Learning Through Reflection
Looking back at my goals entering into the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program I am proud to say that I am still consistently working towards them and have also found ways to improve upon them. It was going into my 3rd year of teaching that I decided that I wanted to take the next step as an educator and to pursue a master's degree. I knew that Michigan State university, being the #1 college for education would be able to help me grow as an educator and learner.
Reflecting on my goals going into this program, I had three big goals that were not only important to me but really drove my teaching philosophy. One goal was to be a lifelong learner. Education is a fast paced and ever changing profession and making sure that I am continuously working towards perfecting methods and my pedagogy will always be something I take pride in. Ensuring students are coming to school each and every day because they want to be there was also a goal. I want my classroom to be safe, welcoming, and fun. Finally, I want students to have choices in their learning. Students should have the ability to take ownership in their own learning.
To sum it up, my goals going into the program were as followed:
Now that I am nearing the end of the MAED program, I have had some time to revisit these goals. I have found that I have grown in abilities to incorporate technology in ways that have only made my goals and teaching philosophy stronger. As a lifelong learner, I have been able to incorporate technological tools and practices to help in all aspects of teaching. Not only have I found ways to incorporate the very best instruction and material to my students, I have been able to share the technology I have been exposed to with my colleagues. The educational technologies I have added to my teaching tool kit has helped our school in how we collaborate across subjects and grade levels. The program has helped me center my goal of being a lifelong learner.
The program has also helped rethink my goal about students coming to school because they want to. It has helped me find new ways to keep students engaged and having fun through various sites that focus on sharing ideas. I have learned how to set a purpose for the technology I bring into my classroom to foster high student engagement and success.
Adding on the fact that providing students with choices in which direction they want to take their learning has led to an outstanding amount of student motivation.
Most importantly, the MAED program has helped me continue to grow my teaching philosophy and goals for my students and I. I have been able to share my learning with not only students but with my colleagues.
Reflecting on my goals going into this program, I had three big goals that were not only important to me but really drove my teaching philosophy. One goal was to be a lifelong learner. Education is a fast paced and ever changing profession and making sure that I am continuously working towards perfecting methods and my pedagogy will always be something I take pride in. Ensuring students are coming to school each and every day because they want to be there was also a goal. I want my classroom to be safe, welcoming, and fun. Finally, I want students to have choices in their learning. Students should have the ability to take ownership in their own learning.
To sum it up, my goals going into the program were as followed:
- To be a lifelong learner
- To ensure students come to school because they want to
- To allow students choice in their own learning
Now that I am nearing the end of the MAED program, I have had some time to revisit these goals. I have found that I have grown in abilities to incorporate technology in ways that have only made my goals and teaching philosophy stronger. As a lifelong learner, I have been able to incorporate technological tools and practices to help in all aspects of teaching. Not only have I found ways to incorporate the very best instruction and material to my students, I have been able to share the technology I have been exposed to with my colleagues. The educational technologies I have added to my teaching tool kit has helped our school in how we collaborate across subjects and grade levels. The program has helped me center my goal of being a lifelong learner.
The program has also helped rethink my goal about students coming to school because they want to. It has helped me find new ways to keep students engaged and having fun through various sites that focus on sharing ideas. I have learned how to set a purpose for the technology I bring into my classroom to foster high student engagement and success.
Adding on the fact that providing students with choices in which direction they want to take their learning has led to an outstanding amount of student motivation.
Most importantly, the MAED program has helped me continue to grow my teaching philosophy and goals for my students and I. I have been able to share my learning with not only students but with my colleagues.