A quandary. A fork in the road. A spoon in the road. An insanity check. Whatev…
To return to school or not. That is the question. I’m sitting here with a reminder to register for the fall semester and I just dread the thought of returning to class so I made a pro/con list using SnagIt!
That, it seemed at the time, was a better thing to do than actually make a decision. Especially on a Friday. 
Toward the end of my Master’s program I felt the same way but when it was complete, I said, “that went kind of quick.” Now, I’m feeling “that way” at the beginning of a long, long road (it’s a Ph.D. in Education/Instructional Design, Development, & Education). I have reached a spoon in the road…and regrettably, it is not filled with delicious tomato soup but swamp water. Sigh. I will snooze the reminder until Monday of all days. Then, I’ve gotta swim or get off the spoon.
More on ID education (post and comments):
Instructional Design in Elearning
We Need a Degree in Instructional Design
Why We Need Good Instructional Design
Translating Constructivism into Instructional Design: Potential and Limitations
If You Believe It’s Broken – How Do You Change Our Industry/Models/etc?
Workplace Learning Today
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Janet, check out this Penelope Trunk article on why grad school is outdated. Something else to ponder:
http://tinyurl.com/5utcp7
Michele Martins last blog post..Sometimes They Just Aren’t Ready
Hmmm….don’t remember too many keggers during my second go-around at Grad School…..
Of course I was older and “more mature” ;’ )
The big issue for me when I grapple with that decision (which seems to be annually) is whether there is enough reward at the end to motivate me through the process.
Last time I attempted a PhD, the answer was “No”.
Lesson learned.
One day, maybe, the switch will flip to yes. Or not. But until then, I will keep chugging along as my Doctorless self and continue learning through the professors of the bloggosphere.
Good luck with your decision making.
And if you go….let me know if you find the keggers!!!!
Wendys last blog post..On Busted Toe
Thanks Michele. Good article although at first skim makes me feel immature. The full length mirror is always painful.
Wendy – I forgot to mention that I actually have the keggers at my house on weekends because graduate school makes me want to drink. (kidding, on the first part)
You’ll do what works for you. I have no doubt whatsoever that you bring a lot to the learning experience, that you question ideas and methods, and in so doing enrich the experience for others as well as for yourself.
For some people, I think later-in-life formal learning is like hiring a personal trainer. There may be other ways to get fit, there might even be better ways, but this is the way that works for them — a combination of free choice, obligation, and commitment.
Proceed as the way opens.
Your mileage may vary, but I’d put “exposure to 20-somethings” on both lists.
Dave Fergusons last blog post..Knowledge work: better, faster, cheaper, more
Dave- what I like about 20 somethings is that they will play in FB and IM with me during class. Can’t get the old farts like me engaging in such “distractions.” (I’ve asked them)
On the other comment…i’ll look for signs over the weekend. Law of Attraction will be my ‘decider.’
Since it’s Friday, how about a Muppet Moment to help you reflect?
Kermit: Hey, Fozzie, turn left when you come to a fork in the road.
Fozzie: Turning left at a fork in the road. Kermit!
[drives past a giant fork]
Kermit: I don’t believe that.
Or, from a more philosophical perspective:
Bernie: You, you with the banjo, can you help me? I seem to have lost my sense of direction!
Kermit: Have you tried Hare Krishna?
quotes courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079588/quotes
What a riot! Laughing so hard!
Thanks Chris.
Janet, you didn’t tell us some things that are incredibly important for deciding this – it’s basically where are you going. I personally believe strongly in the concept of following your passion and leveraging your strengths to find a direction / goal in life. So, …
1. Where’s your passion? What do you really love to do?
2. What are your strengths? What are you really good at?
3. What do these tell you about what you REALLY want to be doing?
The good thing about a Ph.D. is that there’s no expectation about getting another degree – except maybe an MBA … rats … there’s still more possible schooling. Figuring out how it lines up with you and your life is what should drive your decision – not the logistics of it all. And it will make a BIG difference when you get into the slog.
These are great, soul-searching questions. Difficult for a person that lives in the moment. Where I’m going is usually determined by the opportunities that present themselves and the subsequent action I take on them. These can be the little day-to-day things and the big things too. I’m passionate about what I’m doing now (excluding school). So that may be the answer right there.
Janet, I really like what Dave Ferguson says about later-in-life formal learning. That’s the way it was for me – “a combination of free choice, obligation, and commitment”. But I was very lucky in finding a couple of fabulous profs, one who became my thesis supervisor and another who was on my committee. And the ones I wasn’t impressed with allowed me to learn more discipline;-> And who says you have to do all of it? Take what feeds you and either drop or fake the rest – just like scanning through the blogosphere.
Joan Vinall-Coxs last blog post..WebTools For Teachers 06/21/2008
Taking my cue from Oprah, I would say that the issue is about “the WORK”…That is, your life’s work in the sense of purpose and meaning. If doing a doctorate and the WORK converge, then go for it – there are uses for a PhD. after you finish one. (Although no one has every turned up the lights of a theatre and asked “Is there a PhD. in the house?”)
If you are going to pursue thinking, reading and writing about instructional design anyway because it is your WORK (as opposed to your work/job) then I would get the degree. If your WORK in life doesn’t converge with the work of the degree then I would drop it.
Wise advice from two amazing people who have been through it…thanks Joan and Gary.