For essay #2, focus on the Theories of Learning, Culture, and Identity theme. Part 1: Threshold Concepts Threshold concepts are concepts that once learned, lead to a deeper and significantly different understanding of the discipline. Threshold concepts are: Transformative. After learning a threshold concept a learner thinks about the subject in a fundamentally different way. Threshold concepts lead to significant new insights into the subject area and may be accompanied by changes in values, or attitudes. Irreversible. Once learned, a threshold concept is not likely to be forgotten or unlearned. Because threshold concepts are transformative, it is impossible for a learner to go back to seeing the subject from the previous, untransformed perspective. Integrative. Threshold concepts reveal interrelatedness that was previously not recognized by the learner and lead to development of more elaborate and connected knowledge representations. Threshold concepts are potentially difficult for learners to grasp initially, but once understood, they create a portal into a broader understanding of the world. Apply this idea of threshold concepts to your own learning for this theme. What threshold concepts did you acquire (in this theme)? In what ways did they transform your thinking? How were they irreversible? How did they help you see interconnectedness or interrelatedness that you didn’t recognize before? Part 2: Discuss why and how these experiences were challenging. Were you able to work past the challenges or are you still working with them? How have these challenging ideas or experiences affected your professional development? What is your unfinished business from this theme? How have you worked with this and what are you working on right now? Part 3: Looking Ahead Where is your area of greatest strength and confidence related to this theme? What do you want to work on next in your development related to this theme? How will you continue working on your unfinished work? What aspects of your development (from this theme) give you pause, or cause trepidation? How do you plan to engage with these issues?
