The intention I carry with me as I begin my journey in the Learning Design and Technologies program is the desire to be part of projects that will expand my knowledge and to become more of an empathetic designer, as well as blend the skills to other parts of my life. I felt inspired to pursue the Learning Design & Technologies program because of my background in early childhood education, digital marketing/sales, and belief that every person has their own unique blueprint for learning and growth. I’ve learned from my experiences that at the heart of education and business lies in meeting people exactly where they are rather than where we expect them to be. So in my LDT journey, I want to document here how I will be combining my hands-on experience with children and my creativity in digital spaces to design learning that feels accessible and personable.
My career path so far has not been linear, but filled with valuable lessons that all connected in a way. I have worked jobs in schools and corporate settings. In Early Intervention, I do one-on-one sessions for about an hour with toddlers using play-based therapy. A two-year-old boy I worked with hardly spoke when we met and his parents were concerned with his play skills. Everyday I tried to add to his interests rather than directing his learning by following his lead. I was sort of a learning partner who guided his activities by observing his preferences and learning styles. Little moments such as him giving me eye contact, remaining in the room for more than ten minutes and mimicking sound effects were huge wins. After a few weeks, there was a day where he initiated play by calling for my name and handing me toys. That case taught me that learning takes root only when people feel safe, supported, and seen. His blueprint worked best through play, connection, and patience and I carry that lesson with me into every new role.
I’ve also worked in sales and account management for a children’s toy company, which at first glance seems far from early intervention. But both experiences revolved around people, each with unique goals and ways of thinking. In sales, no two clients responded to the same pitch: one needed hard data while another connected with creativity and storytelling. In early intervention, I worked with families shaped by different cultures, resources, and stress levels. Each home carried its own energy and challenges. Whether working with a child, a parent, or a business client, I learned that honoring a person’s blueprint is the foundation of trust and meaningful outcomes.
This desire to recognize and design for different blueprints is what I bring into learning design. My background has taught me it is important to put myself in others' shoes, have curiosity to learn from the people around me and creativity to explore different solutions. I know the frustration of struggling as a learner, but I also know the joy of supporting someone’s breakthrough. I’ve worn many hats: therapist, marketer, student and creator, entrepreneur. Each one has shaped how I design with purpose and inspires me to keep trying.
Design is about making learning meaningful, human, and alive. Creativity has always been the bridge that ties my experiences together whether it’s editing videos, photography, making an infographic, or designing a play activity for a therapy session. Making things that keep me feeling inspired and alive is the driving force behind what I do. I think my personal brand is the concept of continuous growth, creation and learning.
My short term goal is to continue growing my skills in digital learning, while focusing on inclusive and empathetic approaches to education. I want to soak in as much knowledge as possible about multimedia design and learn how online learning communities can make digital learning more engaging and human-centered. From my experience, storytelling, visuals, and tone can help technology support social-emotional learning and make online education feel more personal. For the long term, I want to work with others to create environments where all learners can feel a sense of belonging and possibility. I see that coming to life where my work is the intersection of education, design, and creativity to amplify voices and create new ways of learning.
On my journey so far I am inspired by the messages of John Seely Brown and Bell Hooks who frame education as an act of freedom. From my prior classes, I drew on Seymour Papert’s constructionism, which encourages learners to build knowledge by making and creating. This is how I learn as well. More recently, incorporating Richard Mayer on multimedia learning and Karl Kapp on gamification into my projects have helped me think about designing digital spaces that are both effective and engaging. These people have influenced me to see that learning is not neutral and reflects the values of the designer. It’s important for me to also embody empathy into my designs.
The WOL blog is an exciting space for me to look back on one day. It will serve as a living portfolio of my journey through the Learning Design and Technology program to reflect, share creative projects, and capture the lessons I learn. I would like to compile my works here and over time have it be an invitation to connect with others who care about learning in all forms. My vision is to design spaces where people feel seen in their uniqueness and supported in becoming who they want to be. That’s the future I want to shape alongside this community.
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