A coach, a mentor, a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a niece, an adult educator, a learning designer, and a lifelong learner. Like many of you, I wear many hats, some comfortably nestled within one another, others fighting to take centre stage.

Learning reclaimed its prime spot in my life some four years ago when I took the plunge into adult education. I took on the role of learning designer and have not looked back since. Today I can proudly say I am on the halfway mark on my lifelong journey towards gaining a Master of Learning and Professional Development with Griffith University.

As an adult educator I firmly believe that learning is for life. Humankind cannot survive without learning. Economies cannot thrive without learning. Industries will come to a standstill without learning. The rapid pace of change driven by technology and technical enhancements demands that we keep learning. The pandemic demands that we keep learning. Our work demands that we keep learning.

But, what kind of learning? Does it really matter?

There answer is yes AND no, depending on who you’re asking. For the individual, learning is driven by their own interests. For instance, I have a Certificate in Pastry and Baking, and an Advanced Certificate in Culinary Arts, but I am not a professional baker, nor am I an Executive Chef at a 5-star hotel, both of which, incidentally, are my dream jobs! I’ve continually honed my skills as a baker and home chef, through experiential learning.

In my professional capacity I am constantly learning to hone a whole host of skills as I support blended learning in higher education. In my personal opinion, it is necessary for the personal and professional to diverge. After all, there are many facets of an individual.

Organisations promote learning as a means of survival. Workplace learning experts propose that all organisations are learning ones, and training provisions are necessary. In the higher education space, learning is fundamental, and the ONL community is a safe place within which such learning can take place. The camaraderie, the peer support and the sense of community has kept many of us coming back, as I did.

For this iteration (221) I belong to the Blogging Team, to support and encourage blogging among participants, as they reflect on their learning. If you’re here reading my post, chances are you were invited to find out a little bit more about me. So why not return the favour and tell me who you are. I look forward to hearing many more stories from the richly diverse family that is ONL!