My Travels Through Technology
By Sarah Haglund
I was in 5th grade when my family bought our first computer. I have been smitten with technology ever since. I have surrounded myself with friends that love technology, I have been the go-to person at work when colleagues need help, and I have done my best to incorporate technology into my classroom during lessons. I try to have the latest gadgets, and drool over them when I don’t purchase them right away. I love technology. I love showing other people technology.
Back in the Fall of 2008 when I was applying for the Educational Technology program at Michigan State University, I was thrilled to finally be taking steps to become a technology teacher. Lapeer Community Schools, my current district, had just introduced the positions of technology teachers, and I was longing for a position. Yes, I do love using technology in my classroom to expand the learning opportunities of my students. However, I want to reach more students; I want to introduce ideas to other teachers for them to use on a regular basis as well. In my current position, teaching 3rd grade, I do not always have opportunities to use technology to enhance learning in the ways that I know students want and NEED. There are time constraints and various subject areas that produce challenges for teachers to use technology.
In the Master’s program at MSU, I have used many different kinds of technology to support student learning. I have created webquests, websites, and have used programs such as Audacity to showcase different learning that I have acquired from my professors. I video record my students doing their best work, such as Wax Museum presentations on Michigan topics. I have students use programs to record themselves reading, to work on fluency and hear themselves read. I have created a classroom website that families can visit to get a look into the “window” of our classroom, by way of pictures, video, blog and information on concepts being taught. I have put websites that students can use to reinforce concepts learned in class. I have taken a bit longer than I originally wanted to do finish the program at MSU, but the time has finally come.
I am still waiting for a technology teacher position in my district. Finances and state changes have not allowed me to move into my ideal career position as of yet. However, I know that I will reach my goal. I know that I will make it to be a technology teacher. It might not be soon, but it will happen. And until then, I will continue to stay abreast of all of the technology that I can.
Back in the Fall of 2008 when I was applying for the Educational Technology program at Michigan State University, I was thrilled to finally be taking steps to become a technology teacher. Lapeer Community Schools, my current district, had just introduced the positions of technology teachers, and I was longing for a position. Yes, I do love using technology in my classroom to expand the learning opportunities of my students. However, I want to reach more students; I want to introduce ideas to other teachers for them to use on a regular basis as well. In my current position, teaching 3rd grade, I do not always have opportunities to use technology to enhance learning in the ways that I know students want and NEED. There are time constraints and various subject areas that produce challenges for teachers to use technology.
In the Master’s program at MSU, I have used many different kinds of technology to support student learning. I have created webquests, websites, and have used programs such as Audacity to showcase different learning that I have acquired from my professors. I video record my students doing their best work, such as Wax Museum presentations on Michigan topics. I have students use programs to record themselves reading, to work on fluency and hear themselves read. I have created a classroom website that families can visit to get a look into the “window” of our classroom, by way of pictures, video, blog and information on concepts being taught. I have put websites that students can use to reinforce concepts learned in class. I have taken a bit longer than I originally wanted to do finish the program at MSU, but the time has finally come.
I am still waiting for a technology teacher position in my district. Finances and state changes have not allowed me to move into my ideal career position as of yet. However, I know that I will reach my goal. I know that I will make it to be a technology teacher. It might not be soon, but it will happen. And until then, I will continue to stay abreast of all of the technology that I can.
Sarah Haglund's MSU Application Goal Statement | |
File Size: | 29 kb |
File Type: | doc |