Ready...Set...Goal!
In the Beginning…
It was summer 2006, and I was assigned my student teaching internship in a Detroit Public School. It was a newly built school, with two of each grade and full of experienced teachers. My cooperating teacher was always looking for ways to advance her skills in the classroom. I recall her missing work for three days to attend a math professional development. Upon completion, she would receive a document camera. I remember being so excited to use this new technology in the classroom because I despised chalk boards. The document camera was very helpful during all subjects. With math I could show the students step by step what I was doing by writing on the actual paper and displaying it on the wall. With English I could call students up to display their answers and the whole class would be able to see it. It was at that moment that I understood how effective technology was in the classroom.
Fast Forward…
After finishing my internship, I applied to work for Ann Arbor Public Schools and I got the job! One of the main reasons I wanted to work in Ann Arbor was because I heard the district was full of resources specifically technology. The school I was assigned had a computer lab as well as a laptop cart that was accessible to teachers to sign out. After roughly four years, classrooms would become equipped with chrome books as well ipads. Each teacher was also give their own MAC book pro to use both in and out of the classroom. A program called Project Lead The Way also known as PLTW was implemented and focused on coding and design. I was so intrigued to see these 6-year old’s learning to code and after years of trying to decide what to further my education in, I decided I wanted to focus on technology.
Go For It!
I applied for the MAET or the Master of Arts in Educational Technology on 2016. My original goals listed on my application were to obtain a better understanding of how technology could be used in the classroom as well as being able to educate my colleagues on how to use technology in the classroom. My goals remain the same. This program has allowed me to understand that not only do educators want to utilize technology, but many of them don’t know how. While many educators are willing to learn and adapt to the way things are changing in schools, many are not. My goal is to be able to not only train teachers on how to use technology, but also to provide great reasons and examples of why technology should be used in the classroom. My goals also remain the same because having access to technology, does not mean that you are using it to the best of your ability. I know how hard it is for some teachers to ask for help. I’ve been in that position. I’ve had an interest in learning how to use a specific app or wanting to incorporate something in my classroom but didn’t know who to go to. I now have the goal of educating parents on the importance of technology in the classroom.