Our personal experience of coming to the grad school as fresh undergrads, mature students, and working adults. It occurred that the main value in adult education (appreciation of adults’ experiences) mirrored our intentions. We decided that we would like to build on previous learning experiences and enhance existing skills of adult learners. Initially we planned to focus on study skills only. However, the current overload and feeling of being overwhelmed were salient in our IMAESC cohort. Therefore, we acknowledged the need for student well-being as part of Upgrade Your Learning course. 

Regarding the online course design, I gained some technological and methodological competence. Previously I have never worked with Moodle as an educator and all experience was very novel for me. Moodle turned out to be very user-friendly and engaging. I hope that in the future I will have a chance to enhance my design skills. I became aware of the role of sequence, assessment, and learning aims/outcomes. Additionally, the Unit on Well-being was of paramount personal importance to me. I tried to employ very personal approach and add some elements of digital story-telling. Loventhal and Dunlop (2010) believe that digital story-telling can help make online learning more personal: “Using personally meaningful visual and aural elements (e.g., personal photos and the storyteller's own narration), the digital storyteller delivers a relevant “lesson learned” that extends beyond her or his specific experience to human experience in general (p. 71). By and large, this experience empowered me as an adult educator and as well as adult learner dealing with new educational resources. 

Overall, this collaborative assignment helped me to learn hard and soft skills regarding group work, technology, cooperation, and negotiation. In addition, I am grateful for the support of my group members. I am having tough times while being on medical treatment and experiencing burnout. My group members provided me their support in terms of guidance, and pep talk. Everyone was very thoughtful and caring. I really enjoyed this assignment and wish that there were more time and space to work more extensively on the online course. 

Reference:

Lowenthal, P. R., & Dunlap, J. C. (2010). From pixel on a screen to real person in your students' lives: Establishing social presence using digital storytelling. The Internet and Higher Education, 13(1), 70-72.