University of KwaZulu-Natal

Project: Fostering Engagement & Metacognition in Digital Learning

Objective: To design and deliver a strategic framework that equips educators with actionable methods to cultivate vibrant online communities, integrate reflective practice for continuous improvement, and systematically develop students' academic literacy skills in digital environments.

My Role: Instructional Designer & Online Pedagogy Specialist

I was responsible for the end-to-end creation of this professional development initiative, from conceptualizing the pedagogical framework to facilitating collaborative understanding.

Key Contributions & Process:

• Framework Development & Content Architecture:

  • Synthesized evidence-based practices in online engagement, reflective models (e.g., Gibbs' Reflective Cycle), and academic literacy to build a cohesive instructional framework.

  • Architected a comprehensive presentation and detailed outline, structuring the content to guide educators from foundational principles to practical classroom strategies.

• Pedagogical Design & Facilitation:

  • Developed a series of targeted discussion questions and reflective prompts to move the session beyond theory.

  • Facilitated dialogue that encouraged educators to critically analyze their own practices, deconstruct the components of academic literacy, and collaboratively design solutions for fostering deeper student understanding and self-directed learning online.