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Week 1 Reflection: Getting setup!

vinayakkapoor

What Happened: Joining the Course Late

I joined EDCI 339 about a quarter of the way into the term, so I had a bit of catching up to do. The Week 1 “Welcome to EDCI 339” post basically became my guide for understanding how the course worked, what the assignments looked like, and how we’d be using the blogging platform throughout the semester.

This week was all about getting set up:

  • reading the course outline
  • learning how the open and networked course design worked
  • creating a blog on OpenETC
  • getting familiar with tools like Mattermost and Zoom
Getting started with Mattermost. Screenshot from Mattermost.

I’m from a Computer Science background, so picking up new tools wasn’t an issue, but the idea of keeping a public, reflective blog for a course was definitely something new for me.

So What: Understanding the Value of Structured Onboarding

Benefits of the Checklist Approach

The structured task list was incredibly helpful for someone joining late. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, I had a clear, sequential set of actions to complete.

The WordPress Tutorial Was Essential

Professor Valerie’s WordPress walkthrough video was particularly valuable. Despite my technical background, I’d never worked with WordPress, and the video provided practical guidance that went beyond just clicking buttons.

Embracing Public Learning

Creating a public blog initially felt vulnerable, but I’m actually excited about this openness. Public writing encourages more thoughtful reflection, and I’m open to feedback and criticism as opportunities for growth.

Now What: Moving Forward

Meeting with Dr. Valerie gave me the confidence to move forward. I plan to:

  • Stay consistent with weekly reflections to avoid falling behind
  • Experiment with multimedia elements (screenshots, screen recordings)
  • Embrace the public nature of this work to develop my digital identity

Key Takeaways

Effective online course design requires clear structure, multiple forms of support, instructor accessibility, and thoughtful consideration of privacy and student agency. These are principles I’ll carry forward in this course and in my own future work designing learning experiences.