When I first started in the LDTC program, I didn't have any instructional design experience. I just had my teaching background, which has been resourceful, but I came into this program nervous but with an open mind.  I would research words like ADDIE, UDL, and SAM, feel the gulp in my throat as I tried to understand what these terms meant before beginning the program. As I advanced through the program, those terms became familiar, and my understanding of them and their importance in instructional design grew. I began being able to analyze real-world scenarios and see how to use strategies like ADDE and Bloom's taxonomy, to create learning experiences that encourage learners to interact with the content in meaningful ways and understand that adjustments will always need to be made based on stakeholder feedback, learner data and information updates. Iterative cycles are important to ensure that learning experiences meet the needs of the learners and facilitators. I have been able to take concepts and implement them into interactive modules that are purposeful, accessible, interactive, and data-driven. 

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The three selected LDTC 650 projects were chosen because they embody the growth that I have made as a future instructional designer. They show my understanding of learning theories, instructional strategies, and the importance of providing accessible learning experiences to all learners. They show my ability to identify learner needs and create learning experiences that go beyond a multiple choice assessment, but instead encourage creativity, provide learners with a safe place to make mistakes and learn from them so that they can grasp the concepts presented and be successful not only in the course but in their own lives. 

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I have grown to appreciate learning design even more and see data everywhere I look, from the cartoon face surveys in the restrooms at the airport to the graduation rate of our active-duty and veteran students. I take note of accessibility features when I visit sites and note when they are lacking or have an abundance of features. I see the importance of consistent navigation and the appropriate use of colors to ensure learners can easily navigate through a course. I see the impact that providing real-time feedback via interactive scenarios to learners has on their successful completion of a course. I have a desire to continue to implement everything that I've learned and also continue to gain more knowledge and practice so that I can be an effective instructional designer who can create learning experiences in any industry. 

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