A Long Look in the Mirror
“A great accomplishment shouldn't be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.”
Harvey Mackay
My journey through the MAET program has been insightful, engaging, and full of surprises. A Long Look in the Mirror is a synthesis essay discussing how the master’s program as a whole affected my thinking and practice.
A PDF of the essay can be found below!
A PDF of the essay can be found below!
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Knowledge is Power
Future Goals Essay
Knowledge is something that takes hard work, determination, and perseverance to achieve. It is also important to note that regardless of how long knowledge is obtained we can never have enough of it. There is never a time that we can say that we have learned everything we need to know and that we no longer need to search for answers. In the field of Educational Technology such a philosophy is represented. Technology is changing everyday. What once began as a small seed has evolved into a worldwide takeover. Technology has swept through the world and shows no signs of slowing down. There is a large task ahead of us in the Educational Technology field with such a technology takeover at hand. Therefore, I took some time to plan out some goals and found some resources that will help with technology endeavor I am on. In the future, I hope to run a website that teachers can use for a source of interdisciplinary reference, I hope to grow as an educational leader, and I hope to work in the Educational Technology field so that I can bring my skills to teachers and students.
The first thing I would like to do to keep learning and progressing as an educational leader is to create my own website for interdisciplinary use amongst the elementary grades. I came across a site in my first year of teaching that really sparked this interest. The site is called Mr. Nussbaum. The site includes links to games, articles, webquests, quizzes, reading passages and more. I love the site because it offers resources to people who need them. One of the best ways to learn is to seek council from those who have been doing it for a while. I want to create a website, like Nussbaum, that gives teachers resources for content or ideas for integrating new technologies into their classrooms. In doing so, the learning process is continued simply by the act of keeping and maintaining the site.
The first thing I would like to do to keep learning and progressing as an educational leader is to create my own website for interdisciplinary use amongst the elementary grades. I came across a site in my first year of teaching that really sparked this interest. The site is called Mr. Nussbaum. The site includes links to games, articles, webquests, quizzes, reading passages and more. I love the site because it offers resources to people who need them. One of the best ways to learn is to seek council from those who have been doing it for a while. I want to create a website, like Nussbaum, that gives teachers resources for content or ideas for integrating new technologies into their classrooms. In doing so, the learning process is continued simply by the act of keeping and maintaining the site.
In order to grow as a technology leader I think it is important to stand back and look at how others have accomplished this goal. There are many channels, websites, and other forums in which people are given a stage as leaders of their field. One of my favorites, is TED Talk. TED Talks is an excellent selection of inspiring videos from all over the world. The videos on the site are helpful in numerous ways. First of all, the videos are full of experts speaking to what they know best. There is always more room to learn and who better to learn from the experts? I find that the TED talk speakers are not only great speakers but great leaders. Secondly, I can use this site for knowledge. I love the content that comes out of this site and can use it to further myself.
Thirdly, I hope to work in the Educational Technology field helping teachers implement technology into their classrooms the right way. I want to be the person in a school or district that other teachers and staff come to in regards of what technology to use and how to use it properly. My current district has a team that does just that. They offer technology professional development sessions and to come into the classroom to help you implement technology. I want to create and perform professional development sessions for teachers and educators so that they too can be passionate about technology in education.
Ultimately, knowledge is a never ending journey. It’s a revolving door that spins as hard as we push it. I think one of the good things about technology is that it isn’t going anywhere. Technology is prevalent and growing at a rapid rate so the chances of it losing steam anytime soon seem quite slim. Therefore, when all is said and done, it best to stay on the path of knowledge and continue to grow.
Click HERE to view a PDF of my essay.
This One is For You
A Reflection of Goals
Have you ever had a burning desire to succeed because someone or something told you it was impossible? That is where my story begins. In 2009, I was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and my doctors advised that my school days were most likely over. I was in my sophomore year at a community college when I made the decision to listen to my heart rather than my doctors. I applied to Lock Haven University, graduated in the fall of 2013 and had my first job in the 2014-2015 school year. I applied to Michigan State’s Masters of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program that same year and embarked on the journey of first year teacher and Masters program student.
I joined the program for the sole reason that technology is cruising throughout the education world and I wanted to be on board while it did. Looking back my goals were quite simple: to graduate in three years time, to graduate with honors, and to find a job that I was happy with.
As educators, we strive for the “aha” moments. It is also important to be on the lookout for such moments outside of the classroom within your own life. My moment came while I was standing at the altar to get married on July 2nd, 2016. Standing across the path, I looked, with teary eyes, from my wife and then to the crowd of family and friends. I had one simple thought: everything I am doing is for these people. This degree is not for me, it is for them.
My new goals immediately became clear. One of my major goals was to accomplish something to honor those who believed in me in spite of the advice of those who had doubts. From college advisers who mentor to me to this day, to my parents and my wife, everything I have done and will do is for them. Another new goal is to assume a role of aiding teachers in implementing technologies in their classroom. I want to be able to share my abilities and intelligence with other people so that they may see the beauty of the educational technology world. Another goal is to build and maintain a website that teachers everywhere could look to for seamless integration of technology across the curriculum. My final goal is to let my experience in this program change who I am as a person. Ultimately, I am striving to help improve education for teachers and students. Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”
I joined the program for the sole reason that technology is cruising throughout the education world and I wanted to be on board while it did. Looking back my goals were quite simple: to graduate in three years time, to graduate with honors, and to find a job that I was happy with.
As educators, we strive for the “aha” moments. It is also important to be on the lookout for such moments outside of the classroom within your own life. My moment came while I was standing at the altar to get married on July 2nd, 2016. Standing across the path, I looked, with teary eyes, from my wife and then to the crowd of family and friends. I had one simple thought: everything I am doing is for these people. This degree is not for me, it is for them.
My new goals immediately became clear. One of my major goals was to accomplish something to honor those who believed in me in spite of the advice of those who had doubts. From college advisers who mentor to me to this day, to my parents and my wife, everything I have done and will do is for them. Another new goal is to assume a role of aiding teachers in implementing technologies in their classroom. I want to be able to share my abilities and intelligence with other people so that they may see the beauty of the educational technology world. Another goal is to build and maintain a website that teachers everywhere could look to for seamless integration of technology across the curriculum. My final goal is to let my experience in this program change who I am as a person. Ultimately, I am striving to help improve education for teachers and students. Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”