Overall I am happy with my project. Before starting my project I had never used or really even knew what a learning management system was. I had used Canvas and Blackboard as a student but never considered using one as a teacher before. I really enjoyed learning about different learning management systems and diving into Teachable and Canvas and discovering their capabilities. Beyond the LMS, I really like how my WordPress site turned out. It has a fully functioning shopping cart and it's mobile friendly. Creating the media queries drove me crazy though! I learned that waiting for my cache to clear, even after forcing it to clear, was enough to make me want to scream. Maybe there's something about the cache clearing that I don't know and need to learn.
My biggest challenge with the project wasn't anything to do with the project at all. I knew I could learn whatever I needed to learn to complete my project, but it was my family life that was hard. Right before starting the semester we moved from the West to the South. Not only was this a culture change, but we moved away from family yet again. However, this time was the first time being away with a baby. My husband started medical residency and has worked extremely long hours. Finding time to work without a child has been hard, especially for anything live such as the advising sessions.
The biggest takeaway from my project is very interesting to me. It was during my last advising session with Jen. I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was something along the lines of I have a talent for design and/or instructional design. This comment was what helped me decide what I want to do with this degree. Due to my husband's job, I want to work at home so I can be home with my kids. I was going to start a web design company, but this comment made me realize I should niche my business to online course creators and help them get their course online and help design the course and the site. This collides my education background with my new degree and I love it! I put what I was doing on social media and I've had a lot of people interested in becoming a client. This is a strange takeaway from the project, but also it's changed the course of what I thought I was going to do and it fits me much better. Jen, if you're reading this, thank you for your comments and your wisdom. You've helped guide me in more ways than just my capstone project.
As for the project, I really am excited about the curriculum and want to finish this first unit before graduation in May. I need to step away from it for a few weeks though...I really am so sick of looking at it LOL. I'll pick it up in the new year and finish it out. Hopefully, by the time the capstone fair rolls around I can have it finished and have it being taught in a few classrooms.
