Applied Digital Learning Journey Synthesis

Laying the Foundation

5302 -Concepts of Educational Technology:

This class really got me thinking about who I want to be as a teacher and a learner. My Growth Mindset assignment taught me to see setbacks as opportunities, my Learning Manifesto let me put my beliefs into words, and my Learning Contribution showed me just how far I’d already come. The COVA model truly pushed me to take charge of my learning in ways I hadn’t before.

5303 – Apply Educational Technology:

This course focused on developing my ePortfolio. I started off using a Canva Website but ended transitioning to Webador. Moving my ePortfolio to Webador pushed me outside my comfort zone and it came with its own set of challenges. However it also strengthened my digital skills and confidence in building a website.

5305-Disruptive Innovation in Education:

This is where it all started. This course challenged me to think creatively. I designed my Innovation Plan focused on using adaptive learning platforms, supported by a Literature Review, laying the foundation for impactful educational change, through Implementation. This course reminded me that meaningful change isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet, like reworking a lesson to better support a struggling student.

Designing with Intention

5304 – Leading Organizational Change:

Leading change starts with understanding yourself. These assignments helped me see leadership isn’t about control, it’s about clarity and connection. In What’s Your Why?, I described my passion for improving education for special education students. My Influencer Strategy and 4DX Strategy showed me how to turn ideas into action. My Differentiated Leadership assignment reminded me to stay calm and connected under pressure.

5313 – Creating Significant Learning Environments:

This course centered on creating meaningful, student-centered learning environments through intentional design. My Culture of Learning, Learning Philosophy, and UbD assignments helped me rethink how to engage students deeply. My Adapted Growth Mindset really changed how I see my students’ potential. And the 3-Column Table made planning feel more intentional and effective.

5318 – Instructional Design in Online Learning:

This course was hands-on! Planning lessons, implementing them, and testing them showed me just how different online learning really is. Designing the course, building an Implementation Plan, and especially conducting the Usability Testing made me realize how every little choice affects the learner. I came away from EDLD 5318 more aware of how learners experience digital content, and I now approach online design with much more care and precision.

Reflection into Action

5315 – Assessing Digital Learning and Instruction:

It’s not enough to teach; we must also ask, “Are they learning?” This course gave me tools to answer that question. I designed the Action Research Outline and an Action Research Plan to evaluate how adaptive tools impact student learning. And the Literature Review highlighted evidence supporting these strategies.

5317 – Resources for Digital Environments:

This course pushed me to get my ideas out there and share what works. Writing the Publication Drafts and creating the Media Project helped me feel more confident about speaking up. This course also helped me see that educators have a responsibility to share what works.

5389 – Developing Effective Professional Learning:

This course focused on creating active, engaging and meaningful professional learning experiences to promote growth and leadership among educators. My Call to Action and PL with Purpose assignments emphasized supporting teachers effectively.

5320 – Synthesis of Digital Learning & Leadership:

As the capstone course, EDLD 5320 synthesized everything I had learned throughout the program. This course brought clarity to how each piece of the program fit together. Looking back through the COVA Reflection, updating my Innovation Plan, and creating the ADL Journey Synthesis really made me proud of everything I’ve accomplished. This capstone course was a moment of pause and gratitude.

This journey has gone beyond just academics. Thanks to COVA, CSLE, and intentional design, I've become a more confident and purposeful educator. My ePortfolio and Blog don't just show what I've made, they also highlight how I've grown. As I move into my next chapter at SHSU, I feel more prepared to lead and support learning that truly makes a difference.

I’ll continue teaching third grade math with more clarity and creativity, continue updating my Teaching Tech in 3 site, and continue growing my reach as a leader who believes in meaningful, learner-centered change.

This program didn’t just teach me how to lead. It reminded me why I wanted to in the first place.

References

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

Harapnuik, D. (2018, July 14). COVA. It's About Learning: Creating Significant Learning Environments. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6991

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). Developing significant learning environments.

Horn, M. B., & Staker, H. (2015). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Jossey-Bass.

Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change (Rev. ed.). Harvard Business Review Press. Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge University Press.