EME6600 Course Reflection

What would you do differently? What would you keep doing, stop doing, and start doing?

Over the past month in EME6630: Learning Management Systems and Organization, I obtained an extensive amount of base knowledge about Learning Management Systems (LMS), their different forms, and possible applications. As I have throughout the entirety of the Instructional Design and Technology Master’s (IDTMS) program, I would approach each assignment and topic with my perfectionist and thorough nature. Sometimes, however, this leads me to take more time on assignments than needed. For example, I misunderstood what should be done for one an assignment in which we had to develop a content map. I developed a heavily visual content map through both paper and digital methods only to discover that I had done it entirely wrong. Additionally, my focus has been diverted between life, work, the course, and circumstances surrounding COVID-19 causing me to not pay attention to as many details as I should. Normally I read all of the assignments for the course at its inception, as well at the beginning of each week. I took a more relaxed approach during this course and I shouldn’t have. For the remainder of the program, as well as any future projects I undertake, I will be sure to be as thorough and detail oriented as I typically am.

How can you make your situation better? 

In order to improve my current situation, I must approach each project with the same tenacity and thorough nature. Throughout my educational career, both professionally and as a student, any and all success that I have seen has been due to me putting all of my effort and creativity into it. While I have seen some success while taking a more laid-back approach, I feel uncomfortable throughout the process because I know that I can put more effort into the project. I have yet to find a happy medium, which is something that I need to do in the future as my family will always be my first priority, but I still want to be as successful as possible professionally.

What sacrifices would you have to make to ensure that you, as a graduate student, more fully engage in and fulfill all assignment/project requirements in a timely manner?

As a graduate student I need to make sure that I fulfill all project requirements to the best of my ability and exceed my clients’ expectations. In order to do this, I will have to make some sacrifices, similar to those I made throughout the IDTMS program. I have had to reduce the amount of time spent doing leisure-based activities as well as how much time I have spent with those other than my wife and child. I want to make sure that I have a healthy balance in the future between work and my personal life. That being said, I recognize the time and dedication it takes to be successful in any industry, especially Instructional Design.