“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” – B.B. King

As I write this final blog post, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey I’ve had in EC&I 834. When the course began, I was stepping into unfamiliar territory—unsure, a little hesitant, but open to learning. Now, I’m walking away with a toolkit of digital skills, a deeper understanding of online and blended learning, and most importantly, a sense of confidence I didn’t have before.

Peep into my full summary of learning, check out the video link below:
Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fcRPBq0Nk2WARVkGpdeoSDOXC1Se9eYa/view?usp=sharing

PS: Making Video for Summary of learning was also a new learning for me. HaHa!!

I began with blogging—something completely new to me. What started off feeling uncomfortable slowly turned into a space where I could reflect, process my thoughts, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers. That was the first sign of growth.

Soon after, I found myself navigating Discord, which turned out to be a surprisingly effective tool for collaboration and community. Whether it was quick questions or sharing resources, it made the online learning environment feel much more connected.

One of the biggest learning curves was the ADDIE model. It was the first time I had seen such a structured framework for course design, and using it to plan a Grade 2 environmental education course gave my ideas purpose and direction. It helped me break down the process into manageable pieces and set the foundation for the modules I built later.

The real fun—and challenge—came with all the new digital tools I explored. H5P, Canvas, and LUMI each brought their own learning curves, but they also brought excitement. From interactive quizzes to structured modules and engaging video content, these tools transformed the way I saw educational design. I wasn’t just creating content—I was crafting experiences.

There were bumps along the way, especially with my first module. But thanks to thoughtful peer feedback, I was able to make real improvements in my final project. I focused on clarity, accessibility, and interactivity—ensuring my learning modules were not just functional but truly inclusive.

I also discovered the power of high-quality, student-friendly resources like PBS Kids and National Geographic Kids, which helped bring my content to life in ways I couldn’t have achieved on my own.

Perhaps one of the most surprising parts of this course was how much I appreciated the breakout room discussions. They provided the space to exchange ideas, clarify confusion, and grow alongside my classmates. These moments of collaboration reminded me that even in an online setting, community and connection matter deeply.

In the end, this course wasn’t just about learning how to use new platforms—it was about learning how to design with intention. How to listen, adapt, and include. How to blend empathy with technology to create learning that’s accessible, meaningful, and fun.

I now understand what it means to truly design for online and blended learning—not just as a technical process, but as a human-centered one. And I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

From Tech-Timid to Tech-Savvy: My EC&I 834 Journey

Today, I’m proud to share the Summary of Learning video I created for EC&I 834—a course that completely transformed my perspective on teaching in the digital world.

When I started, I had very little experience with educational technology. The thought of creating interactive content felt overwhelming. But step by step, I pushed past my fears, embraced new tools, and discovered how powerful and purposeful online and blended learning can be.

In this video, I showcase the course I designed for kindergarten students learning to count from 1 to 20. Using the ADDIE model, I built engaging lessons with interactive tools like Lumi, H5P, and Canvas—bringing playfulness, structure, and creativity into each learning moment.

More than just learning new tools, this journey taught me the true meaning of designing with intention—focusing on accessibility, student engagement, and real connection, even in virtual spaces.

I also experienced the power of community through platforms like Discord, where support and collaboration with Dr Katia and classmates made this experience even more meaningful.

You can watch my full Summary of Learning video below, embedded right here in this blog post.

This video is not just a final project—it’s a celebration of growth, discovery, and what’s possible when we step out of our comfort zone.

Please find my Summary of Learning video attached for your viewing! I spoke to my understandings of online and blended learning, designing with accessibility, and the trials and triumphs of incorporating and creating H5P content.

I want to thank everyone in this class for their suggestions, feedback, contributions to discussions, advice, the sharing of tutorials, and so much more — much of what is in my summary could not exist without you! Thank you for such a collaborative learning experience.

I’m also now officially at the half way point of my M.Ed. This has been a perfect class at this time in the journey to explore so many avenues and opportunities as I continue through the second half!

I can’t believe EC&I 834 is already ending. This semester has been full of learning, trying new tools that I have never used before, and growing as a teacher. To end the course in a special way, I made a short podcast!

