The Hike Continues
Working on my Master of Arts in Educational Technology has taught me so much as an educator and as a leader in the 21st century. My passion for teaching, my love for learning, and my interest in technology has brought forth future goals that I have set for myself. Going into the program I had an idea of what I wanted to be and how I wanted to grow. As I complete this degree, I am leaving with more drive and goals that continue to push me out of my comfort zone within the constraints of my passion and interest. My goals are centered around being a leader in education and as a leader in technology.
Goal 1: Technology and ELA
As a 5th grade teacher who spends a majority of the day teaching English Language Arts, I am always looking for new ways to get my students excited about reading and how to demonstrate their learning. Technology allows many engaging affordances for students to display their new knowledge. My goal is to integrate technology in my reading and writing instruction to grow student’s understanding as well as showcase their work. One key focus of myself as a teacher is instructing my students on self-regulatory learning practices. My goal to tie reading, writing, and self-regulatory practices together, is through technology platforms. In the future I wish to utilize digital portfolios as a means to showcase and communicate students’ learning. Upon reading an article by Vicki Davis, I began to see the essential steps to getting started on this implementation. Students will be able to document their reading, record their reflections, give other students feedback, and much more. I have also been researching the use of Seesaw as a medium for this undertaking. A member of my professional learning community is currently a Seesaw ambassador which is where most of my research started. In the future I would love to see my students digitally recording their reading goals, publishing their writing process, and developing better online communication with classmates.
Goal 2: Google Educator
Currently at my school, all students have a personal google account. As an educator I already use many of the apps that Google allows. I have seen the flexibility of uses that slides, docs, forms, and others offer students and educators alike. As a future leader in technology, part of what makes a confident leader is the research and work they do behind the scenes to be a resource themselves. A goal of mine is to become a Google Certified Educated (GCS). With the training and skills required to integrate elements of Google into the classroom, lessons will become more engaging and meaningful. I believe there is so much to learn and so much to use through a platform that is already familiar to students and staff. Pushing myself to complete this certification also adds links in my professional learning community. There are several Google educator groups that are just as passionate about the benefits and tools Google offers. There are open forums for troubleshooting, sharing new ideas, and crafting new ideas. With the added communication and support around the world, I hope for a growth in myself as an educator and more importantly a leader in my own school community.
Goal 3: Instructional Technology Coach
My third goal for the future is to establish myself as an Instructional Technology Coach within a school district. Many districts are beginning to create and utilize this role as they unpack the demands of a 21st century learner. My goal is to ensure the role is centered around the TPACK framework. This theory is the core to my Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET). As a future edtech leader, my goal is to grow confident in my ability to explain and instruct on this educational framework. I hope to work with other educators to model and help design lesson plans that integrate best teaching practices as well as a technology piece. Our students today require lots of opportunities for engagement, time for exploration, and real-time feedback. Technology can allow for all those things. As I began to unfold and design what the Instructional Technology Coach does, resources through the TPACK article became my lighthouse. Learning Activity Types (LATs) website is a collaborative resource for teachers and teacher educators to learn and utilize the resources for technology integration. One thing that I really learned about through this Masters program was the essential component of your professional learning community. Technology has exponentially changed the game in communication with other eductors and the sharing of resources. My goal is to take my research and the activities provided through these sites to become a leader in Educational Technology.
Conclusion: Future Learning Goals
As a growing professional, I find it important to keep my future goals at the forefront of my mind. Applying the TPACK framework to my Language Arts instruction is a key focus in my current position. Additionally, I aim to gain a Google Education Certification and become a coach of integrating technology. All three of my goals are linked to my passions and interests and all ultimately benefit my students.