My Road Ahead...
By Dina C. Matasovsky
As I complete my Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) degree, a chapter in my life is coming to an end. I will no longer be a graduate student but will be considered, by some, to be an expert in my field. I have had a wonderful learning experience that has encompassed all aspects of the technology that I desired to learn when I started in this program. I have learned how to effectively use these technologies in my own classroom and am able to share this knowledge with my students and peers. However, does my education really come to an end because I am handed a piece of paper?
Even though I will be leaving the MAET program, I am still drawn towards learning about assistive technologies and how our students who struggle can benefit from them. I was given so many resources to explore in my classes that I am looking forward to having some time without due dates to meet in order to really dive into these and learn more about their capabilities. I would like to expand my Literacy Solutions Website and include more resources for teachers to use in their own classrooms. I would also like to continue training teachers on incorporating technology into their lessons more effectively. Presenting at conferences and holding workshops for smaller groups has been very rewarding and has given me a way to put my training into action. My desire is to seek out more opportunities to do this in the future.
One of the reasons I enjoy technology is that it is always being reviewed and expanded upon. There are always new developments and ideas to consider as it applies to education. I feel that I have just begun to scratch the surface in implementing these lessons in my own classroom. I am grateful for tools like my RSS reader which generates the latest news and tips to keep me up to date on what is happening with technology then sends me links to my favorite professional journals. I will continue to attend conferences such as the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) to further my training on individualized learning and effective classroom technology.
I have realized that my learning has had a profound effect on my goals. While my heart will always belong in early childhood, I have felt inspired to share my learning with older students and teachers which means stepping out of my comfort zone. As I worked with older students to fulfill requirements for my MAET classes, I have discovered that I enjoy working with this age more than I imagined. While they may be growing up accustomed to these high tech devices, they do not always see the full potential items such as their smart phones hold. Devices like these can be used for more than texting, gaming and checking football scores. These are valuable lessons I have learned on my path through educational technology and I want to impart to others. In my small circle of parochial schools, this is still a radical idea. Some educators view assistive technology as a way of enabling students, rather than truly aiding in their learning. Lack of knowledge has led to a fear of technology. Rather than continuing to live in fear, I would like to assist these teachers and their students on how to use these devices effectively to benefit their learning.
Photo from extraordinarylivingbydrscotty.blogspot.com
My education has prepared me for this challenge and I know I have the skills and talent to do it, but life is also about making choices and following the path that is right for us, at the right time. Is this the right time? Time will surely tell. For now, I know that my immediate future is taking each child by the hand and guiding them down the road of discovery in my kindergarten classroom. I have the opportunity to reach each learner on their level and my education has better equipped me for this task. While people may view me as “just a kindergarten teacher”, I know the importance of the role I play in their lives. I continue to learn from them each day. Learning is not something that stops when a class ends. I will seek opportunities and seize small moments to learn and teach each and every day.
Photo courtesy of Hans at pixabay.com CC0 license