EDLD 5302 - Concepts of Educational Technology Contribution to Learning
When I first began Concepts of Educational Technology, I expected it to be similar to previous courses I had taken mainly focusing on my organization and my professional role within it. What I did not expect was the deep level of introspection that would be required throughout these eight weeks. We spent considerable time learning about who we are as leaders, who we are as individuals, and why we are drawn to the work that we do. I spent a great deal of time reflecting on how my leadership style (transformational) and my personality type (orange) influence my approach to leadership in my career. Through this self-exploration, I realized that knowing myself and understanding my leadership style are vital to how I approach challenges in my professional and personal life.
Throughout the course, I naturally stepped into a leadership role within my discussion group of four, which included Karimi Garcia, Leslie Gutierrez, and Yusmila De Nicolo de Ocando. Three of the four of us were also enrolled in Leading Organizational Change this term. While that course did not require group work, we often supported each other by bouncing around ideas and clarifying concepts from both classes. That added layer of collaboration helped us stay aligned and encouraged a strong sense of camaraderie and accountability. In our Educational Technology group, I took the initiative to organize assignment presentations, assign roles when necessary, monitor progress, revise work to meet assignment requirements, and submit final deliverables. This experience aligned well with my strengths and gave me the opportunity to lead in a way that felt authentic and effective.
Although I am proud of my leadership in the group, there were moments where I recognized areas for improvement. At times, when a group member struggled with understanding a requirement (particularly formatting or APA citations ) I often opted to reassign the task or complete it myself rather than take the time to explain it. In the future, I would focus more on building my team’s capacity by offering more guidance and support to foster their growth alongside the completion of our assignments.
Concepts of Educational Technology:
The Technology Learning Manifesto assignment was an important opportunity for me to reconnect with why I started this educational journey. I appreciated that previous students had also completed this assignment, which allowed me to seek their feedback and guidance, enhancing my work.
The Personality & Leadership Philosophy assignment was new and exciting. Being the first group of students to complete it meant we had the opportunity to shape it ourselves, which I found refreshing. I particularly enjoyed the deep self-reflection involved, allowing me to make meaningful connections between who I am and how I lead in the professional setting.
The Technology Case Study Analysis was a challenging but rewarding group project. Group work in a digital space can sometimes be difficult to navigate, but this assignment gave me the chance to apply what I had learned about my leadership style. By focusing on clear communication and empowerment, I was able to help lead our group to success, and I believe we ultimately did an excellent job presenting a thoughtful and strategic response to our case study.
Leading Organizational Change:
The Why Statement helped me really reflect on why I started my innovation plan in the first place. What began as a passing idea grew into something that I now see as deeply valuable for my team. This assignment grounded me in purpose and gave me clarity about what drives my desire to lead change.
The Influencer Strategy was one of the most important assignments for me. As a relatively new member of my team, I know it can be challenging to build trust and influence change without years of experience. The Influencer Strategy gave me a solid framework to develop credibility and impact, even from my position. It helped me realize that while experience is important, having a strong, evidence-based strategy can be just as powerful in moving people toward shared goals.
The Installing 4DX assignment was especially practical for me. I often have a lot of ideas and projects running at once, which can make it hard to stay focused. Installing 4DX (The Four Disciplines of Execution) gave me a concrete process for keeping our goals front and center. It taught me how to track lead measures, maintain accountability, and make consistent progress without getting lost in distractions.
Working with my group throughout the course was a powerful learning experience. I contributed by initiating discussions, assigning tasks, and maintaining communication. I learned that I thrive in leadership roles when given the opportunity to organize and support a team. From my group members, I learned the importance of patience, collaboration, and understanding different working styles. If I could change anything, I would have focused earlier on building more shared ownership within the group, helping everyone feel even more empowered and confident in their contributions.
Overall, this course has expanded my understanding of leadership, and personal growth and how they relate to technology advancement in education. I gained valuable skills not only in implementing technology initiatives but also in leading and collaborating effectively within a team. Most importantly, I have a deeper understanding of who I am as a leader and how I can leverage my strengths to positively impact my organization and the students I serve. This course has prepared me to lead educational technology initiatives with clarity, empathy, and strategic vision.