Learning and Looking Forward
The Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program at Michigan State University has given me a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will allow me to excel in my career. However, my learning does not end there. I truly believe that as educators, we are always learning. Each school year brings changes to curriculum, policy, and a unique group of students. To face these challenges, we can utilize outside resources and collaborate with others. I developed three goals that will allow myself to learn and grow as an educator.
My first goal is to attend conferences and professional development seminars that deepen my understanding of education and technology integration. I have colleagues that attend conferences hosted by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and Nerd Camp and come back with ideas and new understandings of educational technology. This goal will allow me to continue my education and collaborate with teachers around the country. My second goal is to become a Seesaw Ambassador. This goal will help me integrate gain a better understanding of a digital tool called Seesaw that I currently use in the classroom, and provide me with ways engage my student in meaningful learning activities. My third goal is to become a leader within my building and my team of first grade teachers. I can do this by attending conferences hosted by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) that focus on leadership and reading a book I recently purchased called Edupreneur by Aaron Tait and Dave Faulkner. After completing the third year of teaching, I now feel that I am ready to become a leader for other teachers within my school and district.
My first goal is to attend conferences and professional development seminars that deepen my understanding of education and technology integration. I have colleagues that attend conferences hosted by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and Nerd Camp and come back with ideas and new understandings of educational technology. This goal will allow me to continue my education and collaborate with teachers around the country. My second goal is to become a Seesaw Ambassador. This goal will help me integrate gain a better understanding of a digital tool called Seesaw that I currently use in the classroom, and provide me with ways engage my student in meaningful learning activities. My third goal is to become a leader within my building and my team of first grade teachers. I can do this by attending conferences hosted by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) that focus on leadership and reading a book I recently purchased called Edupreneur by Aaron Tait and Dave Faulkner. After completing the third year of teaching, I now feel that I am ready to become a leader for other teachers within my school and district.
1. Attend conferences and professional development seminars that deepen my understanding of education and technology integration.
As I gain more experience as a teacher, I want to learn from experts. I can do this by attending conferences hosted by ISTE and Nerd Camp. These conferences focus on both technology integration and how educators can adapt to changes in education. Keynote speakers can provide me with expert knowledge in their field and challenge me to think about best practices and the future of education. While conference leaders can share their experiences to fuel my learning, teachers and administrators that I meet there can also provide me with valuable resources and ideas. At conferences I am able to develop a better understanding of current technologies, but also learn about innovative and effective teaching theories and practices.
As I gain more experience as a teacher, I want to learn from experts. I can do this by attending conferences hosted by ISTE and Nerd Camp. These conferences focus on both technology integration and how educators can adapt to changes in education. Keynote speakers can provide me with expert knowledge in their field and challenge me to think about best practices and the future of education. While conference leaders can share their experiences to fuel my learning, teachers and administrators that I meet there can also provide me with valuable resources and ideas. At conferences I am able to develop a better understanding of current technologies, but also learn about innovative and effective teaching theories and practices.
2. Become a Seesaw Ambassador.
Seesaw is an application that serves as a student learning journal. Students can post video reflections, showcase their work, and communicate with peers and parents within one application. At our school, all students have a Seesaw account. Content from student learning journals can evolve along with students as they move from grade to grade. Seesaw offers training to become an ambassador. Becoming a Seesaw Ambassador will allow me to gain a better understanding of how to implement this tool with my students. I can also use this knowledge to become a leader within my school and train others to use Seesaw in effective ways. Not only will this goal assist me with implementing technology into my classroom, but allow me to work towards my next goal of becoming a leader within my school and district.
Seesaw is an application that serves as a student learning journal. Students can post video reflections, showcase their work, and communicate with peers and parents within one application. At our school, all students have a Seesaw account. Content from student learning journals can evolve along with students as they move from grade to grade. Seesaw offers training to become an ambassador. Becoming a Seesaw Ambassador will allow me to gain a better understanding of how to implement this tool with my students. I can also use this knowledge to become a leader within my school and train others to use Seesaw in effective ways. Not only will this goal assist me with implementing technology into my classroom, but allow me to work towards my next goal of becoming a leader within my school and district.
3. Become a leader within my building and my team of first grade teachers.
I can become a leader in my school by continuing my learning and training, gaining a better understanding of technologies used in my school, and developing the skills necessary for leadership. I can learn about leadership by attending conferences hosted by ASCD. These conference focuses on leadership in educational settings. While attending a conference would allow me to connect with peers, ASCD also offers webinars and professional resources to help me develop into a positive leader to others. I also just purchased a book called Edupreneur by Aaron Tait and Dave Faulkner. The book focuses on how teachers can be the driving force behind positive changes in education. Edupreneur also discusses the positive effects teachers can have on students despite policy changes and lack of support from administrators I hope this book will not only help me grow as an educator, but allow me to support my colleagues as we face new challenges.
I can become a leader in my school by continuing my learning and training, gaining a better understanding of technologies used in my school, and developing the skills necessary for leadership. I can learn about leadership by attending conferences hosted by ASCD. These conference focuses on leadership in educational settings. While attending a conference would allow me to connect with peers, ASCD also offers webinars and professional resources to help me develop into a positive leader to others. I also just purchased a book called Edupreneur by Aaron Tait and Dave Faulkner. The book focuses on how teachers can be the driving force behind positive changes in education. Edupreneur also discusses the positive effects teachers can have on students despite policy changes and lack of support from administrators I hope this book will not only help me grow as an educator, but allow me to support my colleagues as we face new challenges.
These goals will have a positive impact on me, my students, and my colleagues. I hope to continue my learning by engaging with experts my peers at conferences, deepening my understanding of educational tools, and developing the skills and knowledge necessary to become a positive leader for others. By working toward these goals, I can continue to grow as a teacher and learner to motivate others looking to develop new skills.
Image Sources:
ISTE Logo retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Society_for_Technology_in_Education
Seesaw Logo retrieved from https://help.seesaw.me/hc/en-us/articles/203816959-Seesaw-icon-and-logo
Edupreneur Cover retrieved from https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Edupreneur%3A+Unleashing+Teacher+Led+Innovation+in+Schools-p-9780730329237
ISTE Logo retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Society_for_Technology_in_Education
Seesaw Logo retrieved from https://help.seesaw.me/hc/en-us/articles/203816959-Seesaw-icon-and-logo
Edupreneur Cover retrieved from https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Edupreneur%3A+Unleashing+Teacher+Led+Innovation+in+Schools-p-9780730329237