When I embarked on this journey toward completing a Education Specialist’s degree in Instructional Technology, I really had no idea what was in store for me. Previous graduate school experiences included tests and papers and presentations, but nothing prepared me for the rigorous challenges I have successfully completed. I feel that I have completed a learning triathlon. The first quarter in 2013 was just an introduction, and every semester since has been completing a leg in the real race.
Every time I started a task in Technology Leadership and Vision this semester, I was struck by the strength of connection between these tasks and earlier semesters. Learning what good technology facilitated design looked like, and how to develop lessons that engage and challenge students gave me skills to apply in my classroom. It also prepared me for developing and delivering professional learning, and discovering how to coach colleagues to help bring about profound change in the classroom. This semester’s focus on vision and leadership wrapped up all those earlier experiences into a complete package. Each course related to the others. I used what I learned about reviewing student data to support my development of action plans and grant applications. What I learned about research and analysis I applied to data analysis, and created surveys for several different activities that had nothing to do with education. In studying my school’s improvement plan in three different courses, I learned a great deal about the creation of these plans, and I learned to be sensitive both to what was missing and what was included.
This last semester has prepared me to step up as a technology leader and facilitator. I truly believe I have developed the skills, dispositions, and knowledge to help my school become innovative as well as successful. I am already making practical use of my coursework as I move into a technology planning role at work and focus on seeking additional funding through grant writing. I am thankful that I accepted this challenge and stayed fast. As I have learned new tools for finding information I developed a personal learning network, which includes social media in addition to old-fashioned print, and expands with every conference or meeting I attend. I look forward to leading presentations at future conferences. This program has pushed me to grow, and strengthened my focus on being an effective change agent for educational technology.
Every time I started a task in Technology Leadership and Vision this semester, I was struck by the strength of connection between these tasks and earlier semesters. Learning what good technology facilitated design looked like, and how to develop lessons that engage and challenge students gave me skills to apply in my classroom. It also prepared me for developing and delivering professional learning, and discovering how to coach colleagues to help bring about profound change in the classroom. This semester’s focus on vision and leadership wrapped up all those earlier experiences into a complete package. Each course related to the others. I used what I learned about reviewing student data to support my development of action plans and grant applications. What I learned about research and analysis I applied to data analysis, and created surveys for several different activities that had nothing to do with education. In studying my school’s improvement plan in three different courses, I learned a great deal about the creation of these plans, and I learned to be sensitive both to what was missing and what was included.
This last semester has prepared me to step up as a technology leader and facilitator. I truly believe I have developed the skills, dispositions, and knowledge to help my school become innovative as well as successful. I am already making practical use of my coursework as I move into a technology planning role at work and focus on seeking additional funding through grant writing. I am thankful that I accepted this challenge and stayed fast. As I have learned new tools for finding information I developed a personal learning network, which includes social media in addition to old-fashioned print, and expands with every conference or meeting I attend. I look forward to leading presentations at future conferences. This program has pushed me to grow, and strengthened my focus on being an effective change agent for educational technology.