Lindsay Annelin

     Taking the Plunge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think it is somewhat ironic that I began my educational career as a computer lab instructor in September 2003 where I went to elementary school.  After receiving my Bachelor of Arts degree through Hope College in Elementary Education, I knew I wanted to move back to Traverse City, Michigan and pursue a teaching job.  I feel fortunate that I was able to get a job that following September and teach computer lab for kindergarten through sixth grade.  Here in the computer lab is where I realized what an impact technology has on learning at all ages and how it can truly enhance education when used properly.  

 

It was a gray, cloudy day in April of 2012, when I received a phone call from our head administrator who asked me what courses I was signed up for this summer.  I remember feeling a lump in my throat and thinking what courses?  She proceeded to tell me that my teaching certificate was due to expire in June.  I barely remember the rest of the conversation as I was immediately in a state of panic.  I had no idea what to do at this moment, all I knew was that I had to enroll myself in some continuing education classes.  In previous years I had thought about getting my masters, but always dropped the thought because I did not know exactly what I wanted to pursue.  There were two options for me; to enroll in classes that weren't as meaningful just to get the credits I needed, or take the plunge and enroll in a masters program.  After researching online and collecting my thoughts, I spoke to my husband about my current dilemma.  As always, he calmed me down saying we would figure this out and that it made sense to pursue something of interest and that would be meaningful for me personally and professionally.  My 21st century learners were always craving more technology integration in the classroom and the Masters of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program was something that sounded exciting to me.  After speaking to a colleague of mine who had received her masters through MAET, I knew this was something I was ready and willing to undertake.  The very next day, I contacted Michigan State University admissions and filled out my application online.  Within hours, I  enrolled in CEP 810: Teaching for Understanding with Technology, 811: Adapting Innovative Technologies in Education, and 812: Applying Educational Technology to Issues of Practice, which are the courses in the Educational Technology Certificate Program.  To say I was nervous to begin would be an understatement.  Although I was somewhat forced to make a decision quickly regarding my educational career, it was by far the best decision I have ever made.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quote I found that sums up my learning journey through MAET is the following by author, Susane Colsasanti,“You can't get to the place you most want to be without taking a chance.”  If I hadn't taken this chance and incredible opportunity, I would not have the depth of knowledge I now have when it comes to teaching technology and integrating it into my fifth grade classroom.  There have been many courses through MAET that have made an impact on me both personally and professionally.

 

I found CEP 811: Adapting Innovative Technologies in Education to have a profound impact on my overall confidence in using technology.  In this course, I created my very first blog on www.blogger.com from which I shared responses to discussion questions, embedded presentations, and incorporated images and links.  It was a learning experience for me and one which made a difference in my own teaching and communication with parents.  Creating this blog helped me realize what an excellent communication tool this could be to encourage and enhance the home to school connection with students and parents.  I continued using this blog for other courses, such as CEP 820: Teaching Students Online and applied my own knowledge and creativity to it as I became more confident with using this technology resource.  

 

Some key ideas I learned throughout the course were the following:

 

• Identify sources of technology that benefit teaching and learning: Webquest

• How to enhance curriculum with integration of technology: Nonfiction Text Structure PowerPoint

• Create ways to encourage communication and collaboration online: Google Hangout

• Identify a "wicked" problem in education that can help be resolved through use of technology: Podcast

 

A course that really challenged my thinking as a student in this program is CEP 815: Technology and Leadership.The lessons I learned stretched my ideas and encouraged me to think of myself as a technology leader, not only in my classroom, but also in my building.  It helped me better understand how I can foster and enhance relationships between technology, teaching, and learning.  CEP 815 is a course in which I was able to evaluate the benefits of teaching with technology, but also really see the challenges and be prepared for these challenges within my own classroom.  The final assignment I created was one of the most challenging, yet rewarding assignments in the MAET program.  It required me to assemble a variety of resources that I use as a teacher and leader to enhance my own instruction.  This personal manifesto was created to benefit other teachers and leaders of technology.  It is an "organized document of what I do in my classroom in order to foster an environment of learning, collaboration, motivation, and technology integration." It will continue to serve this purpose as a document from which others can refer to enhance their leadership capabilities.

 

Some key concepts I learned throughout this course were the following:

 

• Advantages and disadvantages of using technology 

• Professional development strategies

• Social implications of technology integration

 

 

 

I have developed my long-term goal of teaching online based solely on the course, CEP 820: Teaching Students Online.  This class helped build my confidence in creating an online site for students to learn curriculum.  The initial part of the assignment allowed me to evaulate many different Course Management Systems (CMS) and find one that suited my teaching needs and student learning needs that aligned perfectly with the content being taught.  It enabled me to see the plethora of CMS options and Web 2.0 tools to help with this.  I chose Haiku Learning to create my online learning site.  The site I developed truly helped enhance our body systems curriculum for our fifth grade science unit and is one I will continue to use and modify as I teach the Body Systems Unit.  I learned that the more user friendly the site, the more student engagement and understanding of the content.  This course also helped me realize that student engagement can truly be enhanced with online learning or a blended curriculum (both face to face and online learning).  The greatest lesson I learned throughout this course is that learning can continue outside of the four walls of a classroom.  This course helps foster global connections, which is a significant concept for our 21st century learners.  

 

One of the most rewarding courses I have taken is CEP 807: Proseminar in Educational Technology.  This course has allowed me to pause and reflect on the work I have done throughout the MAET program.  It has also encouraged me to reflect more on not just the assignments I have created, but more importantly, to evaluate my own teaching with technology and apply the new knowledge I have learned.  The online portfolio is a project I am truly proud of and has continued to build my confidence as a learner.  The feedback I have received has helped me evaluate my own work and improve as a learner.  It has been a challenging, yet powerful experience to critique other professional's work.   It is a feeling of accomplishment to have much of my hard work I have completed throughout this program in one place and be able to display this for myself and others.  CEP 807 has served as a source of reflection for me and has helped me realize just how important it is to step back and reflect on one's learning and to grow from these experiences.   

 

"If we teach today's students as we taught 

yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow." -John Dewey

 

Overall, these courses have helped redefine my teaching philosophy.  I have always believed that education is not a stagnant profession; it continues to grow and develop, just as technology advances at a rapid rate.  I now can see how to incorporate technology as a way to enrich my daily instruction in order to enhance student learning and understanding.  Technology integration allows me to differentiate my instruction meeting the needs of all learners.  Students enter my classroom at different levels with various background knowledge and expectations of where technology can take them.  As a leader, I need to help prepare these students and give them the necessary 21st century skills for the future and show them how technology opens doors to more learning opportunities; allows experiences to more global experiences.  Teaching students to be critical thinkers and to collaborate and connect online is what many lessons throughout this program have taught me as an educator.  It is my job as a leader to have the knowledge base that will propel my students into the future of multiple opportunities that await them in the field of technology.

 

By Lindsay Annelin