Photo by HtcHnm on Pixabay

In the podcast, I talked about how blended and online learning can be fun, fair, and helpful for students. One of the best parts of this course was writing weekly blog posts. I would like to mention that this is the first time I have done the blogs. These blogs helped me think about what I learned and how to use it in real classroom situations. I really enjoyed reading and replying to comments from my classmates which was the best part and it felt like we were learning together.

My Summary of Learning

Discord became one of my favourite tools. It made it easy to ask questions, share ideas, and support each other quickly. I have asked so many questions and got a reply instantly which is really commendable. I also talked about Canvas and this is also the first time I have used it. At the beginning of learning canvas was a little bit overwhelming for me. But when I got the chance to explore I liked it to build lessons, adding interactive videos, quizzes, group discussions and so on. I learned how to make lessons simple and clear so that all students can understand and enjoy learning.

Now, I feel more confident and ready to create learning that includes everyone and makes them excited to learn. Thank you for being part of this journey!

Wow, another semester over. I’m now done 7/10 courses towards my MEd. I’m getting close to the homestretch. Thanks to everyone in the class for making this hectic semester enjoyable. This is the first semester where I’ve taken two grad classes at the same time and while working. It definitely offered some challenges. I can’t wait to watch everyone’s videos!

Greg

This semester, my learning journey in EC & I 834 felt like a voyage– not unlike Moana’s. As an Indigenous educator working in a remote Northern Ontario community, I often reflect on how our stories shape our understanding of ourselves and the world. Moana’s story- of reclaiming identity, listening to ancestral wisdom, and navigating uncharted waters—offered the perfect metaphor for my growth throughout this course. She became more than a character; she became a guide, reminding me of the importance of voice, connection, and courage in this course of online and blended learning.

When I had begun this course, I did have some familiarity about educational technology but hadn’t explored the creation of content or digital platforms for online learning. I was curious but uncertain as to how to do it. This course provided me with the framework to move from a slow familiarity which was quite passive at first to exploration and finally as a confident explorer, I was quite ready to set sail. Each week, I felt as if we were on a new course- brimming with ideas, with new tools for exploration and opportunities to reflect and gain confidence. The discussions on Zoom, the readings, especially in the first couple of weeks and our discord community helped me in creating a village of learners and educators who gave some terrific ideas which helped me a lot. This collaboration proved to be the backbone of my engagement.

At first, when we filled in our ADDIE template, it gave me a structure to start building my course with purpose and empathy. With Lumi and other H5P content, I allowed myself to experiment in designing something that would help my students’ diverse needs. My lessons became engaging and at times, I struggled to collect the data and give feedback. I started working on accessibility and it reminded me of Moana learning to sail, sometimes struggling and sometimes soaring, but always moving forward.

Our class community and blogs were two very important aspects of my journey. I set my voice as an educator who caters who a diverse set of Indigenous students and these reflections, in the form of blogs became their voice, alongside mine. I had done blogging before, in my previous course with Katia, but I became more confident in adding visuals, embedding links and sharing my voice, growing stronger, like Moana singing to the ocean. Peer feedback, whether on blog posts or on the course modules we had created- reminded me of the thoughtful considerations and challenges that lay beyond me, the Te Ka moments, where there are a number of obstacles but also a space to innovate. I learned to adapt the assessments, change my pedagogy according to the reading levels of my students and prioritize equity. There were so many resources that I read and used from our discord community that I have lost count of them. I thank each one of you for providing all the solutions to the problems I faced, before I came across them.

As I set to complete my Prototype, I can say that I have tried to do justice to what I set out to do, and that is to create a responsive and culturally relevant prototype that is designed to empower my students through storytelling and student voice. I approached this process with a heart, drawing inspiration from Moana’s courage and my students. My goal was to create something that restored identity, like Moana returning the heart of Te Fiti. In this process, technology, I realized, doesn’t replace traditional knowledge- it can be used to amplify it when used with care.

As I look ahead, I feel more confident in navigating and exploring tools that support Universal Design of Learning. I want students to see themselves reflected in their learning- not just consumers of content but as creators and carriers of knowledge. Moana’s journey taught me that knowing who we are shapes how we lead and how we teach.

In closing, I’m filled with gratitude—for Dr. Katia, my peers, and this course that helped me grow not just in skill, but in purpose. EC&I 834 reminded me that we are all wayfinders, especially when we teach with empathy, creativity, and cultural grounding. Mahalo for being part of this voyage.