Goal Reflection
REFLECTING ON WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW
My intent for pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) at Michigan State University (MSU) stemmed from my interest in breaking into the field of instructional design. In particular, I was very interested in figuring out what everyone else knew about technology and how they were utilizing it to enhance teaching and learning. My time at MSU also coincided with my transition from being a classroom instructor to working as a program administrator. At the time, I identified my primary goal as making education more accessible for adult learners. I also identified my desire to influence decision-making at the state-level for guiding technology integration and promising practices.
This journey started in mid-2016, and, now almost two and a half years later, I am reflecting on my experiences and pondering my future. There are certain things that I know and believe, and there are also certain things that I do not know or that continue to remain in the grey. I know that I feel lucky to have gotten the opportunity to apply my learning from MSU into practice in my program management role at work and in my own professional development outside of work. I feel certain that I am committed to the idea that learning can be enhanced by technology. I also feel that the use and integration of technology can make education more accessible for non-traditional students and those that are motivated to self-direct their learning.
What I Know (or Think I Do)
After evaluating this parallel growth experience, I know I am committed to the following principles going forward:
Lifelong Learning
As an adult education instructor, and as an adult learner myself, I feel extremely committed to the adult education field. I am even more committed to the idea of lifelong learning and to the belief that learning can happen in any environment and is without limits if the motivation to learn is there.
Ethical Leadership
My prioritization of ethical leadership is a goal that has evolved after I took two courses: CEP815 (Technology and Leadership) and CEP822 (Approaches to Educational Research). I am committing myself to leading fairly and applying ethical reasoning.
Professional Shares
I feel committed to serving as a resource for my professional learning networks (PLN) including my local learning communities as well as those that I develop online.
Responsible Innovation
I must be responsible when pursuing innovative ideas. I feel obligated to explore the most exciting and most inspirational practices, but I must hold myself accountable to the unforseen effects, positive or negative, of the pace of innovation and ensuing ingenious practice.
What I Still Don’t Know (In the Grey)
I think that there is a varying spectrum of educators and how they understand and integrate technology to impact learning and instruction. I do not know where most educators stand on this spectrum. I still wonder whether great teachers need technology, and I often question the decision-making behind mandates and policy design at the state and national level.
References
2018 Adult Education Conference. (2018, June 08). Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://riaepdc.org/home/2018-adult-education-conference/
Lieberman, M. (2018, May 16). How to Break Into Instructional Design. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/05/16/tips-and-resources-instructional-designers-entering-field
My intent for pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) at Michigan State University (MSU) stemmed from my interest in breaking into the field of instructional design. In particular, I was very interested in figuring out what everyone else knew about technology and how they were utilizing it to enhance teaching and learning. My time at MSU also coincided with my transition from being a classroom instructor to working as a program administrator. At the time, I identified my primary goal as making education more accessible for adult learners. I also identified my desire to influence decision-making at the state-level for guiding technology integration and promising practices.
This journey started in mid-2016, and, now almost two and a half years later, I am reflecting on my experiences and pondering my future. There are certain things that I know and believe, and there are also certain things that I do not know or that continue to remain in the grey. I know that I feel lucky to have gotten the opportunity to apply my learning from MSU into practice in my program management role at work and in my own professional development outside of work. I feel certain that I am committed to the idea that learning can be enhanced by technology. I also feel that the use and integration of technology can make education more accessible for non-traditional students and those that are motivated to self-direct their learning.
What I Know (or Think I Do)
After evaluating this parallel growth experience, I know I am committed to the following principles going forward:
Lifelong Learning
As an adult education instructor, and as an adult learner myself, I feel extremely committed to the adult education field. I am even more committed to the idea of lifelong learning and to the belief that learning can happen in any environment and is without limits if the motivation to learn is there.
Ethical Leadership
My prioritization of ethical leadership is a goal that has evolved after I took two courses: CEP815 (Technology and Leadership) and CEP822 (Approaches to Educational Research). I am committing myself to leading fairly and applying ethical reasoning.
Professional Shares
I feel committed to serving as a resource for my professional learning networks (PLN) including my local learning communities as well as those that I develop online.
Responsible Innovation
I must be responsible when pursuing innovative ideas. I feel obligated to explore the most exciting and most inspirational practices, but I must hold myself accountable to the unforseen effects, positive or negative, of the pace of innovation and ensuing ingenious practice.
What I Still Don’t Know (In the Grey)
I think that there is a varying spectrum of educators and how they understand and integrate technology to impact learning and instruction. I do not know where most educators stand on this spectrum. I still wonder whether great teachers need technology, and I often question the decision-making behind mandates and policy design at the state and national level.
References
2018 Adult Education Conference. (2018, June 08). Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://riaepdc.org/home/2018-adult-education-conference/
Lieberman, M. (2018, May 16). How to Break Into Instructional Design. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/05/16/tips-and-resources-instructional-designers-entering-field