Leveling Up! Reflecting on My Journey Through the Applied Digital Learning Graduate Progam

Let me tell you, the journey through the ADL program has been a fantastic experience. This emphasis on auto-didactic learning? It's been incredibly empowering. The program equipped me with the tools reignite my passion to chart my own learning course, set clear goals, and actively seek out resources to truly expand my knowledge and skillset when it comes to applied digital learning and leadership.

One of the highlights for me was developing the innovation plan. Imagine this: designing a plan that disruptively innovates our system to reengage learners. Learning how to create significant learning environments to cultivate a learner’s mindset in a way that teachers can implement.  Developing this plan pushed me to view disruptive innovation from a variety of angles, all rooted in solid research. It also pushed me to gather the courage to go and share my ideas for other people to try.  The end result? The teachers and students were successful and reengaged, and I am no longer afraid to share my thoughts. 

Speaking of sharing thoughts, the ADL program also provided valuable insights into getting buy-in for new ideas from teachers, students, department heads, principals, instructional coaches and even community members! Now, I'm not saying it's a walk in the park, but the program gave me some solid strategies through the Influencer Strategy or 4DX and Crucial Conversations for fostering collaboration and focusing on tasks that demonstrably move us all closer to our goals. And guess what? It's working! The classrooms I’ve been working in are being transformed and embracing positive change, and others are starting to take notice.

The program also made me more of a research and constructivist theory enthusiast than I was before (in a good way!). Learning about the different educational frameworks and the different lenses of constructivist theories in combination with how digital tools can support and encourage learner centered initiatives has completely reshaped how I think about designing learning environments. Imagine a classroom where students are playing with their learning through active participation, teacher and peer collaborate, and building upon their existing knowledge – that's the kind of student-centric environment I'm striving for. 

And let's not forget the practical application! Developing an online/blended course was a rewarding experience. It allowed me to put all these design principles and backward design concepts like Fink’s 3 column table and Understanding By Design into action in a real-world setting. Now I feel much more confident in crafting engaging online lesson modules and experiences that will truly resonate with my students.

The ADL program rightly emphasizes the importance of measuring the impact of your teaching. Through learning how to design and measure the impact of digital learners through Action Research.  The classes have equipped me with the know-how to integrate different assessments, from self-evaluations to peer feedback to summative evaluations, to gauge student progress and the overall effectiveness of my innovation plan.  It also taught me how to communicate digitally for different audiences-academic writing, professional journal writing, professional publication writing, video creation, podcast creation, infographics, etc. 

Building my ePortfolio has been another accomplishment I'm proud of. It's essentially a digital showcase of my work, my learning journey, and a way to connect with other educators in the field. Think of it as my professional portfolio, but with a touch more reflection on the journey, and how much more powerful is it that it was completed and designed through the lens of discovery learning.  I was learning how to build an ePortfolio through creating an ePortfolio.  It’s something I’m very proud of.

Speaking of connections, joining a collaboration group was one of the most unexpected integral portions of the entire process.  When I first found out we had to work with strangers who would comment on my work, I was so nervous.  However, through learning how to collaborate and providing feedforward this group has become the bedrock.  We are in the thick of learning and creating alongside eachother. My collaboration group has been a fantastic source of inspiration, help, and ongoing encouragement. The success of my learning is largely credited to the support from my colleagues, who’ve now become friends. Just as I couldn’t imagine doing this program with a collaboration group at the beginning, I could not FATHOM going through this program WITHOUT them. 

So, the bottom line? This M.Ed. in Applied Digital Learning has been an incredible investment and opportunity of a lifetime. It's given me the knowledge, skills, and mindset to be a strong learner and leader. The program has pushed me to critically evaluate the role of digital tools in educational frameworks, design learning experiences for both children and adults, and communicate/spearhead positive change efforts within my learning community.

In conclusion, this M.Ed. in Applied Digital Learning has been a transformative journey, reigniting my passion for lifelong learning and equipping me with the tools to be a catalyst for positive change. I can now confidently design engaging learning experiences, champion innovative practices, and foster a collaborative learning environment for both myself and others, including in online environments. This program has not only empowered me, but also fostered a supportive network of educators who will continue to be a source of inspiration and encouragement as I embark on the next chapter of my educational journey.