"Have fun," I said as I dropped my daughter off for class.

"Really, mom," came her reply, accompanied by an incredulous look.

I laughed. She thought I was being sarcastic, but I meant it.

I can't think of a season of my life where I was not excited for school and opportunities to learn. At times, I can forget that not everyone feels the same.

Reflecting on our own experiences as a learner can provide great insight in the instructional design process.

And yet, not all learners are just like us. Coupled with what we know about ourselves as learners, we need to also look around and consider who experiences learning similar to us and who does not.

When we implement ideas with a purpose, it is critical to then observe how different students are engaging with the content and the degree to which the techniques we are using to support their learning are actually contributing to their growth.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What are your traits as a learner? How many of your students seem to have those similar traits? What are some traits that you observe in your students that you cannot relate to?

2. How are students responding to your instruction? Who is your instruction working for? Which students are not yet successful with the way your courses are structured and the supports you provide?

3. In which ways do students engage in course content in ways that you intended they would? In which ways do your students seem to be engaging differently? How might you clarify or adjust as a result of what you observed?