5318 & 5320 Contribution to Your Learning

5320: Synthesis of Digital Learning and Leadership

Group Members: Katelyn O'Quin, Cristy Silkin

Grade: 90

5318: Instructional Design

Group Members: Kelsie Adams, Alayna Hasley, Coralis Mollitor, Leah Griggs

Grade: 95

It feels incredibly surreal to be finishing my last two courses in this Master’s program. I will soon join the small but growing percentage of Latina (Puerto Rican) single mothers who hold a Master’s degree—and for that, I am extremely proud. When I first started, I honestly wasn’t sure I’d be able to complete it. As a single mom of three (Ages; 7,3,1), living completely on my own, the thought of managing everything felt overwhelming. My mom and two of my brothers live an hour and a half away, and one of my other brothers lives about 25 minutes away, but he works nights—so asking him for help was never really an option due to our opposite schedules. My dad and the rest of my family are in Puerto Rico.

I was genuinely scared to start the program, knowing I had no immediate family support nearby. But even though I didn’t have anyone to call for last-minute help with the kids or to lean on during stressful times, I came to realize—I wasn’t alone.

The “forced collaboration” built into the program turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It helped me form connections with many different individuals. Some of those relationships grew stronger than others, especially with those I shared multiple courses with. I’m incredibly grateful for those connections. Being able to talk with classmates about school, discuss assignments, and navigate uncertainties together made a big difference.

I have to say, during these last two courses, I haven't felt as present as I was in my previous classes—and that’s because I was out of state for three weeks visiting family I hadn’t seen in over a year. I stayed in the mountains, where I had very limited signal, which made giving timely feedback to my peers difficult. A few times, I even received error messages and couldn’t view their work at all, which I explained and had to wait until I returned to Texas to catch up. Despite these challenges, I feel communication overall was strong. We were supportive, shared ideas, and clarified doubts when needed.

EDLD 5320 marked the final step in the Applied Digital Learning program, focusing on reflection, synthesis, and showcasing growth through our innovation journey. The major assignments in this course included:

• COVA Reflection & Application In this assignment, I reflected on my overall experience in the program, demonstrating a deep understanding of the COVA (Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Learning) approach. I highlighted how I applied these principles throughout the program.

• Innovation Project Update I provided an updated overview of my innovation project, discussing its progress, current implementation status, and how it continues to evolve.

• Applied Digital Learning Synthesis This final synthesis brought together all components of the program. It served as a capstone demonstration of my growth as a digital learner and leader.

In EDLD 5318, the focus was on designing a learner-centered instructional experience using LMS models and digital tools. The course guided us through the full process of creating an effective online or blended learning environment.

Key assignments included:

• Instructional Design Assignment In this initial assignment, I outlined the foundation of my instructional design, including the target audience, goals, and structure. I described how my design would support digital literacy development and technology integration for early childhood educators.

• Instructional Design Overview This assignment provided a more detailed look at how the course would be implemented. I broke down each component, including the learning objectives, instructional strategies, tools used (such as Google Classroom), and alignment with learning theories like Fink’s Taxonomy and the ADDIE model.

• Usability and Testing I conducted a usability test by having participants interact with my course and provide feedback. I then reflected on their experiences, focusing on navigation, clarity, engagement, and alignment with the learning goals. This feedback allowed me to refine and enhance the course structure and content for a better learning experience.

Completing EDLD 5318 and 5320 has brought my Applied Digital Learning journey full circle. As I complete this program, I leave not only with a Master’s degree but also with a clearer vision of how I can support others through innovative, authentic, and meaningful learning experiences. This journey has shown me what’s possible—even as a single mother of three navigating life independently—and for that, I am beyond proud and deeply grateful.

I would also like to sincerely thank all of the professors in this program. Your support, encouragement, and thoughtful feedback played a vital role in helping us grow—not just as students, but as future leaders in education. Your guidance made a lasting impact on my learning journey.