As I look back to the beginning of my journey, I realize the different goals I hoped to achieve. Being a teacher of three years before entering the MAET (Master of Arts in Educational Technology) program, I was feeling more prepared to move forward with my education and take the next steps. Originally, I began the program because I needed to renew my provisional certificate, and the timing seemed appropriate. With these thoughts in mind, working towards my masters seemed to make perfect sense as well. I decided to study educational technology because I wanted to learn new ways to use technology in the classroom and become more proficient with it. In the past, I was able to assist and help other colleagues with technology. I was relatively good with technology and enjoyed incorporating it into my daily teachings. Along with the perfect timing in my personal and professional career, my school was also receiving a new technology bond which would give me access to many new forms of technology to use in the classroom. Besides using technology in the classroom, a long term goal I had in mind would be to look into other teaching scenarios related to technology such as a media specialist or middle school technology teacher. With these goals in mind, I started the MAET program.
Of course, throughout the time span I have been working on this program, my goals have changed. Although I still am interested in finding new and engaging ways to incorporate technology into my classroom, I no longer am hoping to become a media specialist or middle school technology teacher at this time. This decision is based on many reasons relating to the timing not being right at the moment and also discovering that a library science degree is required to become a media specialist. I have settled into my third grade position and have become dedicated to improving my teaching skills for that area. Hopefully one day I will be ready to move into one of those other positions, however, for the time being, I will continue to grow where I am. I believe I can continue to support other teachers with their technology, share what I have learned, and encourage colleagues to use it more in their classrooms. Lastly, a new goal is to help support my students while they gain the knowledge to excel with technology. While the world outside the classroom continues to flourish with technology, it is expected that students know how to use computers, programs, and other technologies proficiently. With that said, this program has prepared me to teach those expectations to students and help students develop the skills they will need in the future.
While the technological world continues to grow, I know I will be able to grow with it. Technology in my classroom is always changing and my techniques and strategies as a teacher are changing as well. My overlapping goal is always to become the best teacher I can be. With the confidence and knowledge I have learned through this program, I know that will be possible. I am excited and eager to see where technology goes next and how I will use it in my classroom.
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