Less than two years ago, I began the journey along the road of graduate school. Now, in only a week from now, this journey will come to an end. And like all other things that end, it is only natural to take a look back upon the road behind and reflect on all the learning and growing that has taken place throughout the courses. As I look back, one particular quote comes to mind from an unknown author, “Your schooling may be over, but remember that your education still continues.”
The past and final (for now) course that I have just completed holds especially true to that quote. Over the past eight weeks, I spent a great deal of time researching and exploring new and emerging technologies. Wow! There are so many cool things out there to improve the quality of our teaching and engagement of student learning. So many things in fact that it was at first very overwhelming. Thankfully, through this course, I was able to learn some strategies for researching technologies and finding those disruptive technologies that offer a simpler, cheaper, and possibly more effective tool.
I spent the last few weeks of this course putting all of my learned knowledge into play and creating learning activities that use a variety of some of the latest and very efficient technologies, including online learning modules, interactive whiteboards, and iPads. Creating the lessons though was only the beginning. I also took my leadership skills by the horn and created a report that hopefully will inspire my colleagues to integrating similar technologies into their classrooms as well. One of the biggest things I have taken out of this course is that yes filling our schools with the latest technologies can certainly be expensive. In fact, that seems to be the biggest turn off when it comes to educators trying to get new technologies in their classrooms. There is a bright side however. There are not only often times alternatives to expensive technologies, such as disruptive technologies, but there are also so many grants out there just waiting to be accepted and put to great use. I cannot wait to start on a new technology plan with my teaching colleagues and start working toward gaining some of the resources that we all thought impossible to get.
It has been a great and fulfilling journey toward my Master’s degree. Big thanks to all who have aided me in my learning along the way!
Magan
