Developing my Superpower!
In January of 2013, I entered Michigan State University seeking a Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET). I must admit that I embarked upon the mission with a lot of apprehension about the field that I call myself passionate about. Certain technology tools such as social media did not serve a purpose in my world of education. I had stereotyped it and believed it was created for really young people that wanted to dish about their lives and give up personal information on Twitter and Facebook. I had not subscribed to its usefulness as apart of my professional learning community or a means of communicating in the field of education. Starting with the first class along my journey, CEP 810, I began to change how I felt about Twitter when I saw all the educational networking opportunities that were out there. In my mind it took me back to using the learning management system blackboard in my undergraduate days, it was a place where class content was placed and basically stayed. After making a connection to past learning experiences, I was finally comfortable posting things on Twitter. I was open to learning about how technology can add to my teaching practice and what I have learned during my studies here will change the dynamics of my classroom. In that course I collaborated with a classmates from all over the world, one in particular was in Istanbul, Turkey. I had to learn how to use google hangout to complete group assignments. The safe environment established by my instructor Craig McMichael was very comforting. I accidentally kicked him out of a google hangout the very first time that I initiated a meeting, due to technical difficulties that turned out to be "user error". Naturally, I was very nervous about how this would affect my grade and relationship with my instructor. The tech blunder earned me the nickname of “trouble” and it still appears on Twitter from time to time. The precedent of a safe learning environment was set by Craig and I was free to learn by doing, messing up and trying again throughout all of my courses. This was possible because I knew that my instructors supported me. I was most affected by the hands-on and interactive approach to courses. I am an elementary teacher and I constantly challenged myself to think of ways to apply some of the technology discovered during MAET in my second grade class and increase student learning and productivity. As I began to understand more about connecting with students and families via technology, my superpower of technology was being developed.
In CEP 800, the Dream IT project enabled me to discover many of the resources I want to use in my professional growth. I realized that academic research is very applicable to my classroom. I never considered doing research for professional growth and improvement that was not associated with a university assignment. Many of the articles I found while doing research opened my options for utilizing my university connections to digital libraries and journals for readings that will help me improve professionally. I will utilize the MSU library systems for journal articles and I plan to form a technology book club with other teachers. I will begin the club at my school but it will not be limited to the teachers in my building because I have learned how to use social media and other tech tools to facilitate virtual meetings. With the help of different web forms the books can be discussed and shared over the internet, this was proved with the 3x3x3 assignment. Another example of how the activities in the class affected the way I think about our traditional means of conducting educational business.
To be reflective on ones practice allows a teacher the opportunity to record and document growth. It has been my intention for three years to use some method of reflection so that I did not have to rely on my fading memory to recall areas that need improvement or the affects of the applied adaptations. I will find a place on my website to display the summaries of my web discoveries. I will use the professional presence developed during my CEP classes, especially CEP 807 as a place to house my professional education presence. This will be a place that I can use to express myself professionally. While developing my showcase, I interacted with instructors on twitter, in a discussion forum and a virtual office used for presentations. I think that being reflective will allow me to be honest with myself about my practice. The blog will also serve as a sharing place, someone else may be able to make use of things being shared on my blog, thus benefiting other educators in my PLN. Another area I have identified as an area for me to grow in as a result of CEP 807 is the area of presenting. I plan to use the work that I have started in MAET to share the work that I’ve created with others. I began this last school year when I made several technology presentations to my colleagues. Thanks to the the structure of my capstone class, I am not limited to face-to-face presentations, but I am equipped to make virtual presentations as well.
In the education world there is a commonly used phrase of teaching the ‘whole child’. This phrase highlights the need to meet more than strict academic needs of students but also their emotional and social needs. It is my belief that any good teacher education program follows the same sentiment of educating the ‘whole teacher’. The MAET program did just that, my academic, technical and social needs were addressed during my journey. The courses highlighted above served as anchor courses from my Spring, Summer & Spring semesters. They are the classes that linked all of the learning that I was acquiring along the way. As I entered the program I was very apprehensive about certain technology and my first class met me in my weak place and scaffolded me to a point were I was able to begin to go beyond the assignments given in class. As I got comfortable with using technology in my practice I began to extend the assignments and made personal classroom connections for myself. Ironically, there were classes designed to meet this very need and I was prepared for the challenge when the time came. My curiosity about my new found teaching medium allowed me to excel at finding innovative uses of technology in my classroom.
