As an educator, I firmly believe that the learner should always be at the center of teaching. By placing the learner in this position of priority, it allows for growth, empowerment, and success. My approach to teaching can be described as participatory democratic education, which highlights a collaborative and inclusive environment. When learners are given the tools to learn independently, they develop their own sense of creativity and critical thinking skills. This then leads to a more invested individual, ultimately creating a long-lasting impact on their learning journey. Utilizing technology as a tool in the classroom is also crucial to my teaching philosophy. It allows for a versatile and dynamic experience, making learning engaging, flexible, and enjoyable. Additionally, technology helps to prepare learners for the ever-evolving world of work. Teachers who adopt the guiding role and focus on coaching through the learning process can create an excellent classroom environment. This encourages learners to be self-directed, initiative-takers, and leaders in their own learning journey.https://youtu.be/FnTMPXneDbE Reflection and Professional Goals My journey into the field and practice of IDT has been very eventful, and my experience in the last couple of months has been very enriching. I have learned the basics and more with regard to the foundation of instructional design and the application of technology in its practice. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about learning theories and in the process I was able to use the schemas that have formed in my mind from prior knowledge in my understanding of the core concepts. Going through the exercises and the assignments regularly has given me ideas on where I see myself in this career path--I am inclined to put myself in the direction of Performance Management or Project Management, as well as working on course design, after my exposure to working with ADDIE and the Dick and Carey instructional design methods.
