Shasta Hanna

From Curiosity to Clarity: My Learning Journey

Day: April 14, 2025

My Learning Contributions

April 14, 2025 / / 3 Comments

My Learning Contributions in EC&I 831

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At the start of EC&I 831, I wasn’t sure how much I would be able to contribute to the learning of others. I saw myself as a learner — someone still figuring things out, especially when it came to open education, social media, and networked learning. But over time, I realized that learning is a two-way street, and even small acts — a shared resource, a blog post, a conversation — can help others grow.

In my video, I showcase how my contributions evolved throughout this course. Here are a few highlights I included:

1. Blogging My Learning Journeyblog

Each week, I documented my sourdough learning journey with Dough-na-tella. These posts weren’t just a way to track progress — they became a resource for others. I shared recipes, honest reflections, tips for troubleshooting, and links to helpful videos and open educational resources (OERs). I even had people say they tried baking because of my posts — which felt amazing!

2. Engaging on Discord (Eventually!)

I’ll be honest: Discord was intimidating at first. I had never used it before this class, and I struggled to engage. But once I got the hang of it, I started jumping into conversations, asking questions, and replying to others’ posts. Sharing struggles — like when my starter overflowed all over the fridge — sparked some funny and supportive dialogue.

3. Sharing ResourcesKnowledge sharing. Transferring. Brainstorming concept

Throughout the course, I made an intentional effort to share the tools, videos, and platforms that helped me learn. From Canva templates to TikTok recipe creators, I posted my go-to guides for anyone else learning alongside me.

4. Creating Accessible, Visual Content

When I realized how much I enjoyed using Powtoon and Canva to present my learning, I leaned into that strength. I started creating tutorials, how-to slides, and infographics to make my content engaging and easy to follow. Visuals matter — especially for those who learn best that way.

5. Encouraging Others to Jump In Try something new text on wooden rustic signpost outdoors in nature/mountain scenery. Break the habit, life, new and dare to try concept.

A few classmates mentioned they were inspired to try new platforms or share more of their own learning after seeing my content. That’s the ultimate win in a course like this — seeing how your own vulnerable sharing can empower others to do the same.

Final Thoughts Contributing to the learning of others didn’t require me to be an expert. It just required me to show up, be open, and share what I was learning along the way. That mindset shift — from passive learner to active participant — is something I’ll carry with me far beyond this course.

Edited with ChatGpt

From Flour to Flourishing: A Sourdough Journey with Dough-na-tella (Summary of Learning)

April 14, 2025 / / 5 Comments

✨ Introduction: Where It All Began

Fifteen weeks ago, I began this journey with nothing more than flour, water, and doubt. I wasn’t sure if I could keep a sourdough starter alive—let alone bake something edible with it. But what started as a messy science experiment turned into a creative and surprisingly nourishing journey. Meet Dough-na-tella, my bubbly companion and teacher for this semester.

📽️ Before & After Assessment

Before: My first attempt at sourdough was… ambitious. I had no idea what hydration ratios were, my timing was off, and let’s say the “bread” was more brick than ball.

After: Fast forward to week 15: I’ve made rustic loaves, sandwich bread,  inclusions bread, discard pizza dough, jalapeño cheddar loaves, and even taught myself to stretch and fold like a pro.

📝 Weekly Documentation

Throughout the weeks, I documented my journey through blog posts and videos, sharing everything from the chaos of an overflowing starter in my fridge to the joy of baking for others.
Link to the blog hub: My Sourdough Journey with Dough-na-tella
Highlights:

  • Sourdough Discard Pizza Glow-Up 🍕

  • Chocolate Chip Sourdough Drama 🍪

  • Baking on the Go at My Parents’ House 🏡

  • Sourdough Pancakes & Inclusion Loaves 🧀

🌐 Learning from Open Education

I leaned heavily on open educational resources (OERs) and social learning platforms to grow my skills. Some of my favorites include:

💬 Critique of Resources

Not all sources were created equal. Some blogs assumed too much background knowledge. Others lacked visuals, which made certain steps—like scoring or shaping—confusing. I found I needed to supplement with videos or look up multiple sources to fully grasp techniques. The most effective resources used plain language, visuals, and step-by-step timelines.

📱 Using Tech to Document Learning

This journey pushed me to learn new tools:

  • I made and edited TikTok videos (as a complete newbie!)

  • Created blog posts on Edusites

  • Used Canva and Powtoon for visual storytelling

  • Captured photos and videos weekly to reflect on progress

🎯 Takeaways

  1. Learning is messy, but that’s where the magic is.

  2. OERs make learning accessible—but curation matters.

  3. You can teach others even as you’re learning.

  4. Technology enhanced both my learning and storytelling.

  5. Dough-na-tella is more than just a starter—she’s a symbol of growth.

🎥 Final Video

 

 

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