I find myself reminding my children to "look where you are going, not where you have been" on a fairly regular basis. While I typically mean that in a physical sense, to keep them from walking into walls, it's good advice in other ways too. It's essential to look into the future, imagine how you can make an impact, and then decide how to get there. That's where I was two years ago when I chose to pursue a master’s degree. I imagined myself using technology more effectively in my classroom, so I sought a program that would help me do just that. Somehow along the way, the horizon began to widen, and now I find myself with a desire to have an impact beyond just my classroom. I can picture myself sharing all that I’ve learned as a teacher AND a student to help prepare the next generation. To get there, I will have to stay up to date with new technology as they introduce it and venture outside of my comfort zone to share my knowledge. I will also have to learn how to be a leader.
Staying up to date with technology can be overwhelming. There are always new educational websites and apps to explore or new features added to the websites and apps we’re already using. The safety of the teacher’s personal information and that of the students also has to be maintained simultaneously. I plan to keep up with all of this by using the Top Tools 4 Learning website. This site is updated at least annually and is a compilation of digital tools teachers, and schools use. The ranking of the items on the list is created by a survey system that allows actual educators to express each tool’s usefulness. I’ve been using the list for over a year now and have found many useful resources on it. Another method I employ to stay up to date with technology is checking in with the technology staff at my school regularly to see what they’ve come across that has proven to be useful.
Knowing is excellent, but it only becomes beneficial when you share it. My second goal is to learn to share my knowledge with other teachers outside my department effectively. I already openly share everything I find with the teachers I work closely with, but that’s different than formally teaching a classroom full of adult learners. Yet, I feel that it’s essential to branch out further to have a more considerable impact. The first step in achieving this goal is through the technology department’s existing training system at my school. The district requires every teacher to complete at least six hours of technology-related training each school year, taught by other teachers. The courses’ instructors must take a “train the trainer” class before conducting training sessions. When the next opportunity arises to become an instructor, I will grab it. I will gain experience developing adult instruction, but I will also become more adept at interacting with my peers in different contexts.
My third goal is to pursue a degree that will lead to a leadership role in education. Another degree is the goal that initially surprised me. In my 20 years of teaching, I have always been content to focus on my classroom and my students. Now I feel compelled to share my experience, my knowledge, and my passion for teaching to bring about change. Perhaps I’m just ready for something that I was uncomfortable with or ill-prepared for in the past. To reach this goal, I have identified the Leadership and Innovation program at Arizona State University. Education doesn’t just need leaders; it desperately needs innovation. Continuing to teach the same way they’ve done it for decades is not helping our students. A Doctor of Education Degree will allow me to encourage innovation in many more classrooms and affect the change I’m just starting to envision.
The goals I’ve developed seem to be a natural progression to me when I look over them. I set off to learn more about technology, and since technology is forever changing, I have to continue in that direction. It would be selfish to keep all of my knowledge to myself, so I feel compelled to teach others to use technology in their classroom too. And finally, as a seasoned educator, I am more comfortable with my skills and voice, and it is time to share them to bring about a better future.
Staying up to date with technology can be overwhelming. There are always new educational websites and apps to explore or new features added to the websites and apps we’re already using. The safety of the teacher’s personal information and that of the students also has to be maintained simultaneously. I plan to keep up with all of this by using the Top Tools 4 Learning website. This site is updated at least annually and is a compilation of digital tools teachers, and schools use. The ranking of the items on the list is created by a survey system that allows actual educators to express each tool’s usefulness. I’ve been using the list for over a year now and have found many useful resources on it. Another method I employ to stay up to date with technology is checking in with the technology staff at my school regularly to see what they’ve come across that has proven to be useful.
Knowing is excellent, but it only becomes beneficial when you share it. My second goal is to learn to share my knowledge with other teachers outside my department effectively. I already openly share everything I find with the teachers I work closely with, but that’s different than formally teaching a classroom full of adult learners. Yet, I feel that it’s essential to branch out further to have a more considerable impact. The first step in achieving this goal is through the technology department’s existing training system at my school. The district requires every teacher to complete at least six hours of technology-related training each school year, taught by other teachers. The courses’ instructors must take a “train the trainer” class before conducting training sessions. When the next opportunity arises to become an instructor, I will grab it. I will gain experience developing adult instruction, but I will also become more adept at interacting with my peers in different contexts.
My third goal is to pursue a degree that will lead to a leadership role in education. Another degree is the goal that initially surprised me. In my 20 years of teaching, I have always been content to focus on my classroom and my students. Now I feel compelled to share my experience, my knowledge, and my passion for teaching to bring about change. Perhaps I’m just ready for something that I was uncomfortable with or ill-prepared for in the past. To reach this goal, I have identified the Leadership and Innovation program at Arizona State University. Education doesn’t just need leaders; it desperately needs innovation. Continuing to teach the same way they’ve done it for decades is not helping our students. A Doctor of Education Degree will allow me to encourage innovation in many more classrooms and affect the change I’m just starting to envision.
The goals I’ve developed seem to be a natural progression to me when I look over them. I set off to learn more about technology, and since technology is forever changing, I have to continue in that direction. It would be selfish to keep all of my knowledge to myself, so I feel compelled to teach others to use technology in their classroom too. And finally, as a seasoned educator, I am more comfortable with my skills and voice, and it is time to share them to bring about a better future.
All photos on this site are the work of Jill Kalyankar