Not Quite So Puzzled
A Future as Learner Essay
by Melissa Benoit
This weekend I was working on a 200 piece Disney puzzle with my two little cousins. Since they are only seven and five, the puzzle was a bit of a challenge for them, but they were focused and determined to get the puzzle completed. All of their energy was focused on solving the puzzle. When they were done, they got up, did a little celebratory dance, and asked, “now what?”. As I prepare to finish Michigan State’s Master’s of Educational Technology (MAET) program, I feel like I can relate to my little cousins and their puzzle project. I’ve been working so hard over the last year to complete my degree, that as I approach graduation, I can’t help but ask myself the same question, “now what?”. The next morning after our successful puzzle completion, my two cousins excitedly asked if we could go get a new, “harder” puzzle to attempt. It made me realize that like my cousins, I’m going to continue to apply the skills I’ve learned, to challenge myself, and to try new things. I’m not going to take my degree and smugly feel I’ve learned it all, just like my cousins didn’t think they had mastered all puzzles. So as I approach graduation and take all my knowledge from the MAET program with me, I have come up with a plan to stay connected and continue to grow as both a student and a teacher.
One of my big goals after I finish the program is to stay connected with technology centered educational groups. Through the MAET program, I’ve learned so many new ways to do this. I can do way more than subscribe to the National Council of Teacher’s of English journal. I can join online groups that will help me learn new technologies, hear about other teacher’s classrooms, and even read articles about new teaching practices. Some of the tools I want to keep using that I already use frequently are social media sites. Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are places I already spend a lot of time I want to keep visiting. Through the MAET program I’ve learned how to use them for educational and technological purposes. They’ve connected me to other teachers, referenced relevant articles, and also shown me technology classroom ideas. They’ve also linked me to other blogs and places that have broadened my educational technology knowledge. As I move on from the program, these websites will become even stronger lifelines to help keep me up-to-date on new technology in the classroom. Another tool is Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL), which has conferences, newsletters/journals, grants, and other resources to help teachers. I’ve been to the MACUL conference and I’ve also used the website to find new ideas. I plan to stay an active member, so I’m aware of upcoming events that will teach me new tools to help me in me successfully utilize technology in the classroom. Finally the website Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED), is a place to find videos and talks that explore new and innovative ideas. There are videos about technology, education, and other inspiring ideas. I plan to continue to visit these sites to get new ideas and learn new tools to use in my classroom.
Another goal of mine is to continue to collaborate with my colleagues, but also the vast group of teachers I’ve met through the program. I’ve always believed that we are each other’s best resources and the MAET program has given me the resources to interact with teachers from all over the world. I’ve been able to share ideas with them, as well as hear about the amazing things they are doing in their classroom. This is something I will continue to do because I think it’s a tremendous asset to my teaching. As technology changes and my formal schooling comes to an end, I will need this support system to give me the courage to try new technologies and continue to be an innovative teacher.
Something else I’ve started to work on and want to continue because of the MAET program is to become a technology leader in my school. Allegan Public Schools passed a technology bond last year and will be making huge strides to improve technology. Each classroom is getting re-vamped to add technology tools that were not previously there. This means that my colleagues will need to engage and utilize technology in ways they haven’t before. This will be the perfect chance for me to use my knowledge and training to help them feel more comfortable with technology. I’ve already led one professional development training this year on using wikis in the classroom. I would love to do more of this with the tools I’m learning and using in my classroom. I not only can help teachers learn technology, but also plan to be a resource for questions and concerns they may have.
Finally, I will continue attending training and professional development to not only strengthen my teaching, but also my technology knowledge. I’ve already been to conferences like the MACUL conference, NCTE Conference, and Michigan Moodle Moot. These conferences have taught me a lot and made me realize the potential of technology in the classroom. I love returning from these conferences and immediately having tools to try in my classroom. This is definitely a habit I will continue to make part of my routine. I’ve also taken classes to help me become learn about technology in the classroom before I even applied to MSU’s program. The classes didn’t earn me any graduate credit, but were just because they peaked my interest. One class was “21 Things for the 21st Century Educator” and the other was “Blended Learning in the Classroom”. I know I will continue to take classes like this because I’m someone who loves to learn and is interested in improving my teaching.
