An essay looking back over studies and work to reflect on the educational goals I had upon entering the MAET program and how those goals may have changed over time.
As I embark upon my advanced degree completion, I feel very close to embodying what has always been my ultimate goal: to become not only a teacher in subject area, but also a specialist, supporter, and advocate of literacy, communication and multimedia expression. This stems from my strong belief in the importance of education, especially global education and awareness. I feel as the nation becomes more internationally dependent, collaboration is increasingly essential to future success and survival. And as such, many have been finding new ways to collaborate using technology. This is why and where my interest in technology really began.
Expertise in journalism and English, I believe, continues to have significant importance currently in the United States. It forms knowledge of human relations, ultimately developing skills to communicate and express ideas on multiple levels and in multiple formats. In my opinion such knowledge leads to overall understanding of human communication, one that overlaps, extends, and is very important to all fields of endeavor. My aforementioned goal has always been developed with this in mind.
When I began my educational journey, I had only predicted the importance of this blended expertise as described. Today, I can't help but feel that my prediction has now evolved to imminency, especially considering the state of the nation's politics and economy. I could never have predicted how media knowledge and effective communication has truly become so vital. Now, more than ever, I stay firm in these beliefs.
I still also believe that the best students and the most successful people are lifelong learners. Personally, I have always believed in the importance of role modeling this and when I started my journey I was simply looking forward to continuing my own studies. Currently, I feel as if I have truly mastered the model of continuous learning in the realm of technology.
I feel that what I have learned in my Master of Arts in Educational Technology program (MAET) is how to process learning with technology (literally it is a process) and I feel I would like to pass this notion of flexibility and lifelong learning to my students. I think that this curiosity coupled with a passion for young people and lifelong learning has served and will continue to serve me well.
There are many things that make a teacher “outstanding.” In today’s world, both teachers and their students are faced with many pressures whether they are personal, academic, or otherwise. In my experience I have found that the best teachers are those who not only are knowledgeable about their subjects, but who are also knowledgeable about the world around them. At the end of the day, people are just people and everyone is unique in their situations, needs, learning styles, and dreams. A good teacher is one who can create an environment where each student feels that they have not only been accommodated for, but also feels that he/she has made integral contribution to the class. In addition, an outstanding teacher is very often an outstanding person. He/she usually is one that not only expects energy, motivation, and success in the classroom, but one that is a living model of everything that he/she may teach. So, beyond expertise in subject area, this embodiment is my continued goal for the future.
Expertise in journalism and English, I believe, continues to have significant importance currently in the United States. It forms knowledge of human relations, ultimately developing skills to communicate and express ideas on multiple levels and in multiple formats. In my opinion such knowledge leads to overall understanding of human communication, one that overlaps, extends, and is very important to all fields of endeavor. My aforementioned goal has always been developed with this in mind.
When I began my educational journey, I had only predicted the importance of this blended expertise as described. Today, I can't help but feel that my prediction has now evolved to imminency, especially considering the state of the nation's politics and economy. I could never have predicted how media knowledge and effective communication has truly become so vital. Now, more than ever, I stay firm in these beliefs.
I still also believe that the best students and the most successful people are lifelong learners. Personally, I have always believed in the importance of role modeling this and when I started my journey I was simply looking forward to continuing my own studies. Currently, I feel as if I have truly mastered the model of continuous learning in the realm of technology.
I feel that what I have learned in my Master of Arts in Educational Technology program (MAET) is how to process learning with technology (literally it is a process) and I feel I would like to pass this notion of flexibility and lifelong learning to my students. I think that this curiosity coupled with a passion for young people and lifelong learning has served and will continue to serve me well.
There are many things that make a teacher “outstanding.” In today’s world, both teachers and their students are faced with many pressures whether they are personal, academic, or otherwise. In my experience I have found that the best teachers are those who not only are knowledgeable about their subjects, but who are also knowledgeable about the world around them. At the end of the day, people are just people and everyone is unique in their situations, needs, learning styles, and dreams. A good teacher is one who can create an environment where each student feels that they have not only been accommodated for, but also feels that he/she has made integral contribution to the class. In addition, an outstanding teacher is very often an outstanding person. He/she usually is one that not only expects energy, motivation, and success in the classroom, but one that is a living model of everything that he/she may teach. So, beyond expertise in subject area, this embodiment is my continued goal for the future.