It’s honestly hard to believe that a whole year has gone by, I’ve come to the end of the Applied Digital Learning Master’s program, and in a week, I will be walking across the stage to receive my master’s degree! What a ride it’s been! In my final half term, I have completed two enriching courses: EDLD 5318 – Instructional Design for Online Learning and EDLD 5320 – Synthesis of Applied Digital Learning, a capstone course.
In EDLD 5318, I put the skills I gained in EDLD 5389 (Developing Effective Professional Learning) to use in planning for and developing a five-week online course for new teachers about classroom management. On the other hand, EDLD 5320 focused on synthesizing the knowledge, skills, beliefs, and values I gained through the ADL program. I also presented a comprehensive plan on how I developed into a digital learner and leader that can identify and promote disruptive innovation, create significant digital learning environments, and lead organizational change.
A Focus on the Learning
Throughout EDLD 5318, I delved into the world of blended learning course design, specifically focusing on designing a course about classroom management for new teachers. To bring this vision to life, I designed a course titled “Thriving in the Classroom: A New Teacher’s Guide to Management.” The comprehensive 5-week course integrated online modules with in-person discussions. Each week, participants would engage in self-paced foundational knowledge through video lectures, interactive activities, and insightful readings. These online modules were then solidified through collaborative in-person meetings, fostering reflection, presentations, and opportunities to practice newly acquired skills.
To ensure a well-rounded learning experience, I utilized Fink’s 3-Column Table to align learning activities and assessments across various learning domains, encompassing foundational knowledge, application, and more. Furthermore, I had an initial launch, building and publishing the course’s “start here” section alongside two complete modules. Finally, to guarantee an exceptional user experience, after completing the entire course I conducted thorough usability testing, gathering valuable feedback from peers and stakeholders. This entire process culminated in a robust blended learning course, empowering new teachers with the essential skills to thrive in their classroom.
In EDLD 5320, I embarked on a reflective journey, charting my growth from the roots of my ePortfolio to the blossoming of my innovation project and beyond. The COVA reflection was a mirror to my evolving mindset, while the project update marked milestones in my quest to reshape learning for newcomer EB students. Also, in crafting a visual representation of my journey for the final assignment, I was able to capture the essence of my experiences—the challenges, the highpoints, and the lessons lessons learned.
What’s Been Working And Areas Of Growth
One of the factors that contributed to my success in both courses and throughout the program was the collaboration with my peers Yagaira Alaniz, Hilda Rodriguez, Ashley Lee, Chole Vallot, Dai’Ja Harrell, and more recently (and very briefly) Katie Beauchene and Rebekah Ard. In most cases, we communicated through email and Blackboard messages and worked together to review assignments and provided constructive feedback and feedforward on various assignments.
In relation to contributions to the EDLD 5318 and EDLD 5320 learning communities, I made posts in all Blackboard discussions and commented on other posts from my peers as well. As with the previous courses from the Summer, Fall, and Spring I semesters, I enjoyed reading the posts of my peers which contained varying perspectives and unique ways of interpreting the prompts, readings, videos, and resources.
Regarding areas I can grow in, I would have liked to explore more tools and platforms for creating and sharing educational content as I continue to develop my innovation plan. I would have also liked to grow my base collaboration community.
Given all of this, I would score myself a 95/100 for EDLD 5318 and a 95/100 for EDLD 5320.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, I am grateful for the opportunity to take these courses, to learn from my instructors and peers, and to complete this entire program. In these past eight weeks and past 12 months, I have acquired even more practical skills that will help me lead and succeed as an innovative educator. I am eager to continue applying what I learned in these courses to my future practice. Thank you!
