Closing Reflections

The process of compiling my artefacts for this portfolio and looking back on my learning journey has been a very rewarding experience.  I have accomplished a lot since starting this program, and I don’t think I fully realized it until I went through this process.

When I first started this program, I was excited.  I was eager.  When I had completed my core courses and two leadership courses for my focus area, I started to feel unmotivated and ended up taking a break from my studies.  The break didn’t help, I still wasn’t motivated.  However, I knew it was a mistake to stop.  I was three courses and a portfolio away from completing my Masters degree, so I knew I was giving up everything I’d done, along with the time, money and energy I’d invested into it.  I knew stopping would be something I regretted, so I continued.  I’m thankful that I did continue, as the last three courses were my electives and I felt like I had re-taken control of my studies and I could once again be excited about my learning.

I feel my initial learning goals have been achieved.  I have learned more about instructional design and how critical it is in developing online programming; I have expanded my understanding about different educational theories and their application; my understanding on educational leadership has grown stronger and has allowed for growth in my own leadership capacity; and lastly, I have a more well-rounded view and understanding of the different aspects of a distance education unit and how they all work together.  I know more than I did when I started, and I’ve grown academically and personally as I have moved through this program.

Reflection has now become a large part of my day-to-day life, and that is largely due to the learning experience of this program.  I am more contemplative and applying critical thinking has become more and more natural.  I feel more engaged in my workplace because I now have a greater understanding of all the ins and outs of distance education and how all the pieces fit together.

The focus area I chose for this program was leadership, and as stated earlier, I feel like I have grown in my leadership ability while taking this program.  In addition to learning about leadership in education, I have had opportunities outside of this program to take on additional leadership roles and responsibilities.  I am taking on more leadership opportunities, and I can lean on the knowledge I have gained from this program to help create a strong theoretical foundation.  Even as I have recently started a leadership program through my workplace, the Director who has organized the program told me on the first day that “it is time to put all of the pieces together.”

As said previously, this portfolio experience has been rewarding.  I take pride in the work I have done in this program and I know it has made a lasting impression on me personally and professionally.