Okay, I’ll be the first to admit it—this learning summary stretched me in ways I wasn’t expecting. Technology and I have never exactly been best friends, and this project was no exception. I honestly struggled more than I thought I would, and I want to own that right off the bat.
When I saw that mind maps were an option, my brain immediately went there. My Grade 8s are currently deep into a hexagonal thinking map for our mythology unit, and I loved the idea of mirroring that same visual and connected way of thinking for my own learning. It just felt right.
So, I decided to create my own hexagons by hand—yes, I went fully analog for the design. Then I wrote a script that would tie all of my ideas and learning together from the course. It was important to me to show the connections between everything I’d explored, even if the method was a bit unconventional.
I won’t lie, I was super self-conscious during presentations. Everyone else’s projects were so well put together, polished, and tech-savvy. It made me feel like my skills weren’t quite where they needed to be. I started with Animoto, but as soon as the paywall popped up, I bailed. No thanks. Back to my safe space, Canva. Canva and I go way back, and it’s where I feel most confident and creative.
Even in Canva, though, I had my challenges. The pictures I uploaded were blurry (why are these things always blurry??), and I swear I redid them a million times. I just wanted it to look clear and reflect the time and energy I poured into this. In the end, I did the best I could with what I had, and honestly, I had tons of fun creating it.
So, I’m here now asking for all the feedback. Seriously. Don’t hold back. I know I have room to grow when it comes to digital tools and presentation skills, and I want to learn and improve. This project pushed me to try things I usually avoid, and I’m proud of that part, even if it came with frustration and a few blurry images.
Thanks for sticking with me and for creating a space where it’s okay to be a little messy, a little vulnerable, and still call it a win.
Here is the link to my video I created.
Karissa
Karissa, I absolutely love your honesty and vulnerability in this post—it’s so refreshing and relatable! The fact that you leaned into your own style and mirrored your students’ learning process with the hexagons is not only creative, it’s so meaningful. That connection between teacher and classroom practice really shines through. 🙌
Also, major props for sticking with it despite the tech hiccups (ugh, blurry uploads and paywalls… been there). Sometimes the most powerful projects aren’t the flashiest—they’re the ones that reflect you, and yours totally does that.
And hey, stepping out of your comfort zone and having fun? That’s a huge win in my book. Thank you for sharing your video- a work of art and a great summary!
It makes me feel a lot better hearing comments like this. Thanks so much for the support makes me feel okay about putting my work out there.
Karissa 🙂
Karissa,
I love the scrapbook style of your Canva (don’t knock tried and true sites – they’re tried and true for a reason!). It really fits with the overall vibe of your sourdough journey – which I have enjoyed following (often while drooling). As a middle-year teacher, I feel embarrassed to admit that I have never heard of a hexagonal thinking map (should I hide my head in shame?). I love it and will be looking into using it with my students when we learn myths, legends, and folklores. Do you have any resources or sites you would recommend for it? Your mind map provided a great visual summary of your growth this term. Awesome job!