Concluding EDU 777

Concluding the trip around EDU 777: Learning Theories and Instructional Designs

It is strange to believe that it is now the end of the course. Where has time gone, and how has it gone so quickly? How are we already approaching the end of June? 

The infamous COVID-19 had much to do with it - it took away more than a trimester of face-to-face student interaction, and sucked up more than 10 weeks of time. It dried up relationships, stole routines, and depleted what we once knew to be "normal." We had to get creative, and we had to get creative fast. Students needed us, parents needed us, and we ourselves needed us. 

Image Source: Google Images

By now you may realize that consistency is one of my top strengths. To do my best work, I need it. Unfortunately it was one of the first things stripped away once the pandemic began. 

What I truly loved - and needed - in this class was the consistency that it brought. Each week I held on to one thing that kept me fulfilled; I had reading, learning, and heavy thinking to participate in. It kept me going in ways I didn't think I even needed. It allowed me to keep my mind moving, stay creative, and stay invested in the work. For those reasons and so many more, I will forever appreciate taking this course at this time.

There were many aspects that the coronavirus stole from the class though, too. It stole the ability for our tiny cohort to come together and bounce ideas off of each other. Don't get me wrong.. we still did through the discussion board and our weekly posts.. but it wasn't the same as just being able to get together and talk. I missed the collaboration that we would have, or even the camaraderie that we felt when together. I feel as though our professor did a great job doing her best to keep it alive throughout these past eight weeks and I truly appreciate that.

Being someone who needs to see the complete vision, I feel as though my project was also piece-mealed at times. Was I seeing the project the correct way? Were my weekly assignments throughout the Seven Steps of the Design Process correct? Was I repeating myself too much? While I am still not sure if I have the correct answer to it all or not, I do feel as though I would have done better if I saw all seven steps of the assignment laid out at once. This would have let me say, "okay, this part is coming so I can put those thoughts off to the side until the time is right." I know that the syllabus gave a brief overview, but I often anxiously awaited for the new week to start so that I could jump right into the assignment. 

MOVING FORWARD

Be an Instructional Designer is no easy feat; and I would argue that it shouldn't ever be. Challenges make us stronger and better people. This assignment and this class has encouraged me to continue to move forward no matter how difficult it may be. Students deserve it, and they are the ultimate reason for everything we do.