My Mountain is Waiting
"You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!"
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Graduation from the Masters of Arts in Educational Technology program is truly a milestone in my career. This graduation marks the end of many things – late nights reading and writing, the stress of finding a balance between classroom teaching and graduate school work, those moments of panic as I attempt to work out a bug in my project before the due date. Yet, with my graduation from the MAET program, I have also realized that this moment is the end of one journey, and the start of another. An elementary school teacher at heart, I feel the wise words of the great Dr. Seuss best summarize my current situation – “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way!” And this leaves me wondering and reflecting – Just what will I find on this mountain that lays before me? What is my future as a learner?
A Learning Revolution
As I close this chapter of formal learning, I know that I must continue learning and growing informally. Thanks to technology, learning has become a part of my daily life and routines. Tuning into my Twitter feed to check out what other teachers are up to, reading the blogs I monitor through my RSS feed, downloading podcasts, browsing Pinterest boards for ideas for my next unit, searching for new ideas on MACUL, Classroom 2.0, and Edutopia – I gain information from these resources on a daily basis, the way my parents turned to the newspaper each morning as I was growing up. These resources have become eternally evolving textbooks from which I glean knowledge. We are in the midst of a learning revolution, and I intend to take full advantage of it. The Internet has put information at my fingertips 24 hours a day. My professional learning will continue beyond this program because it no longer takes place just within the context of a classroom, workshop, or conference.
Learning as a Leader
That’s not to say that classes, workshops, and professional conferences do not hold a place in my future learning. In November 2011, I attended and presented at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC) in Atlanta, Georgia. I never could have anticipated the passion and excitement that I found at this conference. Being surrounded by thousands of educators who share the mission of improving student learning through the use of technology was an incredible experience. The GaETC helped me realize that attending conferences to stay up-to-date on current educational practices will surely be a part of my future learning.
I also gained a great deal from presenting at this conference. By presenting on the use of VoiceThread in the classroom, I learned how to articulate my thoughts and vision and share knowledge in a way that makes sense to other educators. Presenting to an authentic audience who was eager to learn and ask questions was a challenge that brought learning and growth in my leadership skills. Sharing my knowledge of educational technology with other educators is a learning experience that I fully intend to continue in the future.
The Future of Technology
During this program, I have learned many new technologies, such as podcasting, photo editing, blogging, and creating wikis. But who knows what the future holds? I must be prepared to grow and change with technologies as they evolve over time. Through the MAET program, I have discovered that I am a hands-on learner. Diving right in and exploring a new technology is the best way for me to learn the capabilities of the program. Gaining this understanding of how I learn has helped me plan my next steps. I am now familiar with free and easily accessible resources that can support my learning, such as online tutorials, screencasts, and built-in help features. I know how to utilize these resources to learn independently. Being that I strive to become a leader within my field who supports other teachers as they integrate technology into their classrooms, I must be on the cutting-edge. My continual learning of the latest technologies will allow me to achieve this goal.
The 21st Century Learner
Perhaps most importantly, my experiences learning online have shaped my understanding of the future of learning. I truly believe that online learning is where education is headed in the future. The doors that online learning opens for students are incredible. No longer will students be limited to studying only what teachers within their classroom, school, or even town can share with them. The Internet makes learning a global experience in which students connect with people around the world to learn what was at one point unimaginable.
Yet, my experiences learning online have also helped me understand that online learners must possess a new skill set. Online learners must be motivated students who see the value in what they are learning. They must have communication skills to share their ideas through speaking, writing, and the use of multi-media. They must critically evaluate the validity of information as well as any bias that may be present. Online learners need to understand issues such as copyright and digital citizenship. Furthermore, online learning experiences require different skills on behalf of the teacher. Teachers must be prepared to equip students with the skills needed for successful learning. They must be able to design valuable learning experiences that integrate technology and project-based learning. Teachers must be prepared with classroom management skills for the online or blended classroom.
