In my first post in the course, I stated that digital literacy and fluency are essential for leadership in the digital learning environment (DLE). They speak to competency and forward-thinking leadership qualities, closely linked to intelligence, reflection, self-awareness and caring. I still agree that these qualities are necessary for a leader in a DLE. However, as we went through the scaffolded sections of the course and began to make linkages, I can also see how a forward-thinking leader uses data to inform, lead, and manage change. In this respect, I think forward-thinking is the most critical leadership quality because leaders must be aware of what transpires and flexible to pivot and change when necessary.
The one thing that resonated with me in this course is the pace at which DLEs evolve and the ethical implications of how we use data in a DLE. In particular, how do we perceive and use learning analytics, and what biases are created or used when analysing this data? What is the data even telling us? A topic I will be exploring further. I teach ethics in tourism and hospitality, but this is a new ethical perspective to geek out on.
Where do I see myself in the future- I am unclear. I want to venture into instructional design and/ or learning technology. I learned from this course that I have much more to learn about being involved in educational projects and their system, but I would benefit from hands-on experience and mentorship. I have aligned myself with a few key people to volunteer/shadow on a few projects once I finish this program in August. I believe that will guide me towards what I am best suited for.