Caring

Facilitating Creative Learning: A Reflection on Care, Connection, and Becoming

As an instructional designer, I take an intentional, human-centered approach to designing learning experiences—one rooted deeply in empathy and the lived realities of the learners I serve. At the heart of this work is a simple but profound question that echoes throughout life’s transitions and learning journeys alike:

Who am I?

This question has been especially present in my own life as I navigated significant shifts—grappling with loss, career changes, and the uncertainties brought on by a global pandemic. These experiences propelled me into the study of instructional design and educational technology, where I not only learned about learning but also reflected deeply on my own process of becoming.

Recently, I attended a dissertation defense titled Facilitating Creative Learning: Cultivating Caring Communities of Practice, Reflection, and Human Connection. The research resonated strongly with my design philosophy because it centers facilitation as a relational practice grounded in care—an attitude that fosters safe, supportive spaces where learners feel seen, valued, and connected.

In creative learning environments, the facilitator’s role transcends delivering content. They cultivate communities of care through attentive listening, mutual respect, and thoughtful reflection—helping learners take risks, express themselves authentically, and grow. The dissertation illuminated how facilitators themselves flourish when supported by intentional communities that nurture reflection and connection, a reminder that learning and growth are deeply social and relational acts.

This defense reinforced for me that learning design is never just about the content or technology; it’s about designing with empathy for the whole person—their experiences, emotions, and evolving sense of self. Like the learners and facilitators in that study, I see all of us on a continuous journey of becoming.

Life and learning are intertwined in this ongoing process. We are never finished discovering who we are or what we are capable of becoming. Every learning experience is an opportunity to explore, to connect, and to grow—personally and collectively.

As an instructional designer, I embrace this truth by creating learning experiences that not only impart knowledge but also cultivate caring communities where learners feel empowered to ask questions, take risks, and step into their fullest potential. Because in the end, it is through connection and care that we become our best selves.

For more about Facilitating Creative Learning: Cultivating Caring Communities of Practice, Reflection, and Human Connection, watch the video for Carmelo Presicce, MIT Graduate Student’s Dissertation Defense.