When You're Done, You've Just Begun!
My Future as a Learner
Learning is constant in the life of a teacher. "When you're done, you've just begun!" is what I always tell my students about their learning. I've been a classroom teacher for 5 years and I've been learning the entire time both consciously and subconsciously. I started my master's degree two years ago and I'm in the final stretch with my last two classes. I've learned so much in this time period about how to use technology for educational purposes, how to increase student potential with the use of technology, how to remain patient when using technology (I'm still working on this one), etc. Now I'm faced with the question: Where does it go from here? What does my future look like now that I'm completing this program? Is this a starting point or a stopping point? One thing is for sure; this is definitely a starting point! My future will be different in many ways and I'm very excited.
My life as a classroom teacher will be different. Since beginning my journey in educational technology, I have started to consider new and meaningful ways that I can use technology in my classroom with my students. I've started to implement technology in different forms into my daily teaching and I'm constantly looking for ways to continue this. I've been recently transferred to a new school and my new classroom will have more technology than what I'm used to so this change in my teaching will become even easier to implement. One thing I have learned as I have worked through my coursework is that you become better and more fluent with different tools only if you continue to use them. I don't know what new things I will be trying in the future, but my work with the MAET program has taught me that I will continue to add to my technology skills even when I'm done formally learning about them.
My career options beyond the classroom are different. When I began teaching, the education world began to change. Politics changed, parents were different and every now and then I would think to myself; maybe I can't do this for 30 years. This is why I chose educational technology. I wanted to expand my options, in case I ever wanted to leave the classroom. I have done just that. My options have changed and they are more diverse. I am aware of what my abilities and choices are if the classroom is ever a place I no longer want to be. I've considered applying to universities with my skill set in technology and I've considered applying for administrative jobs in different districts that deal with technology in education. I've also taken on roles in my school building that deal with technology. For now I am comfortable and happy using my skills to help my students achieve more in the classroom.
My personal life has also changed. I am more of an online digital citizen now as a result of my work in this program. I am and will continue to be more present online in both my personal life and my professional life. I am able to help my family and friends work through their own confusion when using technology. I use my own time to figure out how to do things and use technology tools. I plan to continue these changes long after my work with the MAET program has ended.
My future as a learner is very bright and ongoing. I am not entirely sure where life will take me but I'm certain of a few things. I know that my learning has just begun and that it will continue in, most likely, many different forms. I know that my life as a classroom teacher will change as I implement what I have learned and what I will continue to learn into my teaching so that my students are better prepared for their future. My career options have changed as I have added my skill sets to my resume that will open doors to a number of different professions. Whether I decide to pursue these opportunities remains to be seen but they are now within my reach. Finally, my personal life as a digital citizen has changed and I am able to help other individuals with their digital citizenship while increasing my online presence. Completing my master's degree in educational technology is a starting point to the rest of my life. It truly is just as I always tell my students, "When you're done, you've just begun!"
My life as a classroom teacher will be different. Since beginning my journey in educational technology, I have started to consider new and meaningful ways that I can use technology in my classroom with my students. I've started to implement technology in different forms into my daily teaching and I'm constantly looking for ways to continue this. I've been recently transferred to a new school and my new classroom will have more technology than what I'm used to so this change in my teaching will become even easier to implement. One thing I have learned as I have worked through my coursework is that you become better and more fluent with different tools only if you continue to use them. I don't know what new things I will be trying in the future, but my work with the MAET program has taught me that I will continue to add to my technology skills even when I'm done formally learning about them.
My career options beyond the classroom are different. When I began teaching, the education world began to change. Politics changed, parents were different and every now and then I would think to myself; maybe I can't do this for 30 years. This is why I chose educational technology. I wanted to expand my options, in case I ever wanted to leave the classroom. I have done just that. My options have changed and they are more diverse. I am aware of what my abilities and choices are if the classroom is ever a place I no longer want to be. I've considered applying to universities with my skill set in technology and I've considered applying for administrative jobs in different districts that deal with technology in education. I've also taken on roles in my school building that deal with technology. For now I am comfortable and happy using my skills to help my students achieve more in the classroom.
My personal life has also changed. I am more of an online digital citizen now as a result of my work in this program. I am and will continue to be more present online in both my personal life and my professional life. I am able to help my family and friends work through their own confusion when using technology. I use my own time to figure out how to do things and use technology tools. I plan to continue these changes long after my work with the MAET program has ended.
My future as a learner is very bright and ongoing. I am not entirely sure where life will take me but I'm certain of a few things. I know that my learning has just begun and that it will continue in, most likely, many different forms. I know that my life as a classroom teacher will change as I implement what I have learned and what I will continue to learn into my teaching so that my students are better prepared for their future. My career options have changed as I have added my skill sets to my resume that will open doors to a number of different professions. Whether I decide to pursue these opportunities remains to be seen but they are now within my reach. Finally, my personal life as a digital citizen has changed and I am able to help other individuals with their digital citizenship while increasing my online presence. Completing my master's degree in educational technology is a starting point to the rest of my life. It truly is just as I always tell my students, "When you're done, you've just begun!"