A Backpacking Journey Through Equity, Accessibility, and the MALXD Landscape

Introduction: Stepping from the Asphalt to the Trail

I can not believe I am writing a reflection essay on my journey. I still remember picking my program. For me, I did not want to do the traditional; I preface that there is nothing wrong with these two programs; however, they did not resonate with me. The programs I mention are in curriculum design or leadership. I remember scrolling through the programs offered and then reading about the Master of Arts in Learning Experience and Design (MALXD) on Michigan State’s website, “The MALXD program provides a critical lens of equity, accessibility, and social justice in human-centered learning and design. MALXD learners become leaders in the thoughtful consideration and examination of issues that impact learners as unique individuals and create well-informed, playful, and powerful learning design solutions.” This seemed powerful, learner-focused, and a chance to make specific, meaningful connections with my future learners and a way of honoring them and their learning styles. I knew I had found my program. Then came filling out my application, the joy and excitement of getting my acceptance letter. The pride my father had in being a Michigan State alumnus. Then come the courses and my first classes. I felt I was at the start of a long backpacking journey. Behind me is my car, which can take me to the known and safe, and ahead of me, a long winding trail in which I can not see the end or the obstacles along the way. I can feel the weight of a lifetime's worth of tools in my life sack on my shoulders, hoping it is enough to take me through these unknown challenges. The weight of my legs as I stepped from this metaphorical parking lot onto the master’s path was heavy, scary, and exciting. It has been over a decade since I was a student, and I kept asking myself do I have the skills to do this? What will I learn along the way, and how will I change and be different at the end? I will provide a written “photo” journey of my experience and one of the biggest goals I reached from my MALXD program.

The First Uphill Jaunt: Psychology, Adulthood, and Joy

My first two classes were CEP 800, Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings (Counseling and Educational Psychology), and EAD 861 Adult Learning (Department of Educational Administration). The way CEP 800 was set up as a museum tour caught my attention. This is not a read-all-this-and-write-a-paper type of schooling; it was interactive, creative, and fresh. I also remember my first time meeting my professor, Dr. Brittany Dillman, on Zoom. If joy and coffee energy got together and then became personified, you would have Dr. Dillman. She knows her content through and through and is your biggest cheerleader. I have had professors in the past who know their content; however, they never taught how to teach, so it could be a struggle. This was not one of those experiences. She was teaching the philosophy of the program while teaching the content of her class, as did each of the professors. Adult learning was an interesting class as it takes into account the busy lives of adults, and incorporates a flexible schedule that works for a working adult. It also focuses on their motivations for learning. As an adult, one knows themselves better and has more motivation and responsibility that comes with being an adult.

Scrambling up the Rocky Hills: Research and the Online Wall 

Continuing down the trail into spring 2025 with CEP 822, Approaches to Educational Research, and CEP 820, Teaching and Learning Online. CEP 822 was really interesting for me for a few reasons. I can Google anything, or even go to a library and get a book. Knowing how to look at the research, decipher the credibility of the research, and how to use it to support your views and argument. Google and AI can give you all the information, good research methods can help give the right information, and this class helped me know the difference. It has made me better at handling news and other information in life that comes quickly and elicits a response. I find myself pausing more and looking at it and what is actually being said and the credibility with it. This class also allowed me to give a nod to another family member, my sister. I used her PHD paper on mentoring online versus in person to support one of my papers.  In support of my metaphor of walking a path and not knowing what obstacles I was going to encounter, CEP 820, Teaching and Learning Online, was my first rocky hill. Not because of the professor, Nicole Zumpano, who was an amazing guide in this content, but because, as one who strongly believes in personal education, and the verbal and non-verbal experience that this is, and the connections that can form here, I had a big wall of resistance up. Nicole was patient, and her class showed me that there are a lot of benefits to an online education, and still have these connections. Another benefit is that I am benefiting from living in Northern Michigan while attending one of the best education schools. Also, like a lot of trails in life, many of the slopes and rocks are internal, and the paths are just the paths.

