AIL 604 – Electronic Instructional Design

Distance education continues to open doors for learners across different locations and life situations. Taking this course reminded me why I value this flexibility so deeply. More than ever, learning has become accessible, and as an educationist working toward becoming a stronger instructional technologist, I saw this course as an opportunity to expand my knowledge in designing and evaluating online learning experiences. Looking back now, I’m truly glad I enrolled because it has been both eye-opening and transformative.

What I enjoyed most was the progression from one module to the next and how each task built on the previous one. Moving through the modules felt intentional. From the introductory discussion board posts to evaluating an online course and eventually designing a full course in Canvas, I found myself anticipating what the next assignment would require of me. This sense of continuity made the learning experience engaging and meaningful. Interestingly, I didn’t encounter many areas where I needed significant help. Most tasks were clear, and the course resources were sufficient. However, I did find it difficult to access subscription-based LMS platforms like Blackboard and Canvas while working on the course design-related assignment. Since full access often requires institutional subscriptions, this limited some of the exploration I wanted to do.

Throughout the course, nothing particularly puzzled me, but I was genuinely surprised during the course evaluation assignment when I realized how many accessibility components were missing from the online course I reviewed. Discovering that a course relied heavily on text and visuals without providing audio or alternative formats made me more aware of how easily inclusivity can be overlooked in online design. I learned many new things, and one major shift was moving from theoretical understanding to practical application. Using tools such as Animaker and Synthesia, Canvas and so on, helped me build engaging learning materials, and designing my first e-learning sample in Canvas was especially exciting. This hands-on experience strengthened my confidence in creating online instructional content.

The most challenging part, though in a positive way, was designing the full online course in Module 7. It pushed me to think deeply about alignment, navigation, learning outcomes, and user experience. When things felt tricky, I relied on online research and often gained additional clarity from reading classmates’ posts and perspectives in the discussion boards. I, however, don’t think my learning was negatively affected in any way, but having at least one synchronous session with the instructor and classmates might have added a unique layer of connection. For future students, I would suggest using the provided readings fully, consulting external sources, and learning from peers’ discussion posts. My best work was definitely the Module 7 online course design because it challenged me the most and allowed me to finally explore the Canvas LMS. Completing it taught me how Canvas functions and left me with a portfolio-ready course sample, something I’m proud of and eager to build on.