Continuing on the learning trajectory initiated by the spark lit in CEP 810, I began to research how I can improve my practice. My courses were not only practical but also enhanced my understanding of pedagogy. I completed assignments doing research and found myself attending the MACUL conference for the first time. Becoming a presenter at the MACUL conference was a faint goal I set after reflecting on my experience. I placed that presenting goal far into my future, but the interactions that I had with classmates around the country moved the goal closer. The capstone course has me so prepared to present at the next MACUL conference due to the calculated method that I was challenged. I am excited that I feel confident enough in my technical and presenting skills to apply for a small presenting slot. I did not enter the program to become a facilitator or presenter. I entered to learn how to add technology in my classroom. My expectations were exceeded with the mandated courses, I also enjoyed taking electives that were aligned with my personal interests like math. The course not only focused on the fundamentals of math. It also connected with the tech tools that enhance math delivery. This course produced a piece of work that I am very proud of: the EdTech Math library. I love to share my knowledge and skills with my colleagues and this product allowed me to share my research with others. Many of my colleagues used the library to enhance their math delivery. The EdTech Math library was a culmination of learning about tech tools, being innovative and using social media to spread my message. To think that these very things were highly disregarded before I entered the program amazes me. The carefully selected and executed courses have helped me embrace more than including technology in my class. The courses have helped me redefine myself as an education and take the limits off of what it means to practice teaching.
I came into the program with apprehension about all that technology has to offer. I am leaving, embracing the multitude of technologies that can be used in my classroom to increase the learning of my students as well as myself. I am no longer afraid to try unconventional ways of using teaching material. I have realized that authentic teaching is what is most important in any classroom. Now my challenge is to make teaching authentic in a way that reaches my second graders. I plan to incorporate more project-based activities that are student led to increase the real world connection, while also improving fine motor skills. When I venture into the world of second graders I discover many opportunities to create themed lesson plans that are engaging and relevant to my students. Having a partnership with the students and giving them some autonomy will help achieve this goal. Young children are natural sense makers and when we include them in the learning process the teacher gets a chance to be the student at times. Children are natural risk takers and they are many times taught out of being risk takers. I want to cultivate the energy that my students have and the possiblities that technology provide to help lessons come alive.
As I look back over the courses taken to complete the MAET degree, I first confirm my commitment of being a life long learner. I struggled during my first three years to adapt to the demands of being an elementary teacher, a mother, and a wife, in addition to driving 1 hour each way for work daily. I have identified several areas that I plan to explore during the next five years and for the duration of my career in some aspect. These areas include: edtech conferences, professional reading, reflections, PLN, professional organizations and presentations. As I attend edtech conferences, I will continue to meet like-minded teachers that will be added to my Professional Learning Network (PLN). MAET has helped me understand that my PLN can be increased virtually using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs and RSS feeds. Social media was the area I was least comfortable in as these courses began last year. I have now added areas of interest to my twitter account and follow innovative educators. Facebook and twitter have groups that provide ways for me to join global networks and choose how I will participate. I can choose to view what others are posting or be a contributor to the network as well. I like to talk and share my ideas with anyone willing to lend an ear. I want add mediacasts videos and blogs to my contribution to the educational network. I believe these resources will be particularly useful to me because they have been identified by my interests and learning style. I have the autonomy as a teacher to be self-directed in my professional growth. I want to learn, which will lead to mastery and finally I have identified my purpose as being an effective teacher for the students who enter my classroom each day. I will be motivated to achieve my ultimate goal of creating a technology safe environment where students will be willing to take academic risks. Technology... my superpower!
To be reflective on ones practice allows a teacher the opportunity to record and document growth. It has been my intention for three years to use some method of reflection so that I did not have to rely on my fading memory to recall areas that need improvement or the affects of the applied adaptations. I will find a place on my website to display the summaries of my web discoveries. I will use the professional presence developed during my CEP classes, especially CEP 807 as a place to house my professional education presence. This will be a place that I can use to express myself professionally. While developing my showcase, I interacted with instructors on twitter, in a discussion forum and a virtual office used for presentations. I think that being reflective will allow me to be honest with myself about my practice. The blog will also serve as a sharing place, someone else may be able to make use of things being shared on my blog, thus benefiting other educators in my PLN. Another area I have identified as an area for me to grow in as a result of CEP 807 is the area of presenting. I plan to use the work that I have started in MAET to share the work that I’ve created with others. I began this last school year when I made several technology presentations to my colleagues. Thanks to the the structure of my capstone class, I am not limited to face-to-face presentations, but I am equipped to make virtual presentations as well.
