Where Do I Go From Here?
Wouldn't it be nice if there were road signs for life, telling us exactly where to go and what to do next? Alas, there are no signs and sometimes the best we can do is go in the direction we think is right, and see what happens.
While I have been working on my Master's in Educational Technology, I have had many people ask me why in the world I wanted to pursue something so daunting. (Trust me, being immersed in technology when you are a novice is DAUNTING!) Along the way I have learned so much, not only about technology, but myself as well.
I am constantly amazed at the world of technology that has opened up before me - I have learned so much and am excited about all I have yet to discover. I am standing on the tip of the iceberg with web sites, blogs, and internet links. There are many educational technologies that I have yet to work with in the classroom - clickers, SMART boards, and pod casts to name a few. What I am most excited to work with is using many of the free resources available online to differentiate instruction to meet the varied needs of all learners in my classroom. I once had an instructor say that every child deserves to come into the classroom and learn something new each day; it is my goal to provide this opportunity for my students.
What have I learned about myself? Well, earning this degree has helped me remember how much I love learning. I get so excited about the things I am discovering and I can't wait to share them with my students. But more than specific "cool technology stuff," I want my students to find a passion for learning. I want them to be able to choose a topic, explore it, and become so excited about the process that it doesn't feel like learning. I truly believe that technology will be the key to unlocking this desire in my students.
What does the future hold? Well, there still aren't any signs - I've looked. What I know for sure is that I will keep learning - not only about technology but about teaching, learning, and more. I'd like to learn sign language, maybe Spanish, maybe someday pursue a PhD...who knows?
Wouldn't it be nice if there were road signs for life, telling us exactly where to go and what to do next? Alas, there are no signs and sometimes the best we can do is go in the direction we think is right, and see what happens.
While I have been working on my Master's in Educational Technology, I have had many people ask me why in the world I wanted to pursue something so daunting. (Trust me, being immersed in technology when you are a novice is DAUNTING!) Along the way I have learned so much, not only about technology, but myself as well.
I am constantly amazed at the world of technology that has opened up before me - I have learned so much and am excited about all I have yet to discover. I am standing on the tip of the iceberg with web sites, blogs, and internet links. There are many educational technologies that I have yet to work with in the classroom - clickers, SMART boards, and pod casts to name a few. What I am most excited to work with is using many of the free resources available online to differentiate instruction to meet the varied needs of all learners in my classroom. I once had an instructor say that every child deserves to come into the classroom and learn something new each day; it is my goal to provide this opportunity for my students.
What have I learned about myself? Well, earning this degree has helped me remember how much I love learning. I get so excited about the things I am discovering and I can't wait to share them with my students. But more than specific "cool technology stuff," I want my students to find a passion for learning. I want them to be able to choose a topic, explore it, and become so excited about the process that it doesn't feel like learning. I truly believe that technology will be the key to unlocking this desire in my students.
What does the future hold? Well, there still aren't any signs - I've looked. What I know for sure is that I will keep learning - not only about technology but about teaching, learning, and more. I'd like to learn sign language, maybe Spanish, maybe someday pursue a PhD...who knows?