Contribution to My Learning

Reflection, Collaboration, and Coffee: How I Took Control of My Learning

March 3, 2025  |  Sonia Rodriguez 

A Journey of Growth and Discovery

As the ADL course progresses, I've discovered that my most significant moments of growth come from taking an active role in my learning process. Here’s a reflection on how I've contributed to my learning and the impact it's had on my development during ADL courses 5389 and 5313 this semester. Deep reflection is a key practice that the ADL program has taught me, and it has played a critical role in my growth. I’ve found that taking the time to evaluate what I’ve learned, how I’ve applied it, and where I still have room to grow helps me deepen my understanding. By participating in class discussions, engaging with peers, and receiving feedback, I can gain insights into my strengths and areas for improvement. This reflective practice has not only enhanced my learning but also kept me motivated and focused on the bigger picture of personal development.

Taking Ownership 

One of the first steps I took to contribute to my learning was organizing my study area. I made myself a cup of coffee, gathered my favorite writing tools, and set up separate journals for each course, as I was taking two courses this semester. To combat decision fatigue, I created a color-coding system to differentiate work due for each course. I played some relaxing lofi music and got to work. Afterward, I felt proud and relieved for having taken the time to organize my system.

However, something that didn’t go as well for me was handling the demands of two courses simultaneously. While I’m glad I took both courses because the content overlapped and helped me internalize it at a deeper level, the constant stress for eight weeks was challenging. Due to personal events, work, and coursework, I submitted an assignment hastily because I just wanted to get it done and move on to the next task. As a result, I made a careless mistake. In course 5389, I submitted too many links because I hadn’t carefully read the assignment details, which led to a B. I was disappointed because it broke my “A” streak, and I also missed a discussion deadline.

Despite this setback, I am truly enjoying the ADL program. After reflecting on my experience, I’ve decided to focus on taking one course at a time going forward. I don’t want to rush through the material; I want to fully embrace it, as it is helping me drive much-needed change in the educational system.

I am, however, proud of the work I’ve submitted in my other assignments. Both courses, 5389 and 5313, have given me the opportunity to deeply consider course design. I’ve had to pay close attention to detail and consider many aspects to create authentic learning opportunities. Despite the hiccup in one assignment, I am on track to successfully complete both courses.

Turning Chaos in Clarity

Although I organized myself at the beginning, referencing previous and current ADL course readings and discussions for assignments this semester became frustrating at times. I had numerous notes spread across different journals, and finding them was becoming a challenge. When I get frustrated, I pause to identify the root cause and find a solution. I decided to take all my notes in Google Sheets from now on, organizing them by course and resource type. I used drop-down menus to categorize resources, such as videos, readings, or Zoom meetings. This system allowed me to use the “Control F” function to easily find my notes.  Relief!  For my journals, I created separate tabs to organize the notes. This system helped ease my frustration and gave me a sense of accomplishment. It was rewarding to see my organized Google Sheet, titled "ADL Notes." Although it took time to set up, I’m proud of the result and will make adjustments as needed in the future.

Collaborating with Others

Learning doesn’t happen in isolation. I’ve found that collaborating with others has been an invaluable part of my development. Sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and working together to solve problems has broadened my understanding and provided me with new insights. I’ve always enjoyed listening to new perspectives. Collaboration fosters a deeper level of learning because it exposes me to diverse viewpoints and helps me apply newly learned concepts to the course, my job, and my personal growth.

This semester, we continued to collaborate using GroupMe. My small group, which included Adaliz, Faith, Leah, and Whitney, was a great support system. We shared assignments, requested feedback, exchanged resources for recording, accessing images, and clarified assignment expectations. I was also part of a larger GroupMe community, which I’ve really enjoyed. It’s been a hub of questions, shared work, and mutual support. I’m lucky to be part of this group because the members have pushed me to improve my assignments. They are so creative! At times, I felt anxious thinking, “I don’t have the time to create something like that!” But it gave me something to strive for. I learned to calm down and apply what works best for me at the time. This self-directed approach has given me the confidence to pursue knowledge independently and allowed me to tailor my learning experiences to what truly matters to me.

Driving My Own Success

My contribution to my learning is a continuous process that involves ownership, reflection, resilience, collaboration, and application. I’ve learned that taking an active role in my development not only deepens my knowledge but also empowers me to shape my path. The true measure of my learning is how I apply it. The more I practice and implement new strategies, the more competent and confident I become. As I continue on this journey, I’ll keep contributing to my learning, knowing that each step forward is an opportunity to grow, adapt, and achieve my goals.

I gave myself a score of 92 in both courses. I’ve been an active participant in my learning community by asking questions, providing feedback, sharing resources, attending all class sessions, reflecting on feedback, making revisions to my work, and incorporating new resources. I’ve completed all assignments and continually worked to improve.

“At some point, to be powerful performers in life as well as self-directed learners, students must learn how to access the quality of their work”

-Creating Significant Learning Experiences by Fink, L.D. (2013, p 103).

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