FROM FORMAL TO INFORMAL

During my time in Michigan State University’s Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program, people have commented on the amount of effort it must require to take graduate classes while working full time.  While they are correct that it has taken some sacrifice in order to maximize this valuable learning opportunity, it can be more challenging to informally manage one’s own education rather than participate in formal classes.  As I exit the MAET program, I face not only this task, but also the need to balance my skill development within my current position as a business analyst with the desire to continue to acquire expertise for a more traditional education role.  As attaining the latter is one of my objectives, I have written this essay with that purpose in mind.  From the MAET program, I have learned approaches to education and learning theories which have helped guide the formation of the three areas of future study on which I would like to focus: the arts and other nontraditional educational resources, authentic engagement with students, and the TPACK (Technological Pedgagogical Content Knowledge) components of technology, pedagogy, and content.

From childhood through my undergraduate years, I always participated in at least one art, dance, or music class.  I valued the experiences and felt they taught me life lessons, but I did not truly understand the benefit of studying them from an educator’s perspective until the MAET program.  Now that I more fully understand how to leverage the arts to help students connect emotionally as well as intellectually to history and the social sciences, I want to continue practicing those pedagogical skills in order to be the best instructor possible for my future students.  Specific resources that I would like to explore include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the University Musical Society, and the Michigan Historical Museum.  In order to process how to best utilize and continue to benefit from my experiences, I also need to be intentional about synthesizing my learning in a blog or journal.

While I have known the benefit of meeting learners where they are at for years, assignments within the MAET program as well as experiences within my role as a business analyst have reminded me of the vital importance of engaging with students.  Teaching, in many respects, is leading, and in order to lead others well, it is important to understand who they are, what they know, what they value, what they fear, and what motivates them.  This requires interacting with learners beyond the dictation of assignments, learning to ask good questions, and listening.  The best way to acquire these skills is by practicing them, so I want to seek out volunteer opportunities with youth and other learners.  One small occasion to grow in this way that I have committed to is judging at the district competition for the Michigan History Day program, but I know I need to seek other chances as well.

Finally, my time in the MAET program has reminded me how quickly technology changes and pedagogical best practices evolve, just from comparing lessons learned to those I was taught during my undergraduate education.  The social studies disciplines change a bit more slowly, given the nature of the discipline, but new understandings come to light over the years.  To borrow the sentiment from my friend once again, if I do not continue to move forward in gaining new knowledge, I will be moving backwards.  This is particularly true for me because I am not currently in a traditional teaching role; I need to ensure that I am growing in these areas in order to be the most effective instructor in the future.  This ongoing process will require many resources, but a few that I want to be intentional about exploring include the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) conferences (to further growth in technology) and the book Destiny Disrupted by Tamim Ansary (to expand content area knowledge).  I would also love to attend the PBL World conference to learn more about project-based learning strategies, although the cost is prohibitive at this time.  As I utilize these and other resources, I need to consider how I might apply and integrate them with one another in order to find the appropriate combination to best achieve various learning objectives.

Educators use the term “lifelong learner” as the ultimate objective for themselves and their students.  While it is a worthy goal, the reality is that being intentional about gaining knowledge and skills needed to keep moving forward is hard.  It requires consistently choosing to seek out resources, critically analyze everyday experiences, and listen instead of speak one’s own opinion.  It would be easier for me to enroll in another graduate program, but pursuing the resources and opportunities identified above will provide me with a diverse range of experiences and acquisition of knowledge that will help me move forward as a teacher, as well as serve as an exercise in developing habits which will benefit me in my journey as an educator.