IST 699 Gwen Hansen

Narrative Summary

My name is Gwen Hansen and I am a student in MIST Cohort 14 blended program. I

work at CSU San Marcos, where I heard about the program from a couple of my colleagues who

previously completed the program. The MIST program drew my interest because of my desire to

learn more about using technology in the workplace. Being in the program has been all I hoped it

would be. This fast-paced program has been both challenging and rewarding.

Some of the features that stand out to me begin with the cohesive structure of the MIST

program. The program allows students to practice the learning theories and strategies we are

taught in the courses throughout the entire program. For example, assignments for each semester

dovetail into the assignments the following semester. Completing the IDD assignments in IST

522 allowed me to learn the principles of instructional design in smaller segments and then

practice those segments. I was able to pull from those assignments to write my capstone

proposal.

Another feature that impacted me is the neuroscience we learned in IST 520.

Understanding how the brain learns is fascinating and fully convinced me to debunk the

‘learning styles’ theory I once believed in. This was a key element in the program because

understanding how we learn as humans helped me to create instruction that can be more

engaging and useful to those I teach.

A crucial feature is the support received from all the instructors. The encouragement I

received was beneficial when I was stressed, the help I received when I was stuck allowed me to

succeed, and the feedback I received motivated me and built up my confidence. A large part of

my success in the program is in response to the support I received.

Learning by doing is a feature woven throughout all of the courses. This was especially
IST 699 Gwen Hansen

evident when I tested my capstone projects in IST 622 and my team created a project for an

outside client in IST 526. Creating instruction and testing the deliverable in a real-life setting

allowed me to implement what I was learning and put it into action. Both experiences were

satisfying when they were accomplished. It is astounding that we examined case studies in IST

524 during our first semester of the program and then we were able to create deliverables two

semesters later. It was also very gratifying when the outside client liked the final project and

found it useful and meaningful.

A highlight feature of the program are the technology courses, IST 501, IST 526, IST

531, and IST 541. Learning various tools and programs to create interactive instruction is very

rewarding. It’s been a great experience to create videos, use Captivate and Dreamweaver, as well

as interact with iLearn and the Weebly website to post deliverables and assignments completed

throughout the program.

A surprising feature is the collaboration aspect of the program. Everything from the

group assignments, the forums, group feedback, zoom meetings, and working in teams was a

pleasant experience. This was a very different approach to learning than my bachelor’s degree

and collaboration definitely contributed to my learning. Working with my team was wonderful.

We pulled on each other’s strengths and demonstrated great teamwork and communication to

successfully meet all assigned tasks.

In the beginning of the program we were told to be generous with helping others. Cohort

14 was a generous group of students who contributed to my learning throughout the program.

The instructors in the MIST program were invested in my learning and my success throughout

the program. I am very grateful for the authentic learning environment the program provided me.

I feel proud of my accomplishments and to have been a member in the MIST program.