Good Things Will Come to Those Who Wait
By Sarah Haglund
Five years ago, I walked into my first classroom. Total number of computers = 1…mine, that the students weren’t allowed to use. Total amount of time that students got to use computers during the week = 30 minutes, during library time…if they found a book quickly. The students were not given any instruction on those computers, because the person in charge during those 30 minutes was the librarian, who was also checking out books. Fast forward 5 years to my classroom today. Total number of computers = 6, including mine. My students at least have the opportunity to use them on a daily basis. I have students use them for math and writing. But I know that it is not to the full potential, and I intend to change that. I also know that there are no other types of technologies that my students have the opportunity to use, which also needs to change.
Knowing that I am soon approaching the completion my degree, I can’t help but think about how I am going to stay knowledgeable of new technologies. I have always been able to depend on my professors to show me the latest and greatest. Now I am going to have to seek out my own. My district offers a few opportunities throughout the year, but they have not placed a lot of emphasis on teachers learning new technologies. I just received an email from my local ISD about a 21 Things for the 21st Century Educator class that is going to be occurring over the summer. They also occasionally offer something about Moodle, which I would like to learn more about. However, the big thing coming up is that Lapeer Community Schools will be opening up a virtual learning center to draw in more students. They will be using teachers from our district to staff the center. I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of training that they will offer for this opportunity. And ever since my first year of teaching, I have wanted to be a technology teacher, so it is incredibly appealing to be a teacher at the virtual learning center.
When I was reading the Heuristics that were discussed in a lecture for CEP 807, I found that I use several of the strategies to learn new technologies and programs. I frequently use the Help/Tutorial section of a new program when I can’t figure something out on my own. I also Google help for confusing topics, because webpages are often more reader friendly than the Help section. I also get so excited when I get a new form of technology (hardware or software), and I can’t help but play around with it for hours. And, as much I don’t particularly like doing so (I’m a very independent person/learner), if I am incredibly stuck, I also ask other people how to use a new technology.
MACUL is a resource that I have also learned more about in the past couple of years. I recently became a member and am looking forward to getting T.H.E. Journal, which is the online publication sent out by MACUL that discusses educational technology. MACUL also offers discounted online learning opportunities for its members. Knowing that I will have “spare” time because my Master’s will be done, I will enjoy taking classes to expand my technology repertoire for use in my classroom.
I also question if I would like to expand my knowledge of how computers work and possibly get a degree in computer science. It makes me nervous to think about more schooling, but I also know that computer science degrees are a much more marketable degree than elementary education. While I very much enjoy teaching, I also enjoy working with anything technologically related. I have some thinking to do on this topic.
The Master’s in Educational Technology from Michigan State University has been a huge investment in my future. I feel very capable using technology in the classroom and am always looking for new ways to incorporate technology for my students. I look forward to seeing what the future brings for both education and technology and the different ways they can be mingled together.
Knowing that I am soon approaching the completion my degree, I can’t help but think about how I am going to stay knowledgeable of new technologies. I have always been able to depend on my professors to show me the latest and greatest. Now I am going to have to seek out my own. My district offers a few opportunities throughout the year, but they have not placed a lot of emphasis on teachers learning new technologies. I just received an email from my local ISD about a 21 Things for the 21st Century Educator class that is going to be occurring over the summer. They also occasionally offer something about Moodle, which I would like to learn more about. However, the big thing coming up is that Lapeer Community Schools will be opening up a virtual learning center to draw in more students. They will be using teachers from our district to staff the center. I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of training that they will offer for this opportunity. And ever since my first year of teaching, I have wanted to be a technology teacher, so it is incredibly appealing to be a teacher at the virtual learning center.
When I was reading the Heuristics that were discussed in a lecture for CEP 807, I found that I use several of the strategies to learn new technologies and programs. I frequently use the Help/Tutorial section of a new program when I can’t figure something out on my own. I also Google help for confusing topics, because webpages are often more reader friendly than the Help section. I also get so excited when I get a new form of technology (hardware or software), and I can’t help but play around with it for hours. And, as much I don’t particularly like doing so (I’m a very independent person/learner), if I am incredibly stuck, I also ask other people how to use a new technology.
MACUL is a resource that I have also learned more about in the past couple of years. I recently became a member and am looking forward to getting T.H.E. Journal, which is the online publication sent out by MACUL that discusses educational technology. MACUL also offers discounted online learning opportunities for its members. Knowing that I will have “spare” time because my Master’s will be done, I will enjoy taking classes to expand my technology repertoire for use in my classroom.
I also question if I would like to expand my knowledge of how computers work and possibly get a degree in computer science. It makes me nervous to think about more schooling, but I also know that computer science degrees are a much more marketable degree than elementary education. While I very much enjoy teaching, I also enjoy working with anything technologically related. I have some thinking to do on this topic.
The Master’s in Educational Technology from Michigan State University has been a huge investment in my future. I feel very capable using technology in the classroom and am always looking for new ways to incorporate technology for my students. I look forward to seeing what the future brings for both education and technology and the different ways they can be mingled together.