Like my little cousins, I’m going to keep pushing myself to try a harder puzzle or in my case to learn more and improve my teaching with technology. I know that my learning will never be finished because I will always have a passion to learn more and try new things. I’ll take everything I’ve learned in the MAET program to help become a better, more effective teacher.
One of my big goals after I finish the program is to stay connected with technology centered educational groups. Through the MAET program, I’ve learned so many new ways to do this. I can do way more than subscribe to the National Council of Teacher’s of English journal. I can join online groups that will help me learn new technologies, hear about other teacher’s classrooms, and even read articles about new teaching practices. Some of the tools I want to keep using that I already use frequently are social media sites. Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are places I already spend a lot of time I want to keep visiting. Through the MAET program I’ve learned how to use them for educational and technological purposes. They’ve connected me to other teachers, referenced relevant articles, and also shown me technology classroom ideas. They’ve also linked me to other blogs and places that have broadened my educational technology knowledge. As I move on from the program, these websites will become even stronger lifelines to help keep me up-to-date on new technology in the classroom. Another tool is Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL), which has conferences, newsletters/journals, grants, and other resources to help teachers. I’ve been to the MACUL conference and I’ve also used the website to find new ideas. I plan to stay an active member, so I’m aware of upcoming events that will teach me new tools to help me in me successfully utilize technology in the classroom. Finally the website Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED), is a place to find videos and talks that explore new and innovative ideas. There are videos about technology, education, and other inspiring ideas. I plan to continue to visit these sites to get new ideas and learn new tools to use in my classroom.
Another goal of mine is to continue to collaborate with my colleagues, but also the vast group of teachers I’ve met through the program. I’ve always believed that we are each other’s best resources and the MAET program has given me the resources to interact with teachers from all over the world. I’ve been able to share ideas with them, as well as hear about the amazing things they are doing in their classroom. This is something I will continue to do because I think it’s a tremendous asset to my teaching. As technology changes and my formal schooling comes to an end, I will need this support system to give me the courage to try new technologies and continue to be an innovative teacher.
Something else I’ve started to work on and want to continue because of the MAET program is to become a technology leader in my school. Allegan Public Schools passed a technology bond last year and will be making huge strides to improve technology. Each classroom is getting re-vamped to add technology tools that were not previously there. This means that my colleagues will need to engage and utilize technology in ways they haven’t before. This will be the perfect chance for me to use my knowledge and training to help them feel more comfortable with technology. I’ve already led one professional development training this year on using wikis in the classroom. I would love to do more of this with the tools I’m learning and using in my classroom. I not only can help teachers learn technology, but also plan to be a resource for questions and concerns they may have.
Finally, I will continue attending training and professional development to not only strengthen my teaching, but also my technology knowledge. I’ve already been to conferences like the MACUL conference, NCTE Conference, and Michigan Moodle Moot. These conferences have taught me a lot and made me realize the potential of technology in the classroom. I love returning from these conferences and immediately having tools to try in my classroom. This is definitely a habit I will continue to make part of my routine. I’ve also taken classes to help me become learn about technology in the classroom before I even applied to MSU’s program. The classes didn’t earn me any graduate credit, but were just because they peaked my interest. One class was “21 Things for the 21st Century Educator” and the other was “Blended Learning in the Classroom”. I know I will continue to take classes like this because I’m someone who loves to learn and is interested in improving my teaching.
Like my little cousins, I’m going to keep pushing myself to try a harder puzzle or in my case to learn more and improve my teaching with technology. I know that my learning will never be finished because I will always have a passion to learn more and try new things. I’ll take everything I’ve learned in the MAET program to help become a better, more effective teacher.