navigator has discussed
with you various courses and pre-requisites, observed that you may gain from a
course on organizational study skills, and connected you to people and services
that you may need in order to meet your educational goals and sometimes
personal goals.
Sounds perfect. A to B. Straight line? Remember this is
adult education. There are very few straight lines in adult education. The PLAN
is always a direct route, through that busy intersection, but you, like many
others, may not make it the first time. Your life is far more complex as an
adult than it was when you were first in school. The management it requires can
sometimes become overwhelming. Life often gets in the way.
And that is a key concept in adult education. Life does get
in the way, yet folks keep coming back to try again. And again, it is the
Navigator who is working with you, to find a path or route that works for you.
This is why we refer to Individual Learning Plans. Each person will have a
different plan for how you will travel through the intersection (education
system) to get to your exit (goal). And sometimes or maybe often, the barriers
to that exit or learning goal are not the external factors, but rather the
internal maze of barriers that can exist for adult learners.
You, like many adults, may have no idea where to go to get
assistance, or who you can see or steps you can take to deal with your struggles:
steps that will allow you to manage your life and your education at the same
time. The Navigator is there to connect you to people and resources to assist
you as you work through your specific barriers. And to welcome you back when
you return for another attempt at the Grade 12, or Adult Dogwood, or the Pre-Apprenticeship
Exam. Every time you return, you are welcomed and supported and encouraged as you
get a little farther along your individual learning path that will lead you to
your goal. And because the Navigator has worked with you, you do not have to start
all over again, each and every time.
It is amazing to watch learners, who have struggled, get the
rest of their lives in order, and suddenly, begin to see success and meet goals.
Picture a blazing comet shooting through the busy intersection. Everyone who
sees it is inspired and thrilled.
I am convinced, after watching the busy intersection that is
created at our community learning centre, that this works. Students return with
their successes: their thrill of the GED Certificate, their story of a job that
took them across the world, the excitement of their next educational goal. They
return weeks after they “exit”. They return years after they exit. They return
to their trusted Navigator with thanks, with referrals (friends, spouses,
siblings, children) and their next learning goal or idea. Again and again, students
report that the busy intersection model worked for them as they transformed their
lives.
With huge acknowledgement to Sandi Lavallie, Navigator Extraordinaire
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