"Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see." -Arthur Schopenhauer
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I think the quote above highlights the struggle of technology integration specialists in many school districts. Getting others to visualize how enriching and purposeful education can be, instead of just what it is, can feel daunting. It is worth taking aim of this lofty goal for the sake of the happiness and success of 21st century learners.
When I applied to the M.A. Educational Technology(MAET) program at Michigan State University, in September, 2013, I had already completed the M.A. Certificate in Educational Technology. In those three courses, I had deepened my knowledge significantly in the field and couldn’t wait to learn and experience more. My goal was two-fold. Firstly, I wanted to work with free social media tools to explore how these tools could be used to take educational experiences from rote knowledge to deep knowledge. Learners’ use of social media doesn’t have to be superficial. It can be quite complex, reflective, introspective, insightful and analytical. I have an interest in tapping into these already existing social networks to demonstrate to learners that social media can go beyond idle chit chat. Through social media, we can investigate the world, communicate with others in productive ways, educate ourselves and others and express ourselves in ways that connect to others. I would have to say that I have met this goal. However, at the time I wrote that goal statement, I could not have known how far beyond that goal I’d go. Sure, Facebook, Twitter, Weebly sites, wikis and blogs are good technologies to meet this goal, but so are photo editing tools, video production, and digital storytelling, for example. By linking the latter technologies with the social media technologies, learning, collaborating, critical thinking, self-expression and communicating can happen with more meaning and value to the learner, bringing the learning experience from the Substitution level of the SAMR model, up to the Redefinition level. Without social media and web 2.0 tools, we couldn’t have such enriching learning experiences. So, can I check that goal off the “to do” list? No. Never. As society evolves and technology evolves, education must evolve. It will always be my goal to work with emerging technologies in order to keep learning experiences relevant so learners are prepared for their futures.
The second half of my goal, as described in goal statement in application to the MSU MAET program, was that I’d like to bridge the gap between the desire for true technology integration and its actual application in real classrooms. Has this goal been met? Well, not exactly. But, now that I’m reflecting on it, how can this goal ever be met, especially by just me. I can work at a particular school, to change that one school, but that is something outside of the MAET program itself. Fortunately for me, I have a stronghold on how to attain this goal from my MAET program learning experience. And, I do hope I accomplish this goal some day and, I hope that many others in the field of educational technology do as well. I’ve met many thoughtful, creative, capable individuals in this MAET program. If we all strive to attain this goal, in our own schools, maybe the culture at large will see the goal as viable and we can all take aim to provide all learners the 21st century skills they need to be happy and successful in their futures.
When I applied to the M.A. Educational Technology(MAET) program at Michigan State University, in September, 2013, I had already completed the M.A. Certificate in Educational Technology. In those three courses, I had deepened my knowledge significantly in the field and couldn’t wait to learn and experience more. My goal was two-fold. Firstly, I wanted to work with free social media tools to explore how these tools could be used to take educational experiences from rote knowledge to deep knowledge. Learners’ use of social media doesn’t have to be superficial. It can be quite complex, reflective, introspective, insightful and analytical. I have an interest in tapping into these already existing social networks to demonstrate to learners that social media can go beyond idle chit chat. Through social media, we can investigate the world, communicate with others in productive ways, educate ourselves and others and express ourselves in ways that connect to others. I would have to say that I have met this goal. However, at the time I wrote that goal statement, I could not have known how far beyond that goal I’d go. Sure, Facebook, Twitter, Weebly sites, wikis and blogs are good technologies to meet this goal, but so are photo editing tools, video production, and digital storytelling, for example. By linking the latter technologies with the social media technologies, learning, collaborating, critical thinking, self-expression and communicating can happen with more meaning and value to the learner, bringing the learning experience from the Substitution level of the SAMR model, up to the Redefinition level. Without social media and web 2.0 tools, we couldn’t have such enriching learning experiences. So, can I check that goal off the “to do” list? No. Never. As society evolves and technology evolves, education must evolve. It will always be my goal to work with emerging technologies in order to keep learning experiences relevant so learners are prepared for their futures.
The second half of my goal, as described in goal statement in application to the MSU MAET program, was that I’d like to bridge the gap between the desire for true technology integration and its actual application in real classrooms. Has this goal been met? Well, not exactly. But, now that I’m reflecting on it, how can this goal ever be met, especially by just me. I can work at a particular school, to change that one school, but that is something outside of the MAET program itself. Fortunately for me, I have a stronghold on how to attain this goal from my MAET program learning experience. And, I do hope I accomplish this goal some day and, I hope that many others in the field of educational technology do as well. I’ve met many thoughtful, creative, capable individuals in this MAET program. If we all strive to attain this goal, in our own schools, maybe the culture at large will see the goal as viable and we can all take aim to provide all learners the 21st century skills they need to be happy and successful in their futures.
