Dr. Arlene M. C. Young PhD, R Psych (AB)

Tutor, Women's Studies 266 & 499
Visiting Graduate Professor,
Centre for Distance Education

Tel: (780) 454-1965
Email: arlene@athabascau.ca

I have worked at Athabasca University (AU) since 1975. During that time, I have been in a number of positions, primarily as a counsellor, academic, tutor or instructor. I have been an instructor in MDDE 651 since 1998, except for two years when personal matters interfered. Isn’t that just the way things go for adults with all of life’s issues that include homes, families, and paid employment?

While my children were growing up, I worked at paid employment and studied for a master’s degree in counselling psychology, and after they were grown, a doctorate in educational psychology. My studies were all at the University of Alberta. I know of women with children who moved to pursue their advanced degrees, but I found that prospect too overwhelming to contemplate seriously. I felt fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue my academic interests without moving from Edmonton. I also benefited by being able to take educational leaves to fulfil some program requirements. My challenges and experiences were similar to many AU students in that managing work and family commitments was a challenge. Adding advanced education into the mix threatens to make any student’s life very complicated indeed.

Distance education can help with the act of balancing life roles, but may require a new set of skills in learning and personal management. It’s hard to know which ones are the most difficult. Suffice to say that I have worked with many students over the years to help them overcome barriers to their learning, and develop effective study skills.

My research has focused on women and their careers. In my master’s research, I evaluated a workshop on assertiveness training, one approach to teaching effective communication skills. In my doctorate, I looked at women’s experiences of involuntary job loss. I found that women suffer that loss, and grieve, in much the same way as previous research says that men do. Just as important I found that the three women who participated in the research made sense of their experiences through the collaborative story telling research process. Other research I’ve worked on has focused primarily on evaluating AU support services for students.

I have had a dog most of my life. Walking, playing, and petting a dog is one of my great joys, hence my photo with Scully. He was a Humane Society foundling and has been with me for almost 2 years. I thought I was a pretty good dog trainer until I got him. We’ve both improved with the help of a couple of trainers.

I have a BA, from the University of Alberta, a Diploma of the Faculty of Education-Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, a MEd, University of Alberta-Counselling Psychology and a PhD, University of Alberta-Educational Psychology.

Recent publications

Cavanaugh, C., Ellerman, E., Oddson, L., & Young, A. (2001). Lessons from our cyber classroom. In E. J. Burge, & M. Haughey (Eds.), Using learning technologies: International perspectives on practice (pp. 61-71). San Francisco, CA: Routledge/Falmer.

Young, A. M. C. (2003). Making sense of women's job loss experiences. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Alberta, Edmonton.

Young, A. (2008). Selected study skills books in the AU Library and some websites. Athabasca University.

Young, A. M. C. (In press). Telling stories to make sense of job loss. In L. R. Ross (Ed.), Counselling women: Feminist issues, theory and practice. Toronto: Women's Press.

Course Author

Young, A., & Spronk, B. (2009). MDDE 651: Gender Issues in Distance Education.
I have collaborated with Barbara Spronk, the author of the original course, on two major revisions of the course. Barbara led the team on the first revision in (1999); I led the team on a revision in 2004, and was sole author of a complete revision in 2009.

Young, A. (2002). WMST 499: Applied Project.
The course differs from other Women’s Studies project courses in that it comprises a set of course materials, and a study guide with commentaries on the readings. This is normally the final course in the University Certificate in Counselling Women. Students are often involved in a placement with a community agency or conducting an independent applied research activity, and the course stresses ethical decision making in those contexts.

 

CDE - Last Updated by MK December 03, 2010