The Valley of Deep Reflection: Accessibility and Assessment

The summer semester was the semester that really got me feeling the importance of my program. I was taking UX835(User Experience) Accessibility and Design and CEP813 Electronic Assessment. UX 835 was one of the you don't know what you don't know moments. Concepts on academic-abilism, eugenics, sexism, racism, and discrimination. Growing up in a small town in Northern Michigan, you move through life without knowing your own privilege. I think every book that was mentioned in this class I bought. I am truly more conscious of how my words and actions may help or hurt. I also appreciated how one with different abilities may view a website, a sidewalk, a standardized test, and how the world is not set up for them to be successful in person or online. I think the biggest lesson is when we consider all learners and make sure that what we are sharing is set up for them, all benefit from this. I think also asking the learners what they need, what is working, and what is not. The lessons from this class still carry close to me. CEP813 was another powerful class. Most of us were graded on the ABCDEF scale or 4.0 scale. The fear of the grades following you through life. This class removed the shackles of grading this way and introduced me to the reason ungrading can work better. How to assess without grades. It does not shame the learner for misses or mistakes but empowers them to take control of their education. 

Becoming the Guide: Leadership and Future Trends

My second fall semester allowed me to learn about Current Trends and Models in Education with CEP 875. CEP 856 Learning Design Leadership, how to mentor and see a project from start to finish. Both these classes were empowering. CEP 875 makes me want to redesign how schools look and are taught. I see how there is so much more that we can do regarding best practices, and teachers and students deserve more. CEP 856 empowered me to want to be more proactive within my own school. I joined our district leadership team. This is big for me as I can be insecure when it comes to leadership roles. It has also shown me I can be a mentor to those around me through remaining curious and leading by example and not being complacent. This whole semester was about creating change and being a change maker. I am holding onto the seeds of this semester and seeing what will grow in my mind.

Synthesis: The View from the Peak

As I'm nearing the end of my learning journey with this program, looking back at my footprints that I left behind, and although I loaded my pack with even more life experiences, it feels light and freeing. In my final classes, CEP 858 Upskilling in Learning Design and CEP 807 Capstone Seminar, I'm feeling quite confident and proud of where I have been and what I have learned. CEP 858 is reminding me that I can always be better and create better. I can find my weaknesses and strengthen them. I have a philosophy that as my island of knowledge grows, so does my shoreline of ignorance. CEP 858 is reminding me to lean on these unknowns and learn from them. I also want to try new things even if they feel risky. My capstone course has been the most rewarding as it has been a culmination of it all. It is dense with experience and content. I see a part of me that was in me and never got to come and stretch its arms and legs. I have papers and projects with strong beliefs and options. It shows a voice I did not know I had, and I am really proud to hear it. I am looking through my website, which is my digital passport of where I have been in this program, and feel quite proud.

Program Goal Reflection: Continuous Improvement

I feel the  goal that the MALXD that I have achieved and continue to work with is, “engage in a cycle of continuous improvement and project management, including researching, planning, implementing, tracking, evaluating the success of initiatives, and improving the product.” This is the scientific method, and following the white rabbit down the curiosity hole.  Learning is not linear; it moves forward on what has been. Always reflecting on what works and what does not. Make your corrections and edits and try again. This journey has been evaluating my ideas and thoughts, changing how I think and teach. It has also caused me to look at why I do, and really focus on who it is for.  It also has me looking at my school's current curriculum through a different lens. It is not a matter of whether it is good or bad, but what I can do to evaluate its success, and what I can do to improve it. It is easy to be complacent, unless you know that your own complacency can affect your learners and you as a teacher. 

Conclusion: Lighting New Fires

My experience in this program has lit many fires of curiosity, passion, and wanting to learn and do more. These fires are shining a light on injustices I want to change, unknown new paths to walk, and personal philosophies and beliefs to sit and reflect on. I see a reflection time incubation time for me next. Right now, if I had a crystal ball, what my future would look like, and one of the paths that this program has lit brightly for me, and I feel I would love to walk, is  Universal Design in education, and Social Emotional Development for both educators and students in education.