Learning consultant takes unconventional route to a degree

For Nikki Mountford, the journey to a Master of Education degree in technology was not the direct path it is for most students. Having never received an undergraduate degree, Mountford had to take a different approach to prove that she deserved a spot in the program.

After finding the program that fit her learning needs, Mountford, who works as a learning program consultant with the Executive Education team in the Haskayne School of Business, discussed her options with Jennifer Lock, associate dean of teaching and learning and specialization chair for the learning sciences in the Werklund School of Education.

"Dr. Lock was inspirational, supportive and very transparent about what it would take for me to be successful in a graduate-level program. It is an academically rigorous program and the expectations of students are high," says Mountford.

Mountford assembled a portfolio of her work designing adult learning programs

Undaunted, she submitted letters of reference and a portfolio of work demonstrating her skills designing and facilitating learning programs for adults in the dental industry as well as with the human resources team at the University of Calgary.

"My hope was that my years of experience and success in adult learning would meet the entrance requirements," Mountford says.

Then she waited. "There was definitely some apprehension as well as the reality that I might just get in. When the acceptance came through I was ecstatic. Frightened as all heck, but over the moon."

Lock explains that both formal and informal learning as well as work experiences can provide evidence of key competencies that can map to the requirements of a program.

"Nikki embraces lifelong learning," says Lock. "She is open to new ideas and challenges and is willing to invest in broadening and deepening her understandings and skills by adventuring into new areas of study."

Studying the way technology impacts education in Costa Rica

After she spent 10 years supporting adult learners, it might follow that Mountford would explore this field in her studies. That was not the case. Mountford took a different path, focusing her research on the ways technology impacts education inside and outside the traditional classroom in rural Costa Rica.

"It's quite a stretch from my career path," admits Mountford. "I chose this topic because Costa Rica is an incredible developing country with extraordinary potential that has a special spot in my soul. I am fortunate enough to travel there a few times a year and have seen some of the accessibility-to-education challenges first-hand."

Mountford says every course she completed as part of her degree has had an impact on her daily duties.

Lessons learned were applied immediately to work

"The program is designed with student-centered experiential learning; it's not just all theory with little to no application. I have taken the lessons and content learned and applied these in real time. It's the perfect scenario."

With this venture coming to an end, Mountford wasted little time in taking on another challenge with a successful application for a Teaching and Learning grant that will allow her and a team of researchers to share their findings on adult learning and technology in the space of executive education.

After that, she says she is considering applying for a doctor of education. Whatever her next step, Mountford is sure to move in her own direction.