Education...When Is Enough Enough?
by Angela Clark-Pohlod
July 2013
I began my post-secondary education 22 years ago as a college freshman studying Marine Biology. When I graduated in 1996 with my Bachelors of Science degree I could have been finished with school; however, my passion for learning and sharing my love of learning with others took me in another direction. I headed off to another program to add the credits I needed to earn Teacher Certification in Composite Science in 1997. I began teaching in the Fall of that year. Until recently, continuing education was not just recommended in Michigan, but required to retain certification. I knew several teachers that were entering Masters programs in teaching or administration, but I was looking for something else. I wanted a Masters program that would not only help me grow as an educator, but that also focused on my content area, Science. I found that at Michigan State University’s Division of Science and Mathematic’s Education and earned my Masters of Science Degree in Biological Science in 2003. Done, right? I was, for a while, but as I was drawn to education and teaching through my passion for learning years ago, I was compelled to return again to MSU; this time to a program where I could focus on another of my passions, technology. As I finish this program, the Masters of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) in the Summer of 2013, I am asked to explore my future as a learner.
So, where do I go from here? How do I move forward and what are my goals? I use technology in my classroom, professional and personal life every day! It is tied into my daily lessons and is essential to the way I run my classes, record grades and attendance, communicate with other professionals, learn new skills, listen to music, share information, etc. The list of ways I use and incorporate technology could go on and on. When presenting at the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) conference I introduce myself as a tech gadget geek. I love the “gadgets” in technology. I consider these to be both the devices and applications I use. I love to play around and find new and exciting tools to use and share with others, both in and out of the classroom. I utilize the MACUL Journal as a resource for classroom ideas, as well as a way to continue to learn about new technologies being used in education.
In addition to being a member of MACUL and presenting at their annual conference for the past four years, I have presented at MSU’s Ed Tech conference for the past three years and at the MACUL’s Mobile Learning Conference in May 2012. I plan to continue to present at these conferences and to share with other educators how I am using technology in my classroom and to learn from them, as well. I also joined the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) last year and have been receiving and reading their journal, Learning & Leading with Technology. It is my goal to eventually be able to attend, and ultimately to present at, the annual ISTE conference.
Through the MAET program I began using Twitter more regularly for finding professional resources and making connections with others that share common educational and technological interests. I plan to continue to use Twitter for that purpose in the coming years. In addition to using Twitter, MACUL and ISTE for professional development, I also am a member of Classroom 2.0, the community for educators using Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies. I have not yet been a very active participant with this group, but plan to be more engaged in the coming years. I also spend a great deal of time working with my science colleagues in my district and those that I know around the state to discuss how we can improve and support one another in our teaching.
I am a member of the K-12 technology committee in my school district. Laingsburg Community Schools is entering the second year of a 1-to-1 iPad initiative at our high school, grades 9-12, this year and are adding 8th grade to the program this Fall. Through this program, each student, grades 8-12, will be provided with an iPad for school and personal use. This school year, we will have a mobile cart of iPads for the sixth and seventh grade and two carts of MacBook laptops at the middle school. Our elementary school will also have mobile iPad carts in addition to their building computer labs. Teachers in our district currently have MacBook laptop computers and a new iPad. I intend to continue to be a leader within my district; helping administration, fellow teachers, and students learn to better appreciate the benefits this and other technologies, and their use, bring to the classroom and learning community.
So, when is enough enough? When it comes to teaching and learning and sharing your passion with others, I don’t think there is a limit. In thinking about where to go and what to do next, I have discovered that I do not have a fixed plan. I know that I love what I do and through the MAET program and the learning and discovery I have experienced I have grown personally and professionally. I don’t intend to jump into another degree program right away, but I have begun to consider a Ph.D. program in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology. I am not certain yet whether that is a path I wish to explore at this time, but the door has been opened in my mind. Regardless of the path, I know that my love of learning is lifelong.
So, where do I go from here? How do I move forward and what are my goals? I use technology in my classroom, professional and personal life every day! It is tied into my daily lessons and is essential to the way I run my classes, record grades and attendance, communicate with other professionals, learn new skills, listen to music, share information, etc. The list of ways I use and incorporate technology could go on and on. When presenting at the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) conference I introduce myself as a tech gadget geek. I love the “gadgets” in technology. I consider these to be both the devices and applications I use. I love to play around and find new and exciting tools to use and share with others, both in and out of the classroom. I utilize the MACUL Journal as a resource for classroom ideas, as well as a way to continue to learn about new technologies being used in education.
In addition to being a member of MACUL and presenting at their annual conference for the past four years, I have presented at MSU’s Ed Tech conference for the past three years and at the MACUL’s Mobile Learning Conference in May 2012. I plan to continue to present at these conferences and to share with other educators how I am using technology in my classroom and to learn from them, as well. I also joined the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) last year and have been receiving and reading their journal, Learning & Leading with Technology. It is my goal to eventually be able to attend, and ultimately to present at, the annual ISTE conference.
Through the MAET program I began using Twitter more regularly for finding professional resources and making connections with others that share common educational and technological interests. I plan to continue to use Twitter for that purpose in the coming years. In addition to using Twitter, MACUL and ISTE for professional development, I also am a member of Classroom 2.0, the community for educators using Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies. I have not yet been a very active participant with this group, but plan to be more engaged in the coming years. I also spend a great deal of time working with my science colleagues in my district and those that I know around the state to discuss how we can improve and support one another in our teaching.
I am a member of the K-12 technology committee in my school district. Laingsburg Community Schools is entering the second year of a 1-to-1 iPad initiative at our high school, grades 9-12, this year and are adding 8th grade to the program this Fall. Through this program, each student, grades 8-12, will be provided with an iPad for school and personal use. This school year, we will have a mobile cart of iPads for the sixth and seventh grade and two carts of MacBook laptops at the middle school. Our elementary school will also have mobile iPad carts in addition to their building computer labs. Teachers in our district currently have MacBook laptop computers and a new iPad. I intend to continue to be a leader within my district; helping administration, fellow teachers, and students learn to better appreciate the benefits this and other technologies, and their use, bring to the classroom and learning community.
So, when is enough enough? When it comes to teaching and learning and sharing your passion with others, I don’t think there is a limit. In thinking about where to go and what to do next, I have discovered that I do not have a fixed plan. I know that I love what I do and through the MAET program and the learning and discovery I have experienced I have grown personally and professionally. I don’t intend to jump into another degree program right away, but I have begun to consider a Ph.D. program in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology. I am not certain yet whether that is a path I wish to explore at this time, but the door has been opened in my mind. Regardless of the path, I know that my love of learning is lifelong.