Introduction

As part of LDTE 5210, I was assigned a project to engage in microlearning to acquire a new skill. Reflecting on my learning philosophy—which emphasizes practical, hands-on experiences, accessibility, and alignment with real-world applications—I chose to learn Next.js, a React framework for building modern web applications. This assignment provided an ideal opportunity to apply my educational beliefs to a structured learning experience and to explore how microlearning can be effectively used for personal skill development.

Why I Selected Next.js

Professional Relevance

• Educational Enhancement: As an instructor of Computer Science and Web and User Experience at Weber State University, mastering Next.js would enable me to update my curriculum with current industry practices, benefiting my students.
• Curriculum Development: Learning Next.js aligns with my commitment to balancing technical skills with design principles, a core aspect of the Web and User Experience program I helped develop.

Personal Interest

• Curiosity-Driven Learning: My passion for understanding how things work by deconstructing and reconstructing them made Next.js an appealing challenge.
• Skill Advancement: Acquiring proficiency in Next.js would allow me to create more efficient and accessible web applications for personal projects.

Resources Used

To support my microlearning journey, I identified resources that catered to my visual and hands-on learning style:

• Official Next.js Documentation

  • Provided comprehensive guides and examples for self-paced learning.
  • Next.js Docs

• Next.js Crash Course by Codevolution

  • Offered a visual and structured introduction to Next.js concepts.
  • YouTube Link

• Accessibility Guidelines and Resources

  • Ensured that my learning and projects adhered to inclusive design principles, reflecting my educational philosophy.

Planning the Activities

To align with microlearning principles—delivering information in small, focused chunks—I structured my learning over two weeks, dedicating 30 minutes daily to specific topics.

Activity Schedule

• Week 1: Fundamentals of Next.js
  • Day 1: Setting up the development environment and exploring the starter app.
  • Day 2: Understanding file-based routing and creating basic pages.
  • Day 3: Implementing CSS styling and exploring design principles.
  • Day 4: Managing assets, metadata, and static files.
  • Day 5: Learning data fetching methods (getStaticProps, getServerSideProps).
  • Day 6: Building a simple blog application to apply learned concepts.
  • Day 7: Reviewing the week's material and conducting formative assessment.
• Week 2: Advanced Features
  • Day 8: Implementing dynamic routing and catch-all routes.
  • Day 9: Creating API routes and integrating backend functionality.
  • Day 10: Adding authentication mechanisms and focusing on security.
  • Day 11: Customizing middleware and server configurations for optimization.
  • Day 12: Enhancing performance with code splitting and prefetching.
  • Day 13: Deploying the application to Vercel and understanding deployment processes.
  • Day 14: Conducting summative assessment and reflecting on the learning experience.

Time Allocation

• Total Duration: 14 days
• Daily Commitment: 30 minutes
• Total Hours: 7 hours

Activities for Skill Acquisition and Development

To ensure effective learning, I engaged in activities that promoted active participation and immediate application:

• Hands-On Coding: Each session included practical exercises where I wrote and modified code based on the day's topic.
• Project Development: Applied concepts by progressively building a blog application, reinforcing learning through creation.
• Accessibility Implementation: Integrated accessibility features into the application from the outset, aligning with my commitment to inclusive design.

Assessment Metrics

Formative Assessment

• Daily Reflections and Journal Entries
  • Documented challenges, insights, and questions after each session.
  • Reflected on how new knowledge connected with prior learning and teaching practices.
• Self-Quizzes
  • Created short quizzes based on the day's material to test recall and understanding.
  • Used online resources to check answers and fill knowledge gaps.

Summative Assessment

• Final Project Evaluation
  • Assessed the completed blog application against specific criteria:
    • Functionality: Does the application work as intended?
    • Code Quality: Is the code clean, well-organized, and follows best practices?
    • Accessibility: Does the application meet accessibility standards?
    • Design Principles: Is the user interface intuitive and visually appealing?
• Peer Review
  • Shared the project with colleagues and received feedback on usability, design, and educational value.
  • Incorporated suggestions to improve the application and my understanding.

Self-Reflection

Personal Reactions

Engaging in this microlearning assignment was both challenging and rewarding. The structured approach made the learning process manageable, and focusing on small, daily goals kept me motivated.

Lessons Learned

• Effectiveness of Microlearning
  • Breaking down learning into focused sessions enhanced retention and made complex topics approachable.
  • The format is conducive to busy schedules, allowing for consistent progress without overwhelming time commitments.
• Importance of Hands-On Practice
  • Active participation through coding reinforced concepts better than passive learning methods.
  • Building a project provided a tangible outcome that demonstrated skill acquisition.
• Value of Reflection
  • Daily journaling helped solidify learning and identify areas needing further exploration.
  • Reflecting on how new knowledge integrates with teaching practices enriched the experience.

What Made It Effective

• Alignment with Learning Philosophy
  • The hands-on, practical approach mirrored my educational beliefs, enhancing engagement.
  • Emphasizing accessibility ensured the project was inclusive and applicable to my teaching.
• Resource Selection
  • Utilizing a mix of documentation, tutorials, and interactive platforms catered to different learning preferences.
  • Resources were chosen for their clarity, relevance, and ability to facilitate microlearning.

What I Might Do Differently

• Allocate More Time for Complex Topics
  • Some advanced features could have benefited from longer or additional sessions.
  • In future learning, I might adjust the schedule to allow more in-depth exploration when needed.
• Increase Collaboration Early On
  • Involving peers or students earlier could provide diverse perspectives and enhance understanding.
  • Collaborative learning could also simulate real-world development environments.

Replicating the Experience with Others

• Designing Student Assignments
  • Develop microlearning modules for students, incorporating daily goals and hands-on activities.
  • Emphasize the importance of reflection and self-assessment in their learning process.
• Creating Learning Communities
  • Encourage the formation of study groups where students can share progress and challenges.
  • Facilitate peer reviews to enhance collaborative skills and collective knowledge.
• Integrating Microlearning into Curriculum
  • Apply microlearning principles to course design, breaking down content into focused, manageable segments.
  • Use microlearning for professional development among faculty to foster continuous learning.

Conclusion

This microlearning assignment allowed me to acquire a valuable new skill while applying my learning philosophy in a structured context. By focusing on small, manageable learning units, I made consistent progress without feeling overwhelmed. The experience demonstrated the effectiveness of microlearning as a strategy for ongoing professional development and reinforced my commitment to practical, hands-on education. Moving forward, I plan to incorporate microlearning principles into my teaching to enhance student engagement, accessibility, and real-world application of skills.