My Journey Through Learning
I began to consider earning my Master of Arts in Education during my second year at Chillum Elementary School. Even though I was still a novice educator, I already felt more established and comfortable at this point in my career. I had made it through a tough first year and was now solely teaching fifth grade reading, writing, and social studies. I was in a fully departmentalized classroom with a reasonable amount of students. I felt as though I understood the curriculum and my role within the school community. After these two complete years of teaching at Chillum, it was time to bring on another challenge. I wanted to push myself further and continue on with my learning. I wished to determine the best instructional practices to put into place. Where better to continue on with my studies other than Michigan State University? I did some research and discovered the world of online learning. Was this right for me? I would soon find out. I was delighted to hear word that I was accepted into the MAED program, but I still had no idea of what was really in store for me. I began to carefully plan out my graduate studies by selecting an area of concentration. I then worked to choose courses which would correlate with my own personal interests and current learning goals. I was thinking in the present time, but also looking ahead to the future.
Even at this point in my work as an educator, I knew in my mind that I might not always remain in the field as a classroom teacher. There are many domains to explore within the world of education, and I did not want to limit myself in any way. I found that even though I enjoyed being in the classroom, when my mind would wander I always thought about life outside of lessons plans and learning objectives. I longed to know what else I was capable of learning and teaching. I have always had a vested interest in technology but was never fully confident in my skills. There were constant changes and updates in the field and I felt as though I was always left with wanting to know more. This was one of the many reasons why I chose Technology and Learning for my area of concentration. Furthermore, I knew this particular focus would allow me the potential to explore different work opportunities. I realized that I might be able to make a career change in the future if I chose to do so. Furthermore, I could have the opportunity to branch out and practice my newly acquired skills elsewhere. As a current classroom teacher I was also aware of the importance of teaching with technology, but needed to know more in order to truly understand why.
I made a very wise decision to continue on with my education online through Michigan State University. Once I was ready to get started on my coursework, I was surprised at the wide array of options available to me. Online learning was something new and exciting, but also frightening at the same time. I had so many questions! I wondered if I would be able to keep up with taking classes online when I had always found myself in a traditional classroom setting. I was unsure of the tasks I would face and wanted to know more about the structure of each course. I also found myself thinking about how my interactions with fellow classmates would be and whether or not I would be able to collaborate with ease. I set out on a mission to stay informed, on track, and simply do my best. The MAED website proved to be a very useful reference and resource for me at this time. I found myself visiting the site frequently, and the answers to my questions were always just a click away.
All of my worries about the program were soon put to rest when I realized that I had a very strong support system to help ensure my academic success. This system was composed of my adviser, course instructors, and my fellow classmates that were also enrolled in the program. I knew that I would be working extremely hard and felt that I was not alone in my efforts to earn this degree. My academic advisor throughout this process was John Olle. He was excellent in the sense that my questions were always answered in a timely manner and the responses he provided were explicit. John was knowledgeable about the program and helped me to plan a practical path to earning my degree. I felt encouraged by his words and this positive feeling remained throughout our interactions. I hoped that the case would be the same for the course instructors and colleagues as I began the program. I would soon find out all I needed to know as I continued on with my journey.
As I worked my way through the required and selected courses, I came to realize that the instructors were amazingly professional and up-to-date in their field of choice. I was constantly impressed with their knowledge. Even though I learned a wealth of valuable information while enrolled in this program, there were some courses that stood out a little more than others. The first course that was very meaningful towards my area of concentration was Teaching K-12 Students Online (CEP 820). This course was hosted on ANGEL, and online learning platform utilized by Michigan State University. CEP 820 led me through several well planned steps that resulted in the final product of an online class. I learned about how to best utilize technological resources available to me. I was also taught to be fully aware of the diverse needs of my students and keep their best interests in mind. I explored several online learning management systems while trying out the different features of each one. In the end, I created an informational text based hybrid course for use with my current fifth grade students. Even though I struggled at times, I was led through the process with the help of two excellent instructors. I documented my learning in a Developer Notebook, which can be viewed on my "Showcase" page. This task was a challenging, yet worthwhile experience. It made me realize the importance of authentic online learning in an elementary level classroom. It also brought to my attention all of the hard work and dedication that goes into creating a course online.
