“TELL ME AND I FORGET. TEACH ME AND I REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN.” –BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
With Every Ending...
A New Beginning
As a teacher the learning never stops, not for the students and especially not for the teacher. Similar to my students learning, I want my own personal learning to be meaningful, so choosing a masters program was something I put a lot of thought into. The Masters of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) Program, was something I stumbled upon while attending the MACUL conference in 2016. After speaking to former MSU students at the MAET booth, I knew that this program was the one I had been waiting for. It embraced everything I wanted to achieve in the next chapter in my learning. For my first 5 years of teaching I was the “go to” tech savvy teacher in my building. From document cameras, to CMS’s, and just about everything in between, when someone in my building needed tech support I was the teacher they typically called. As I say this, it sounds more like a chore, but it was a chore that I absolutely loved doing. I loved helping teachers My main goal being to leave the MAET program equipped and ready to help other teachers integrate technology in their classrooms.
My time in the MAET program is coming to a close and as I think about what the program has left me with, other than a master’s degree, the first thought I have is the ability to take risks. As I got deeper into the program the more risks I was willing to take with my work. Whether that meant recording a podcast for the first time, or choosing to do a “choose your own adventure” to talk about the design process, this program has brought me so many opportunities to take risks. This program has helped me to look at problems and think outside of the box. I am leaving with a new sense of problem solving, and can apply that to my current profession. I have a greater appreciation for a professional learning network, and how that network supports my goals as a learner and an educator. During this program I rediscovered what it means to be a lifelong learner, and I am ready to spread my knew knowledge of technology and learning with my colleagues and my students. All of my classes have helped prepare me for the next steps in my career, however a few classes have brought out that sense of a risk taking that I feel I am leaving the program with.
CEP-817- Learning Through Design
I was so excited to take CEP 817, Learning Technology through Design.
This class embodied my big goals during the program, which were to be able
to incorporate technology into my classroom successfully and help my colleagues
to do the same. This was the center of my problem of practice with during CEP 817 we looked at
technology through a designers lens. To do this first we had to empathize with teachers who do not use as much
technology in their classroom, then we had to problem solve how to better help these teachers by going through the design process. Those steps other than empathize included, defining the problem, coming up with ideas to solve that problem, and putting those solutions into practice.
During this class I took my learning to my professional learning network, in this case my grade level, and they helped me to find ways to better professional development to help them incorporate technology into their classrooms. The assignments in this course helped me to understand what I would be in for as a technology integration specialist which is ultimately the next step I want to take in my career. I got a glimpse of how to approach a problem head on and with other teachers come up with possible solutions. One of my favorite assignments in this course was my final assignment where I had to create a project that embodied the design process, as it applied to my problem of practice. I could have done a newspaper article, or brochure, but I decided to take a risk with this assignment and design a choose your own adventure through the design process. As I worked on this assignment, I felt like I was describing me as a designer. Shy not wanting to take many risks on one hand, and on the other opportunities that those risks could bring. I was very much the designer in my own adventure. This course got me very hyped to bring my knowledge of technology and education
to my colleagues in a whole new way.
CEP-822- Approaches to Educational Research
This course came at a very pivotal part in my education career. With a new superintendent in our district,
we were faced with many new decisions. One of those being implementing a balance or extended year calendar. This course gave much flexibility to topics that could be researched so when given the opportunity to choose a topic I jumped on the topic of extended year learning, in order to better my understanding not only for the course but for the upcoming decision my district would have to make. This was such a cool opportunity to bring my learning and apply it to real life. I was able to involve my colleagues, student’s parents and superintendent in my research about the topic of balanced calendar school year. The research assignment stretched over the length of the course, during that time I was researching I was also attending staff and board meetings which referenced some of the research I was doing, and additionally I was adding thoughts to those meetings that weren’t considered yet.
When it came to gathering information. I decided to poll parents to see their thoughts. This gave me the opportunity to administer a google survey. Since I had a good idea of teacher opinion, as well as administrator opinion my survey just went to parents. I asked my superintendent if I could administer the survey, and I appreciated her support in my program as she allowed me. I even got to share the results with her for her consideration. Many of the courses I took gave me a chance to apply my learning to what I was doing in "real life." This course though brought that to a whole other level by giving me a
chance to engage in research that was so applicable to what me district
was doing.
CEP-811-Adapting Innovative Technology in Education
What was a maker? I found out anyone and everyone can be maker's. This course was one of my first course and it opened my mind to taking risks, and thinking outside of the box. I looked at how technology should be implemented, and got my first glimpse of TPACK on how it should be used when incorporating technology into your classroom. This course let me explore learning with my students using a coding kit. Using the Makey Makey Kit I had students make letters with play dough, and record the sounds that go with those letters. I did these with Kindergarten aged student. This activity showed me that I could not underestimate the ability of even the youngest student. They were able to problem solve and trouble shoot through this kit to find success with letters and sounds. This made me think about the purposeful role that technology could play in the classroom. Even with simple tasks like identifying letters and sounds can be enhanced when technology is introduced. I also learned that even the smallest student can be a maker. Through this course I had a better appreciation for problem solving. As I tried to hook up my Makey Makey kit to my scale to give positive feedback for weight loss, I learned
that technology is not always gong to come easy, and just like anything else troubleshooting is just part of the territory.
This course got me so excited about maker spaces that along with two other teachers I helped launch a STEAM program
in our lower elementary building to give students K-5 an opportunity to come together with peers to make and discover.
The tools I acquired in CEP 811 helped me to pave the foundation for this program. This course and what it inspired me to
pursue a career in technology integration, and l left a lasting impact on me as well as the students which I shared my
learning and fun with.
What's Next...
As this chapter on my learning comes to a close I reflect on what brought me to this program, and the goals I had for myself. I can say I feel that I have not only completed my goals but surpassed them. The MAET program has opened up so many doors for me and has given me many learning opportunities which I built upon through out the program. It was such a great program for me at this time in my career. I was able to apply my learning to my practice in my career. Many of the instructors had been students in this course which made them feel like colleagues in my pursuit of this degree. I made so many great connections, and created so many amazing projects which I learned so much from. This program was the perfect next step in my learning, and made me enthusiastic to learn again. The courses were the perfect mix of engaging and informative, and I can say the learning never stopped. It was so refreshing to be able to concentrate my learning in an area I truly am passionate about. I feel so equipped after my time in the MAET program to go out and share my knowledge of technology, and how it applies to education. My next steps after the program is to pursue a job in educational technology. I waited until I found my niche in education, and I feel extremely confident that this is the direction I need to go in with my profession. Whether that means staying in the classroom and enhancing my students learning with technology, or working with teachers to help them incorporate technology into their classrooms, technology is at the hub of where I see myself going next after completing the program. Like I said at the start with every ending... a new beginning. I am entering this new beginning with more understanding, excitement, and resources than I could ever imagine, and I feel ready to take on whatever comes next with great enthusiasm.
Once a Learner, Am a Learner, Always a Learner!