World View free essay sample

Using the concept of a world view, identify some of the beliefs and attitudes, particularly to education and learning that you bring to your learning now. Reflect critically on how your worldview has been shaped by factors such as your gender, age or community. In your answer refer to Hobson (1996) and Samovar and Porter (2004) from the SSK12 Reader, and Chapter 1 in A Guide to Learning Independently (Marshall and Rowland, 2006, 1-18).Through our world view we hold a â€Å"set of beliefs through which we organise our understanding of ourselves and our understanding of others† (Hobson, 1996, 2). In this essay I will identify my concept of world view and how it has been shaped by factors such as my age, gender, community and family. I have adapted the beliefs and attitudes that tertiary education and learning is a personal choice made by each individual which we all have the right to, and that these opportunities should be available to everybody. Hobson defines world view as â€Å"the primary conceptual framework within which our beliefs, values and attitudes about ourselves and others rest† (Hobson, 1996, 2), and Samovar and Porter state that our world views â€Å"influence our perceptions, beliefs and values† (2004, 85). These world views are developed by the culture that we live in. Our beliefs and attitudes towards education and learning are affected by our different life experiences and shape our perception towards education.This is shown to us in A Guide to Learning Independently, where we are presented with the statement that â€Å"your body and emotions, cultural background and beliefs, the people in your life and where you study are what affects your learning (Marshall and Rowland, 2006, 1). World view is basically how each individual sees the world and are personal to each human being, however influenced by external factors. Through these factors, such as the experiences I faced through my earlier life, my age, gender and culture, my world view on education and learning has been shaped.My age has impacted my world view towards education and learning, as being in my late twenties I can still obtain the same training and learning as students who have come straight from high school. Through study I can give myself career opportunities that I otherwise would not have. When I was in high school I wanted to leave after I finished year 10. There was no legal requirements that I had to proceed any further, however being presented the choices that I had if I was to leave school, such as finding an entry level job or doing another form of education, I decided to continue to the end.I did not choose to go on to tertiary study after completing year twelve, and I only decided at this point in my life I was ready to go back to a formal learning environment, and was able to succeed in the choices I made about my study . This choice to study was decided by the belief that I wanted to get involved in my family business and without some qualifications it was not going to be possible. Through my own experience, my opinion is that I believe we all have a choice about when and how we want to study through tertiary education and learning.In the first chapter of A Guide to Learning Independently we are confirmed to the fact that â€Å"your physical state and your emotions influence your ability to learn† (Marshall and Rowland, 2006, 1). I believe that individuals should only begin study when they choose and decide they are ready. Therefore, study should be a choice made for the right reasons, and needs to be done solely for your own purposes. Marshall and Rowland express that â€Å"what you believe and value directly affects your learning† (Marshall and Rowland, 2006, 1), and that students need to be clear about their goals and why they are studying at university.In having said this, my community has influenced my attitude of education, as I have realised how difficult it is to find a secure job due to the current financial situation of the country and the community in which I live, and the roles I have the experience in are becoming increasingly harder to find. The positions which I have previously held in reception and administration roles are being more highly sought after, especially by people who do not have qualifications, and are beginning to require more formal training in regards to climbing the career ladder in companies. I have the view that in order to expand career options, education and learning is vital. In addition to my belief that education and learning should be a choice, I also believe it is a right, available to every individual regardless of age, gender, race, social standing. For many years in Australia most tertiary education communities involved school leavers from affluent families. This has now changed, and universities are now much more varied, attracting students from diverse backgrounds, including mature age students (Marshall and Rowland, 2006, 10).Growing up in an upper middle class family, I had the opportunity and finances to do whatever I chose to, and it is my perception that everybody should have this option. Through my world view, being a female has also influenced my belief of education, within my experience of studying with males in a learning environment. Attending a co-educational high school, there was always gender equality. Living in the multicultural society that is Australia, we are all of different ages, races, genders and come from different backgrounds.This should not prevent anybody from gaining knowledge through education if they choose to do so. This can be shown by the fact that we are now being given the opportunity in Australia to study off-campus, through companies such as Open Universities Australia, and gives us the knowledge that it is acceptable to begin study at any age and in any situation. Programs such as FEE-HELP and Austudy provided by the government give people the chance to study without having the necessary financial standing that others may have.Individuals, who may not have wanted to study straight out of school, or have had other circumstances arise in their lives, are now given another chance to obtain formal education. In summary, I have been given the understanding that my world view is what has formed my beliefs and attitudes. It has shown me how my age, gender, culture and community have all influenced how my perceptions have been shaped towards the beliefs that education and learning is a right and a choice, and the opportunity should be available to everybody who wishes to take advantage of it.