My Continual Evolution: or How I Plan to Spend My Future as a Life-Long Learner May 2011
The internet has created a global culture that will continue to become rich as tools and media technology expand and the world continues to grow smaller. Our teachers and students have to become part of the wider society and contribute on a global scale. Interaction between educators and students across the globe will result in the sharing of resources; creating easily accessible discussions on how to utilize resources. In general, we are becoming a global society and global interactions for both students and educators will be necessary to prepare people to become digital citizens
In addition, the evolution of the internet and media technology is changing both the way in which people learn and what is important to know. It raises important questions such as: Is it important to have a student memorize the capitals of Egypt and its surrounding countries or should we spend that time having the student interact with an Egyptian professional via video-conferencing? I realize that the above example is narrow in scope, but I wanted to emphasize that student learning should be focused on global experiences rather than information absorption. We are preparing our students to be innovators and constructionists; therefore, we should be delivering these experiences to our students. I cannot single out a single experience in the MAET program that refocused my thoughts on educational technology. The entire experience has led me to view technology as a tool to positively affect student learning rather than something than something new and cool. Technology is a part of education, but we must remember that it must only be implemented if it is the most effective way to tackle a problem of practice. In this pursuit, I realize that I am a life-long learner who will adapt to the educational concerns that develop in our ever-evolving global society.
The next step in my life-long education may involve a doctoral program related to educational technology, curriculum, or educational leadership. I plan to pursue these programs via the application process in the fall. Formal education provides structure that helps focus and synthesize thoughts. I find comfort in being a learner in a formal setting and enjoy the knowledge possessed and relayed by professionals within the field. The MAET program addressed the skills necessary to use technology as a tool to address educational concerns. In general, teachers must have the capability to study educational software, establish the problems of practice the software can address, and combine proven pedagogical strategies with the technology to foster student learning. A doctoral program will continue my evolution from amateur educator into a professional educator and researcher.
Formal education is a route that I intend to explore; yet, it is but one route that I will use to continue my education. The internet is saturated with content knowledge that it shared by professionals. The MAET program and other learning experiences have honed my internet search ability and I am able to access and monitor relevant information within existing educational communities. I believe that a learner and educator must continue to review constructed knowledge and participate in the global communities that exist. We must share in learning experiences with our global peers in order to advance our understanding and increase the potential learning opportunities for our students. I will continue to participate in online educational communities and follow the work of leading professionals in the education field via blogs and social networking sites. I will continue to seek local and national professional development opportunities that present new knowledge.
The most effective learning situations occur when the teacher and the student are learning at the same time. I want to take part in an online learning experience in which I am the facilitator of the online course. I have developed a hybrid online course that is coupled with face-to-face learning, but I can only imagine the learning that will occur from the educator’s perspective when teaching an online course. The current course of education sees an online component featuring prominently in the lives of our students. The classroom will no longer be restricted by any distance. I look forward to the opportunity of further experience in online courses.
My evolution as a technology leader in the educational community must continue as well. The knowledge and skill set that I have obtained during the last year-and-a-half will continue to be communicated to other educators and students throughout my lifetime. The missional approach to technology integration must be pushed to the forefront to combat the onslaught of instrumental thinking that occurs. The technology is often presented as the focus, but educators must approach integration with a pedagogical approach. I feel that part of my purpose is to help develop this missional vision with the educational establishments that I currently am a member. I will lead professional developments that help foster a missional viewpoint of technology integration.
I will close by reiterating the vision of my future: I am a life-long learner who will adapt to the educational concerns that develop in our ever-evolving global society. Students will develop different needs and I will evolve my pedagogical practices to reach their needs.