Self Assessment ----------------- Project/Activities In my first semester in the LDT program, I engaged in a variety of course-related activities and assignments that significantly contributed to my learning experience. Some of these activities included attending various classes, engaging with faculty members, reading their papers, discussing their research and overarching perspectives on the theory and practice of the field, and doing some related projects. All those activities significantly helped me develop a better understanding of LDT, encouraged critical thinking, and deepened my conceptual understanding within the field. In addition, working with my peers in some in-class and outside-class activities allowed me to explore different perspectives and fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills. Also, engaging with faculty members, whether through one-on-one meetings or in-class interactions, provided me with unique insights into the field. Their expertise and willingness to share their knowledge and experiences greatly enriched my understanding of different aspects of doing research in the Learning, Design, and Technology fields. Concepts and Skills After the first semester in the LDT program, I have gained confidence in several key concepts and skills. Regarding the (EDIT 8100e) course, I have gained a good grasp of various learning theories and how they could form my research approach. I feel confident in my ability to apply these theories either to shape my research agenda or to design effective learning experiences. I went through the experience of writing a research proposal and applying for an IRB application. Regarding the research methods, I think I can confidently define the overall research design that fits with my research, the participants, and the key methods for data collection as well. Finally, the experience of exploring learning theories with LDT scholars further enriched my understanding of the interconnectedness of design and research. This course emphasized the dual nature of the LDT field—balancing theory, research, and practice. The nature of the (EDIT 8990) course, on the other hand, was an immersive experience that provided me with a wide view of research in the LDT field. The exposure to various speakers, including faculty, recent graduates, and our fellow students at different stages of their Ph.D. program, helped us discover different perspectives, shared experiences, and interactive discussions. That enriched my understanding of the multifaceted nature of our field and the varied approaches to research within the LDT community. The EDIT 8990 course encouraged me to immerse ourselves in the field to focus our thoughts on a specific research interest or, at the very least, to clarify our research interests. The exposure to research methods and discussions with faculty members inspired me to explore potential research topics and areas of scholarly interest within the field. Overall, this course laid a strong foundation for my identity as a researcher in the LDT field. Whereas in the (EDIT 8190) course, I felt that there is really a constant balancing between research, theory, and practice. It promoted the philosophy that, to be a good researcher in our field, it is important to have authentic experiences in the design world. The practical project immersed us in theory-based learning experiences. It helped me to identify, design, and build a prototype of an innovation for education or learning. At the end of the semester, I was able to integrate and implement that innovation as part of a research agenda in another course. This experience helped me to build my identity as a designer and to promote design thinking as I built something that brought my idea to life through prototyping it. We gained these skills step by step through scaffolding the steps of innovation for small milestones. In addition, I was required to write various short design documents as parts of my innovation prototype (e.g., logic models and conjecture mapping). Moreover, readings in this course focused on some related concepts like design thinking, empathy, human-based projects, design-based research, and designing for creativity or innovation.
Self Assessment
PROGRAM ASSESSMENT I'm almost done with my first year in the LDT-PhD program. Although, it's too early to assess the program yet, but we can agree on some things and reflect on various aspects of the program. I can see that the LDT PhD program's coursework, like EDIT 8100e, EDIT 8190, and EDIT 8990 and EDIT 8900, gave us a strong foundation in learning theories, instructional design principles, research methods, and emerging technologies. In my view, the courses facilitated interactive learning experiences. All of the knowledge and skills I gained through the coursework have influenced my research interests and idea. They were a good beginning for preparing me to conduct rigorous research in the field of LDT. At this stage, at least, my research progress in the LDT PhD program has been satisfying. I have successfully completed writing my initial research idea. I can say that I understand exactly what I need to do and why I chose it. However, I still need to dig up the literature and read more to be able to make my research idea much more rigorous and clearer. The support and guidance provided by my advisor (Dr. Bagdy) and Dr. Kopcha have been invaluable in navigating the complexities of discussing my research idea. I have two suggestions right now. First, I think it was better to take some educational courses, either from the department itself or at least to be specified for LDT PhD students only. For example, in the Applied Statistics ERSH6300 course, I think it would be more beneficial if the statistical topics linked to the research were related to the LDT field. Even though we did a great job in Dr. Kopcha's class in analyzing and critiquing some articles based on the statistical analysis applied in our field,. Regarding professional development, hopefully we can join research projects with faculty members to nurture our research skills, involve us in teaching positions in the department, or provide us the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students on research projects. Moreover, I hope that the LDT PhD program offers more opportunities for professional development, including conferences, workshops, and seminars. I would like to participate in these events. These experiences will broaden our experience and enhance our communication and networking skills, which are essential for success in academia.
Program Assessment