Final Reflection on LT 8000

             Foundations of Instructional Technology, LT 8000, provided more information than I could possibly absorb in 1 semester.  From the psychology of IDT, PM in IDT, HPI, Higher Ed, Global Trends and more, this semester was filled with a plethora of information.  I especially enjoyed learning about gamification and the apps available for students. The next day after the presentation on gamification, my 4 grade students were racing each other in multiplication math.
            The most useful information to me was the research of my final term paper, online environments and students with learning disabilities.  It is exciting to be entering a field that is on the cutting edge of educational online learning. We are beginning to develop web 2.0 tools that are accessible to students with learning disabilities, providing alternative means of instruction that cater to the needs of students. As a profession, we still have a long way to go in order to provide public education with all the appropriate resources, and teachers with the training they need to be successful facilitators of learning.
            The struggles I had this semester was being able to focus on research, juggle multiple projects, keep up with the readings and the discussion questions. Juggling 2 graduate classes and working full-time, left no room for anything else.  Even dedicating all of my time, I still felt as though I didn’t have enough time to provide all that I would have liked to contribute in response to the discussion forum. 
          The biggest take away is learning the concept of UDL. I know now, as I design and instruct, to make sure to incorporate the 3 principles of UDL; engagement which needs to be a muli-approach to learning in order to motivate the learner; provide a variety of representation that is meaningful, resourceful and knowledgeable; strategic goal-directed instruction in the application of action and expression. This class has afforded me the opportunity to see the many aspects of IDT, and it has given me a better view of the opportunities available in the field.