Review of Professional Capability Reflection - what is Knowledge?

The central purpose of this learning log is to use Michael Eraut's classification of types of knowledge or ideas in the learningLog journal as a basis for interpreting a learning activity or event you have experienced in the past week. This can be an event or activity of any type. The Reading material/s will be sent to the qualified bidder. Payment will only be released when work is satisfactory. (Use the attached blank LearningLog template for this.) This is a one page template project. If you turn to any of the many books published on the professions, you will find that a near universal theme is the central role of knowledge in defining both professions and professionals. Here are a few examples: Larson, M. S. (1977) The Rise of Professionalism: a Sociological Analysis (Los Angeles: University of California Pres). See chapter 4 in particular. Also, in chapter 12, Larson discusses what she calls ‘monopolies of competence’. A number of questions relating to knowledge are at the heart of our professional practice program. For example: What constitutes knowledge? What kinds of knowledge can be distinguished? And, which kinds of knowledge are most likely to contribute to effective professional practice? I am not going to ask you to do a philosopher’s cap to consider these and related questions. However, we will need to explore a major debate that has taken place within both the academic and professional communities during the past quarter of a century as to which kind of knowledge and, perhaps equally importantly, whose knowledge, is most relevant for the professional practitioner. This debate was initiated by Donald Schön’s ground-breaking book: The Reflective Practitioner: how professionals think in action (1983, Basic Books), in which he posed a deceptively simple question: should actionable professional knowledge be derived from the scientific/academic domain, or from the professional domain itself? In order to prepare you for discussion on the issues raised by Schön’s book (which he followed up four years later with a second book on the subject: Educating the Reflective Practitioner), you are strongly advised to purchase a paperback copy (reprinted many times by Ashgate Books), and read the Preface, chapter 1, and the first part of chapter 2 (up to page 49). (Amazon will to deliver a copy to your door within 2-3 working days, with no delivery charge. * ) Alternatively, race to the local library and borrow a copy, or put in an inter-library loan request if it doesn’t have one. Read the short extract from Michael Eraut’s book on the subject of professional knowledge. When you read any of the recommended extracts, it will help if you write down in your personal Learning Journal some thoughts in relation to your understanding of the relationship between academic knowledge and professional knowledge. You might also like to think about Schön’s distinction between ‘technical rationality’ and an ‘epistemology of practice’. Does it make sense in your own professional experience? In order to develop --- and maybe challenge -- ideas in the literature from your own personal perspective. Focus in your evaluation comments on what kind of knowledge you feel you have acquired and/or were able to develop through the learning event you select for reflection.