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Searight - Empress Program Reflection
Searight - Empress Program Reflection
REFLECTION 1
Program Reflection
Empress Searight
Introduction
the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, has given me the most inspiring and engaging
experiences a PhD program offers. My time in the program has pulled me out of my comfort
zone and challenged me to explore many different opportunities and overcome many obstacles.
Through these challenges, I have pushed myself to work harder through my coursework and
strive to be a better instructional designer, technologist, and researcher. This program also
helped me to gain new knowledge and build educational and professional relationships through
these challenges.
Looking back at the coursework through this program’s challenging assignments and
research projects, I appreciate Dr. Angela Benson’s AIL 602 Instructional Design class. Being
able to actively participate in class, through face-to-face and online collaboration with my
classmates and Dr. Benson was a great way for me to engage, understand and learning more
effectively. This class was a challenge because I had never taught before I took that class. So,
this class gave me a better insight into to instructional design analysis, design, production, and
The assignment of designing and evaluating mobile apps in Dr. Margret Rice’s AIL 606
Software Technology class was one of my most engaging classes where I was able to learn how
to create an App. Through this class, I learned how to understand the interaction of the computer
and humans by learning how to develop an app through software and learning the pedagogical
concerns of the operation of the software. This class successfully helped and guided me in being
a part of the design and phases of the Connect Alabama Behavioral Services & Treatment Finder
App, which is a part of VitAL, housed in the School of Social Work at the University of
PROGRAM REFLECTION 3
Alabama. The app is the State of Alabama’s treatment and services finder for substance use,
During my last semester of the coursework of my studies in the doctoral program, I found
Dr. Vivian Wright’s AIL 689 Practicum in Instructional Technology, my foundation class, very
encouraging and forward-looking. This class made me feel like a scholar. Through scholarly
assignments, we learned more about preparing for our journey of writing our dissertation by
reviewing previous graduate dissertations and types of frameworks and putting together the
Technology and Education and Research Conference (TERC). More importantly, meeting with
fellow UA graduates to get their perspectives on completing their dissertations and offering to
effective, ethical, and reflective professionals who advance the theme of COE: Unit, Act and
Lead (Conceptual framework, 2022). Through the guidance of Dr, Margret Rice, Dr. Angela
Benson, and Dr. Vivian Wright, I feel that they have developed and instill the COE creed in me.
I would never have thought I would find myself this far into a PhD program as I started
this program with doubts and hesitation, but as I have moved forward in the program, I continue
to strive for the best. I have not looked back, only forward to success.
No words and sincerely express my gratitude Dr. Margret Rice, Dr. Angela Benson, and
Dr. Vivian Wright gave me throughout this program. They all worked diligently as a team to
ensure that all their students strive for the best. My previous professor for my master’s degree
pointed me in the direction of Dr. Margret Rice and this program and spoke volumes of her will
to teach and guide. Those words are accurate as she is a genuinely great professor, as they all
are.
PROGRAM REFLECTION 4
Reference