5.5 Assignment-Critical Reflection Journal-Blog

What is new to my thinking or learning this past week? 

            The journey through instructional design continues by looking this week at the visual aspects of what good instructional design looks like.  The truth that struck me the most is that while you can have the most relevant content, enriching outcomes, and assessments if the course is not visually appealing, students may disengage or become disenfranchised. 

How has this new information challenged me? How has this stretched my professional growth and development? What are the implications of this week’s learning on my professional practice?

            Reflecting upon the last few weeks and my own experience as an online student and potential instructional designer, the challenge for me will be to recognize the visual aspects of instructional design and what works best for the student.  Early in my educational journey, I was told that as teachers, we should adapt our teaching style to the student’s preferred learning style.  Fast forward nearly a decade later, the paradigm has shifted, and we are now being told that the content drives the teaching style, meaning we teach the content in the way it is best taught.

            I can’t help but think are we experiencing yet another new paradigm, whereas the visual look is what drives the teaching method?  Ultimately, I believe that instructional design should be done with the student in mind and done in a way that helps them be successful.  The challenge will be to find ways to help students succeed and find critical concepts that all students need to succeed in the course they are taking and in life in general.       

How can these new learnings be used to impact my personal faith journey and my impact for the Kingdom?

            How do we apply all of this in the context of our personal faith journey?  First, we must see God’s beauty in everything around us. God sees beauty in everything because He created it that way.  Therefore, I must see His beauty in everything and everyone because He made it.  Though it may be difficult to see the beauty in the middle of the “messiness of life,” God still sees the beauty, and so should we.