WBL :Shadowing – learning via observation

Shadowing refers to the concept of practical learning applied within an observational, vocational environment. Job Shadowing is an integral part of almost any profession. There are many benefits to this method of learning but of course there are possible downsides. In any profession to be successful and effective, it is necessary to observe seasoned professionals and learn from their habits, workflows and knowledge, in order to develop their own abilities. To implement this theory I need to secure time shadowing a mix engineer, ideally, well practiced, knowledgable and willing to pass down information. In order to do this I may need to approach existing contacts to acquire new prospective contacts, as well as approaching new contacts acquired via networking.

Watching the way that professional engineers approach their work will allow me to emulate their workflows and adapt them to suit my needs and situations. Also, this will allow me to experience the way in which the profession effects the professional and also how the working environment is functioning in respect to the professional.

Working alongside somebody well versed in a profession allows one to develop a similar mental model. This refers to the thought processing related to the work. In this instance, it will allows me to develop a problem solving mentality. The key difference between my position now and that of a working mix engineer is that a working professional has no backup and if something doesn’t work it is their sole responsibility to make it work. So spending time in this environment will allow me to develop this problem solving mentality and a responsible attitude.

There are also downsides and obstacles to shadowing as a learning method, especially in a profession such as this. For example, the engineer I’ll be shadowing may not be very well practiced in teaching and some information could be misconstrued, mis-received or simply not conveyed. However, I believe my biggest obstacle with be relinquishing social anxieties and allowing myself to be at ease within the working environment to ensure all the information I could absorb I do.