Another course that was inspirational to me was Technology and Leadership (CEP 815). This course was also held through ANGEL. I was interested in this course because I could see myself becoming a leader of technology within a school setting and wanted to learn more about the topics involved. The material I engaged with allowed me to understand the complex relationship between technology, teaching, and learning. I was also able to view the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom. This made me realize that not all use of technology is advantageous. This course opened up my eyes to the realization that the implementation and use of these types of resources are only beneficial if there is careful and concise planning involved. I was then able to try my hand at creating a technology plan to be implemented within an elementary school setting. This task took a considerable amount of time and great effort, but turned out well. To learn more about my work in this course, I urge you to explore my final project which can be found on my "Showcase" page.
Creativity in Teaching and Learning (CEP 818) was a course that allowed me to push past the boundaries of what I deemed to be comfortable and safe. In a time when standardized test scores are held in such high regards, I wanted to find out what I could do to inspire my students. I really wanted to try something different from the dull paper pencil routine. I learned how to inspire my class of ten year old students and more in this thought provoking and dynamic course. I explored key questions related to creativity and then engaged in complex learning activities to gain an even deeper understanding. Many of the projects allowed me to practice my newly acquired knowledge within my language arts lessons and with my students. For a glimpse into my work, please see my blog which can be explored on my "Annotated Transcript" page.
The Nature and Design of Compelling Experiences (CEP 882) was a course that required concentration and abstract thinking on my behalf. I learned how to relate my work to that of skilled professionals in fields that were dissimilar to education. I never knew I could relate teaching to architecture, graphic design, or even photography. This course taught me skills and strategies that allowed me to see how I could make these useful connections work for me. At first this seemed like a daunting task, but I was given adequate support and precise feedback that allowed me to move my thinking in a new direction. As a result, I found out how to craft more thought provoking and engaging classroom lessons. I learned how to create videos and present my work in novel ways. Even though I was not always comfortable with the area of focus for the week, I tried my absolute best to learn all I could. I took in all of this new information with an open mind and am so glad that I did. My blog is proof of how far I have come. A link to my entries can be found on my "Annotated Transcript" and my "Showcase" pages.
As I come to the end of my graduate studies, I feel the strong desire to look back at the array of products that make up my hard work. The papers, projects, presentations, and blog entries combined serve to demonstrate my overall learning. Even with all of these important artifacts in mind, I have realized my potential as a learner and an educator in broader terms. My learning reaches farther than an essay or a presentation online. One area I feel that I have improved greatly in is technology. I feel so much more aware of the importance of technology and learning. I have enjoyed using technological resources such as CourseSites by Blackboard, Google Drive, Prezi, Glogster, Piazza, Jing, and much more. I have created two blogs as well as published my own professional website. I am impressed with how far I have come and cannot wait to see myself grow as I move forward in my career. I know that with continued professional development, communication among fellow educators, and hard work that I will continue to gain even more understanding related to learning, technology, and education as a whole.
My time spent earning my Master of Arts in Education has been an amazing experience. I feel fortunate to have worked with such well versed professionals while gaining this valuable degree. Everything about the program suited me well and fit my unique needs as a student. I now feel comfortable with online learning and think it was a great choice for me. On a more personal level, I could not have imagined a better outcome. The information I have gained along with the people I have met make for a truly priceless experience. The final Capstone Portfolio Course (ED 870) guided me through the publishing process while making me more more aware of how to present myself on the web as a professional in the field. I have spent a great deal of time crafting my site into a personal statement which reflects me as an educator. I was sure to add in all of the elements that I deemed as important throughout my journey. I have received helpful feedback and feel a strong sense of support. As a result, I now have a wonderful compilation of my hard work from the program. I look forward to sharing my online portfolio with family, friends, colleagues, and potential employers . As I look ahead to what life has in store, I can also take a moment to look back. As my time in the program comes to an end, I can now say with great confidence that I feel a strong sense of accomplishment in regards to all I have done.