My Learning Journey in EDLD 5317 – Resources for Digital Environments

​

When I first began EDLD 5317, I was both curious and a little uncertain. I knew we would be exploring digital publication, but I didn’t fully grasp how deeply this course would challenge me to rethink the way I approach communication, design, and storytelling in digital spaces. I came into the class with a solid foundation in education and technology, but realized that publishing in a digital environment requires a different viewpoint, one that blends clarity, creativity, and awareness into every step of the process.

Over the past eight weeks, I’ve gained new insights not only into the tools and strategies that support digital publishing, but also into myself as a digital communicator and collaborator. From building out my publication outline to producing a media project, every milestone in this course has shaped how I now think about content strategy, design, and the responsibility we carry when sharing work with broader audiences online.

​

What’s Working Well

 

One of the strongest parts of my experience in EDLD 5317 has been developing a more intentional publication strategy. Through guided steps—such as outlining, drafting, revising, and media integration, I saw how each component of digital publication builds toward a clear and final product. My confidence grew as I received feedback from peers and my instructor, allowing me to refine both my ideas and my visual storytelling.

 

Additionally, I found that learning to create a media project that complemented and elevated my written work was a key success. It pushed me to move beyond text and think about how video, images, and layout work together to reach and engage audiences. This process made me a more resourceful and reflective digital communicator.

​

Areas for Growth

​

Even though I have learned a lot throughout this course, there are areas where I can grow. Sometimes, I underestimated how long it would take to organize and revise my content to align with a clear publication flow. I’ve learned that good digital design is not just about making something look polished; it’s about structuring information in a way that guides the reader naturally. Looking into the future, I plan to invest more time in planning the user experience of my publications, rather than focusing primarily on looks.

Another area of growth is in learning to balance creativity with accessibility. As I added media and visuals, I became more aware of the importance of overall design, ensuring that content is visually appealing and accessible to all audiences.

 

Assignment Reflections

​

Each assignment contributed meaningfully to my learning, and together they form a cohesive digital publication strategy:

​

• Publication Outline – This was the foundation of everything. It helped me map out my message, define my audience, and build a structured plan for the content and tone of my publication.

​

• Publication Rough Draft – Putting my ideas into a tangible form gave me a sense of direction. It was also the first opportunity to see how my content flowed from one section to another.

​

• Media Project – This was the most exciting part for me. I created a multimedia piece that supported my message and brought in visual storytelling to enhance engagement.

​

• Publication Final Draft – Seeing the completed version of my work was deeply satisfying. It represented hours of thoughtful design, writing, and revision—and it finally felt like a publication I was happy to share.

​​

Learning Through Collaboration

​

Our collaborative discussion group (Lydia McDonald, Julia Cochran, Shaqueta Lewis, and Jana Keifer) were an important part of my growth in this course. Sharing ideas, giving and receiving feedback, and hearing how they approached their digital projects helped me see new perspectives. I realized that while we all had different topics and voices, the challenges we faced were often similar.

​

Through this collaboration, I learned to trust my voice more and appreciate the constructive feedback of my group. I also saw how my input supported the learning of my group and peers, especially when I could help them think through layout decisions or clarify their messaging. If I could change anything, I’d like to build more time for deeper group collaboration and feedback earlier in the process.

​

Final Thoughts

​

Looking back, EDLD 5317 has helped me develop not just a digital publication but a broader vision for how I want to communicate in digital spaces. I’ve learned to think strategically, design intentionally, and write with a real audience in mind. Most importantly, I’ve seen how each piece, from outline to media to final draft, plays a role in shaping an experience for the reader.

​

As I continue building my ePortfolio and professional presence, I now have the tools and mindset to do so with purpose and clarity. This course has been a turning point in my learning journey, and I’m excited to carry these skills forward into future projects and leadership roles in digital education.