Final Reflection

Building this ePortfolio made me step back and actually think about how I’ve been writing and learning—not just turning in assignments. One of the course outcomes, Learning Outcome 3, is all about finding and using good sources: checking if they’re relevant, credible, and ethical. At first, I was just pulling sources that looked interesting, even if they were from random websites or blogs. But after reading the metacognition articles, especially the one by Murphy et al., I realized I had to be more intentional. That article talked about how strong learners get better at focusing on the right information. So I changed my approach and decided to only use peer-reviewed articles from the last five years, and I tried to balance them between science and ethics. That one decision helped my paper feel way more legit and aligned with the research skills we were supposed to develop.

Learning Outcome 6 talks about using different types of media on purpose—not just throwing stuff on the page. When I started designing the homepage of my ePortfolio, I added this moving heart-rate GIF just because it looked cool. But when I stepped back, I noticed it was kind of distracting. I remembered how one of the articles said flashy visuals can mess with focus, so I swapped it for a simple infographic. That small change helped the page feel more focused and tied in with the colors and layout of the rest of the site. It actually helped guide the reader, instead of distracting them.

I also tried to think about how someone else would move through my site. I added short explanations above each artifact so people know why it’s there and how it connects to the course outcomes. That idea came from one of the metacognition readings, which said giving people a “roadmap” helps them understand your thinking better. By writing those quick blurbs, I was also helping myself understand what I learned from each assignment.

Looking at my drafts next to my final versions showed me how much I really changed my writing. You can see where I cut stuff, added transitions, and made better arguments. Every edit reflects a decision I made after getting feedback or just thinking through what I was really trying to say. That’s what the metacognition readings were all about—thinking about your thinking and using that to grow. Honestly, this project reminded me that good writing doesn’t just happen. It takes reflection, revision, and knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing.