Applied Digital Learning Journey Synthesis 

The ADL program has instilled self-directed learning through the COVA + CSLE learning approach, allowing me to design my own innovation plan based on my passion, interests, community and perspective. Understanding my "My why" and discovering the “HOW” to implement it through careful planning and pulling at the heartstrings, laid the foundation for my innovation plan. I was able to work at my own pace and on my own path, but there were times when I only wanted to attend the Master's degree and I collapsed as a mother, grandmother, and Kindergarten teacher. The ADL program was often challenging over time, but because the work was so meaningful to me, I was able to stay on track and develop some pretty amazing plans, using the 4DX  model, 3-column table and other tools to move my innovation plan in my district. 

Reflection and constant improvement to my  Innovation Update Plan  were vital to developing a learner mindset and overall success with the ADL program.

 

My Innovation Plan started as an idea for how we can operationalize rotating stations with small group blended learning within a dual way language program in my district of almost 10,860 students, and it is truly becoming a reality with the creation of the first Dual Language Academy in my school district - and with the help of my electronic portfolio that houses my work, plans, research and work products, is ensuring the success of my proposal and thus supporting my efforts. Everything has really come together to give me a clearer organizational change strategy to really impact change and measure it!

 

While EDLD 5320 brings me to the end of my experience at Lamar, my journey to improve student learning experiences through the use of COVA+ CSLE will continue for the remainder of my career. Although I was a reluctant learner at first, I am now a COVA convert.

 

Because I believe in what I have learned in the ADL program, I am eager to share what I know with others. Another teacher at my school also graduated from Lamar ADL and during this time we have partnered to provide professional development opportunities to our colleagues, including the Dual Language Academy. The topic of the recent session was objective-based learning. We began with an introduction to project-based learning, offered some examples, and discussed ways in which technological tools can be useful. Technological tools were provided, thus incorporating COVA into the experience. We have received positive feedback and are encouraged that so many teachers are willing to try new approaches to teaching and learning.

 

Despite the many challenges I encountered in my first ADL courses, the only way to truly understand the value of the COVA-based learning approach was to take a risk and accept the challenge; Today I already see the result.

 

The ADL Program intentionally guided us to focus on my learning philosophy. This is an integral part of developing my professional learning plan to implement my innovation plan. 

 

Learning about Significant learning environments  was an essential course in the program for me. Understanding that planning needs to zoom in and out to ensure that all aspects are covered and intentionally considered in the planning process was very helpful to learn and I will continue to reference the resources and tools shared in this course as I continue my journey. 

 

Learning more about Instructional design and backward design really showed me how to consider my students and stay focused on desired outcomes to align learning resources, activities, and assessments.

 

One of my challenging courses was Assessment of Digital Learning  and Instruction, where we learned and developed a measurement strategy connecting an action research  design outline and plan to measure impact, implications, and assist in the refinement process. I hope to carry out my first action research plan this next year within my district schools. I hope this local data source helps drive my innovation plan.

 

In the Innovation concepts of educational  course, I had the opportunity to develop a blended learning  course to help me launch my innovation plan. I loved how relevant this work was and look forward to launching it district-wide for educators who are ready to begin their blended learning journey with me.

 

In the Resources Digital Environments  course, I was able to develop an article and video to share my story and hopefully publish it one day. This course gave me the opportunity to be creative and share a little about my personal story of success with blended learning in my kindergarten classroom. I enjoyed the variation this course provided and it was refreshing to delve deeper into my passionate work and create a way to share it with the rest of the world.

 

My  ePortfolio has developed into more than I thought. At the beginning of the program, this was not something I had thought about doing, but now I realize that it is a beautiful place that organizes and keeps all my thoughts, plans, literature review, research and creativity in one place to refer to .