As I have become aware of the many ways the integration of technology in education effects learning and teaching, I am also aware that my own learning must also continue in these areas. I am not simply learning about what’s next in hardware and software to support learning. A true leader in educational technology continues to learn about the best strategies and methodologies for teaching 21st century learners. As I graduate the MAET program, I will use my Professional Learning Network to help me learn in these areas. In doing so, I will progress, step-by-step, up the vast mountain of learning that lays before me.
A Learning Revolution
As I close this chapter of formal learning, I know that I must continue learning and growing informally. Thanks to technology, learning has become a part of my daily life and routines. Tuning into my Twitter feed to check out what other teachers are up to, reading the blogs I monitor through my RSS feed, downloading podcasts, browsing Pinterest boards for ideas for my next unit, searching for new ideas on MACUL, Classroom 2.0, and Edutopia – I gain information from these resources on a daily basis, the way my parents turned to the newspaper each morning as I was growing up. These resources have become eternally evolving textbooks from which I glean knowledge. We are in the midst of a learning revolution, and I intend to take full advantage of it. The Internet has put information at my fingertips 24 hours a day. My professional learning will continue beyond this program because it no longer takes place just within the context of a classroom, workshop, or conference.
Learning as a Leader
That’s not to say that classes, workshops, and professional conferences do not hold a place in my future learning. In November 2011, I attended and presented at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC) in Atlanta, Georgia. I never could have anticipated the passion and excitement that I found at this conference. Being surrounded by thousands of educators who share the mission of improving student learning through the use of technology was an incredible experience. The GaETC helped me realize that attending conferences to stay up-to-date on current educational practices will surely be a part of my future learning.
I also gained a great deal from presenting at this conference. By presenting on the use of VoiceThread in the classroom, I learned how to articulate my thoughts and vision and share knowledge in a way that makes sense to other educators. Presenting to an authentic audience who was eager to learn and ask questions was a challenge that brought learning and growth in my leadership skills. Sharing my knowledge of educational technology with other educators is a learning experience that I fully intend to continue in the future.
The Future of Technology
During this program, I have learned many new technologies, such as podcasting, photo editing, blogging, and creating wikis. But who knows what the future holds? I must be prepared to grow and change with technologies as they evolve over time. Through the MAET program, I have discovered that I am a hands-on learner. Diving right in and exploring a new technology is the best way for me to learn the capabilities of the program. Gaining this understanding of how I learn has helped me plan my next steps. I am now familiar with free and easily accessible resources that can support my learning, such as online tutorials, screencasts, and built-in help features. I know how to utilize these resources to learn independently. Being that I strive to become a leader within my field who supports other teachers as they integrate technology into their classrooms, I must be on the cutting-edge. My continual learning of the latest technologies will allow me to achieve this goal.
The 21st Century Learner
Perhaps most importantly, my experiences learning online have shaped my understanding of the future of learning. I truly believe that online learning is where education is headed in the future. The doors that online learning opens for students are incredible. No longer will students be limited to studying only what teachers within their classroom, school, or even town can share with them. The Internet makes learning a global experience in which students connect with people around the world to learn what was at one point unimaginable.
Yet, my experiences learning online have also helped me understand that online learners must possess a new skill set. Online learners must be motivated students who see the value in what they are learning. They must have communication skills to share their ideas through speaking, writing, and the use of multi-media. They must critically evaluate the validity of information as well as any bias that may be present. Online learners need to understand issues such as copyright and digital citizenship. Furthermore, online learning experiences require different skills on behalf of the teacher. Teachers must be prepared to equip students with the skills needed for successful learning. They must be able to design valuable learning experiences that integrate technology and project-based learning. Teachers must be prepared with classroom management skills for the online or blended classroom.
As I have become aware of the many ways the integration of technology in education effects learning and teaching, I am also aware that my own learning must also continue in these areas. I am not simply learning about what’s next in hardware and software to support learning. A true leader in educational technology continues to learn about the best strategies and methodologies for teaching 21st century learners. As I graduate the MAET program, I will use my Professional Learning Network to help me learn in these areas. In doing so, I will progress, step-by-step, up the vast mountain of learning that lays before me.
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