Trauma and Adult Learning Essay -- Adult Education Learning Essays

impairment and Adult Learning Effects of Trauma on LearningAdults experiencing the effects of past or current combat injury may display such symptoms as difficulty beginning rising tasks, blame, guilt, concern for safety, depression, inability to trust (especially those in power), fear of risk taking, disturbed sleep, eroded self-esteem/confidence, inability to concentrate, or panic attacks (Mojab and McDonald 2001). Some mass may manifest no symptoms at the other end of the spectrum is Posttraumatic air Disorder, characterized by flashbacks, avoidance, numbing of responsiveness (including substance abuse), persistent expectation of danger, compactness (dissociation, zoning out), and memory impairment (Isserlis 2001). It may non be pronto app bent that a learner is experiencing the effects of trauma. Instead, such manifestations as scatty class, avoiding tests, spacing out, and having what may be interpreted as inappropriate or extreme reactions to class discussions or acti vities may actually be responses to trauma. It is rightful(a) that learning may be impeded by fear, anxiety, poor concentration, and the terrific energy involved in hiding abuse or attempt with immediate survival needs. However, interpretations of trauma and its effects on learning are shaped by education discourses (Horsman 1997, 2000b Isserlis 2001). A deficit perspective suggests that the learner, not the social system, essential change. A medicalizing discourse emphasizes that healing, getting over it, must take place before learning is possible. Discourses of educational practice may view dropping out, stopping out, or spacing out/dissociating as lack of motivation or persistence rather than survival mechanisms. Discourses center on outcomes and account... ...all/fob/2002/morrish.htmlPearce, C. E. Informal Learning of Homeless Women A womens liberationist Study of Surviving the Everyday. In 40th Annual Adult rearing Research Conference Proceedings, compiled by Amy Rose. De Kalb Northern Illinois University, 1999. (ED 431 901) http//www.edst.educ.ubc.ca/aerc/1999/99pearce.htm Rosenwasser, P. Tool for Transformation joint Inquiry as a Process for Healing from Internalized Oppression. In AERC 2000 An foreign Conference, edited by T. Sork, V.-L. Chapman, and R. St. Clair, pp. 392-396. Vancouver University of British Columbia, 2000. (ED 452 417) http//www.edst.educ.ubc.ca/aerc/2000/rosenwasserp1-web.htm Williamson, B. Learning in Extremis. In womb-to-tomb Learning inside and outside Schools. Collected Papers, vol. 2, edited by P. Alheit et al., pp. 676-697. Roskilde, Denmark Roskilde University, 2000.