LTEC 6040 Week 4 Reflection

I will start by saying my timing this module was not great. Between work, writing deadlines, and traveling back and forth to Mississippi while my grandfather was in the CCU critical care unit, my mind shifted fully into family mode. When that happens, everything else quiets down. I missed two weeks of class, so I did not get the chance to really engage with my peers in discussion the way I normally would. That part bothered me because peer dialogue usually helps me process the material at a deeper level.

Even so, Chapters 6 through 9 still hit home in a very real way. The discussion of heuristics in Chapter 6 made me more aware of how quickly we rely on mental shortcuts, especially under stress. I found myself noticing how easily assumptions form when you are tired or emotionally stretched. The idea that it is unproductive to label people as “good” or “poor” reasoners also stood out. It shifted the focus from talent to practice, which felt encouraging during a season when my mental bandwidth was limited.

Chapter 8 on motivation resonated the most. The concepts of self-efficacy and ego depletion felt personal. Caring for family while trying to maintain academic and professional responsibilities drains willpower. The explanation that self-control functions like a muscle helped me make sense of why productivity felt harder than usual. It was not lack of discipline. It was depletion. That perspective alone reduced frustration and reframed how I approached catching up.

Finally, Chapter 9 tied everything together by showing how intentional design shapes learning. The emphasis on minimizing cognitive load and using formative assessments reminded me that learning does not just happen because content exists. It requires structure. Even though I missed direct peer engagement for two weeks, this module still deepened my awareness of how thinking, motivation, and course design intersect in both academic settings and real life.