CONCLUSION

After looking back to the introduction of this ePortfolio and reviewing what my learning goals were when I started the MEd program, I think that I have definitely achieved what I set out to do. I had said that my goals for the end of the program were to be able to design adult learning experiences, apply best practices, and fulfill the duties of an Instructional Designer. Not only am I able to do these things – I have already done them.

All throughout this program, I have applied what I learned to the work I was doing as the Learning and Development Advisor at SafeCare BC. Being in this role while completing the MEd program has been a critical element of my learning journey because it afforded me the opportunity for experiential learning. I believe there is only so much a person can learn without actually being immersed in the appropriate context. For deep and meaningful learning to occur, a person needs to be able to apply theoretical concepts in the real world, discover how their application did and did not work, adapt their approach, and then try again. I feel very lucky to have been in the unique position to have this exact experience.

In this ePortfolio, I have reviewed a selection of artifacts that highlight what I have learned in my time as a master’s student and how I have applied that learning in my professional life. My first four artifacts represent a period of disequilibrium in my learning journey – I had not yet fully contextualized what I had been learning. It was like I knew all of the theoretics related to swimming without having been in a pool. Then, I used what I learned to teach myself how to actually swim by jumping into the deep end. But as I figured out how to kick my legs and move my arms in the water, it began to get easier and less scary. You can see this in my reflections – my early projects caused me a lot of stress because it felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. But as I got some practice, I began to realize that I did know what I was doing. I had just needed to prove it to myself before I could feel more confident in my abilities. This change of perspective is apparent by Artifact 5 which demonstrates my increased sense of self-assurance.

A lot of what I learned during my MEd has been applicable to my job. As you have already read about in Artifacts 3, 4, and 5 the courses I took on instructional design and project management have been particularly relevant. What I did not expect to be so relevant was what I learned in MDDE 619. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I had gone through the past several years wanting to be an instructional designer, not really knowing what it was. I had a sense of what it was supposed to be and I knew that I had a good feeling about it – but I had always struggled to find a consistent definition for the role. And even though I was working as a Learning and Development Advisor, I was hesitant to say that my job was equivalent to instructional design. Then in MDDE 619, we discussed the role of an instructional designer in detail – including its definition, how it may go by many names, and how the tasks associated with it may vary extensively from one organization to the next. I found this information enlightening and reassuring. Not only did it verify what I thought instructional design was, but it confirmed that what I was doing in my current job was indeed instructional design!

It is important to me that I continue building new skills and improving my practice. I have a long list of things that I want to learn – both out of personal interest and for professional development. These topics include graphic design, video production, technical writing, and coding to name a few. My next endeavour will be to apply for membership with the Institute of Performance and Learning and get my Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) designation. It is something that I have been seeing more and more in Canadian instructional design job postings, and I figure that completing it right after my master’s studies will be easier than doing it later. Otherwise, my intention is to give myself a bit of a break from formal education so I can focus on applying and solidifying what I have learned in the MEd program. I also want to take some time to explore what other job opportunities might be available to me. One of the reasons instructional design appealed to me so much was because I would get to learn about all sorts of different topics. I want to take advantage of that which means I can’t stay in health and safety training forever.

Thank you for joining me on this reflective journey. It has helped me realize how much I have grown and provided me with tangible evidence of my learning achievements. I am looking forward to what the road ahead has in store for me.