Fall 2023 Synthesis
Studying this semester taught me that being a teacher as a designer is paramount in education. I gained insights into the essential tools of principles, processes, patterns, and paraphernalia for effective teaching design. As a teacher, I am a problem-solver, using my knowledge and literacy skills to create innovative solutions that cater to my students' diverse needs. This knowledge is valuable as it underscores the significance of adaptability and community participation in designing engaging and effective learning experiences. To be a teacher-designer also means embracing ethical decision-making to ensure that every educational choice serves the best interests of my students. Reflecting on this, I am committed to changing my teaching practice by actively incorporating design thinking principles and fostering a more collaborative, adaptive, imaginative, and student-centered learning environment. For example, I am now able to use blogs, websites, presentations, and synchronous learning in academic styles and standards that serve my educational design goals and provide best practices to serve student needs. This transformation will better equip my students for the challenges of the future.
Through my study in the EDIT 780 course, which explores the Principles of School-Based Design, I gained a deep understanding of educational design's fundamental principles and processes. This course delved into concepts such as affordance, constructivism, technology integration, anchored instruction, and frameworks like PICKLE, ABCS, AeCTS, and situated cognition. It emphasized the importance of creating authentic learning experiences that engage students effectively.
