COVA as a Throughline Across My Entire ADL Journey
The COVA approach, choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning, served as a consistent through-line across my entire Applied Digital Learning experience. Rather than existing as isolated assignments, each artifact in my ePortfolio represents an intentional step in developing my identity as an educator and leader capable of designing, implementing, and sustaining meaningful organizational change.
My early coursework laid the foundation for this growth. In Learning Foundations (EDLD 5302) and Applying Educational Technology (EDLD 5303), I articulated my Learning Manifesto, which captured my evolving beliefs about learning, technology, and student agency. This work marked an early shift from teacher-centered instruction toward learner-centered environments that prioritize reflection, purpose, and authentic engagement. These beliefs later guided every instructional and leadership decision I made throughout the program.
In Creating Significant Learning Environments (EDLD 5313), I translated those beliefs into practice through the design of a new culture of learning and the development of a Understanding by Design (UbD) template. This work emphasized intentional alignment between outcomes, learning experiences, and assessment, reinforcing the importance of designing environments where learners actively construct meaning and take ownership of their learning.
My leadership development became more explicit in Leading Organizational Change (EDLD 5317). During this course, I created a Podcast focused on using technology to build confidence in Spanish speakers, using my voice to address a real instructional challenge. This project allowed me to choose a medium that aligned with my strengths while creating an authentic resource intended for real use, not evaluation. I also designed and administered a survey connected to my course implementation, using authentic data to inform reflection and revision.
That leadership work expanded further in Leading Organizational Change through the development of my artifacts:
These artifacts demonstrate how I moved from identifying a problem to building strategic alignment, accountability, and influence within an organization. To make my innovation accessible and compelling to a broader audience, I created a digital storytelling artifact that summarized my innovation plan and communicated its purpose clearly and authentically.
In Instructional Design for Online Learning (EDLD 5318), I designed and implemented a complete Canvas-based course that allowed me to apply COVA principles in an authentic instructional setting. I created a Three-Column Design Table to intentionally align learning outcomes, instructional activities, and assessments, ensuring that student choice, ownership, and voice were embedded throughout the course. As part of the design and evaluation process, I conducted usability course testing and completed a usability testing reflection, using student feedback to assess clarity, navigation, and engagement. I also developed an Implementation Overview Video that explained the purpose, structure, and instructional decisions behind the course, modeling transparency and reflective practice.
My work in Developing Effective Professional Learning reflects how COVA extends beyond student learning into adult learning and leadership. Through this coursework, I designed professional learning experiences that model choice, ownership, and voice for educators, supporting a culture of collaboration, reflection, and continuous growth. My Connecting and Communicating Ideas artifacts further demonstrate my ability to articulate vision, align stakeholders, and sustain innovation over time.
Finally, my creating and curating ePortfolio work represents ownership of my learning narrative. Rather than serving as a repository of assignments, my ePortfolio functions as a living record of growth, reflection, and leadership intentionally designed for colleagues, collaborators, and organizational stakeholders.
Why This Matters
Together, these artifacts demonstrate that COVA was not something I applied selectively or temporarily. It shaped how I learned, what I created, and how I lead. Across courses, contexts, and roles, I consistently exercised choice in direction, ownership of learning, voice in communication, and commitment to authentic outcomes. This synthesis reflects my readiness to lead sustainable, learner-centered change grounded in both theory and practice.
Through the COVA approach and the creation of significant learning environments, I gained the confidence to design learning that honors voice, identity, and access, especially for students whose languages and stories are often overlooked. As I work toward becoming an ASL bilingual specialist supporting Spanish, speaking and rural communities, this experience has shown me that technology can be a puente, a bridge, that helps students communicate, believe in themselves, and feel seen. I am deeply grateful to my professors for their guidance, patience, and trust, which pushed me to grow beyond my comfort zone. I leave this program with purpose, gratitude, and a commitment to create learning spaces where el idioma, la cultura y la voz del estudiante truly matter.
References:
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Harapnuik, D. (2015). Creating significant learning environments (CSLE). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watchv=eZ-c7rz7eT4&t=371s
Harapnuik, D. (2018). CSLE. It's About Learning: Creating Significant Learning Environments. https://www.harapnuik.org/page_id=849
Harapnuik, D. (2018). COVA. It’s About Learning: Creating Significant Learning Environments. https://www.harapnuik.org/page_id=6991
Harapnuik. (2025). CSLE+COVA. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6988