My Turakawaewae: A Review of Learning

Abstract

I have written this review of learning to meet the requirements of the first course of the Doctorate of Professional Practice (DProfPrac) through Capable NZ at Otago Polytechnic. As the first assessment the primary aim is to establish whether I have sufficient experience, skills and knowledge to progress into the later parts of the doctoral programme. In addition, my personal aims for the review are to (i) explore and articulate the influences and events that have shaped my professional growth to date and, (ii) to provide a line in the sand on which to reflect during the next three years of study. The review has three parts. The first is a narrative of a short journey in my home area which relates my interpretation of environmental and cultural contexts of the area, to my past and my identity. The narrative of the first section is not intended to form a review of learning in its own right, but rather provide context, themes, examples and a data sources for the second part. It is deliberately not referenced or written in accordance with academic tradition. The second part is a critical evaluation of the extent to which the narrative supports that I am sufficiently experienced, skilled and knowledgeable to progress into the later parts of the doctoral programme. In the second part I use a more conventionally recognisable academic style. The third part is a future focussed reflection on the first two parts. The first two section are deliberately juxtaposed with contrasting styles and formatting. This is partly to demonstrate versatility, but also as a challenge – a descriptive narrative is quite far from my default style of communicating through text. The third section is a reflection that moves away from the polarised styles of the first two sections towards a voice through which I could write the narrative of my professional growth in the doctoral programme. I see this process of finding an authentic voice as an important development in my professional framework of practice. I invite you to walk with me through my narrative reflection, and to cast your critical eye over the discourse of the evaluation.