In the education world there is a commonly used phrase of teaching the ‘whole child’. This phrase highlights the need to meet more than strict academic needs of students but also their emotional and social needs. It is my belief that any good teacher education program follows the same sentiment of educating the ‘whole teacher’. The MAET program did just that, my academic, technical and social needs were addressed during my journey. The courses highlighted above served as anchor courses from my Spring, Summer & Spring semesters. They are the classes that linked all of the learning that I was acquiring along the way. As I entered the program I was very apprehensive about certain technology and my first class met me in my weak place and scaffolded me to a point were I was able to begin to go beyond the assignments given in class. As I got comfortable with using technology in my practice I began to extend the assignments and made personal classroom connections for myself. Ironically, there were classes designed to meet this very need and I was prepared for the challenge when the time came. My curiosity about my new found teaching medium allowed me to excel at finding innovative uses of technology in my classroom.
Continuing on the learning trajectory initiated by the spark lit in CEP 810, I began to research how I can improve my practice. My courses were not only practical but also enhanced my understanding of pedagogy. I completed assignments doing research and found myself attending the MACUL conference for the first time. Becoming a presenter at the MACUL conference was a faint goal I set after reflecting on my experience. I placed that presenting goal far into my future, but the interactions that I had with classmates around the country moved the goal closer. The capstone course has me so prepared to present at the next MACUL conference due to the calculated method that I was challenged. I am excited that I feel confident enough in my technical and presenting skills to apply for a small presenting slot. I did not enter the program to become a facilitator or presenter. I entered to learn how to add technology in my classroom. My expectations were exceeded with the mandated courses, I also enjoyed taking electives that were aligned with my personal interests like math. The course not only focused on the fundamentals of math. It also connected with the tech tools that enhance math delivery. This course produced a piece of work that I am very proud of: the EdTech Math library. I love to share my knowledge and skills with my colleagues and this product allowed me to share my research with others. Many of my colleagues used the library to enhance their math delivery. The EdTech Math library was a culmination of learning about tech tools, being innovative and using social media to spread my message. To think that these very things were highly disregarded before I entered the program amazes me. The carefully selected and executed courses have helped me embrace more than including technology in my class. The courses have helped me redefine myself as an education and take the limits off of what it means to practice teaching.
I came into the program with apprehension about all that technology has to offer. I am leaving, embracing the multitude of technologies that can be used in my classroom to increase the learning of my students as well as myself. I am no longer afraid to try unconventional ways of using teaching material. I have realized that authentic teaching is what is most important in any classroom. Now my challenge is to make teaching authentic in a way that reaches my second graders. I plan to incorporate more project-based activities that are student led to increase the real world connection, while also improving fine motor skills. When I venture into the world of second graders I discover many opportunities to create themed lesson plans that are engaging and relevant to my students. Having a partnership with the students and giving them some autonomy will help achieve this goal. Young children are natural sense makers and when we include them in the learning process the teacher gets a chance to be the student at times. Children are natural risk takers and they are many times taught out of being risk takers. I want to cultivate the energy that my students have and the possiblities that technology provide to help lessons come alive.
As I look back over the courses taken to complete the MAET degree, I first confirm my commitment of being a life long learner. I struggled during my first three years to adapt to the demands of being an elementary teacher, a mother, and a wife, in addition to driving 1 hour each way for work daily. I have identified several areas that I plan to explore during the next five years and for the duration of my career in some aspect. These areas include: edtech conferences, professional reading, reflections, PLN, professional organizations and presentations. As I attend edtech conferences, I will continue to meet like-minded teachers that will be added to my Professional Learning Network (PLN). MAET has helped me understand that my PLN can be increased virtually using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs and RSS feeds. Social media was the area I was least comfortable in as these courses began last year. I have now added areas of interest to my twitter account and follow innovative educators. Facebook and twitter have groups that provide ways for me to join global networks and choose how I will participate. I can choose to view what others are posting or be a contributor to the network as well. I like to talk and share my ideas with anyone willing to lend an ear. I want add mediacasts videos and blogs to my contribution to the educational network. I believe these resources will be particularly useful to me because they have been identified by my interests and learning style. I have the autonomy as a teacher to be self-directed in my professional growth. I want to learn, which will lead to mastery and finally I have identified my purpose as being an effective teacher for the students who enter my classroom each day. I will be motivated to achieve my ultimate goal of creating a technology safe environment where students will be willing to take academic risks. Technology... my superpower!