Goal Reflection: Finding a Path
A couple of years ago, I decided that it was time to pursue a master's degree. There were practical reasons for this- I needed additional credits to obtain the next level of my teaching certification, and it would help me move right on the pay scale (teacher pay is based on two major criteria: number of years worked in the school district and level of education - see image to the right). I also wanted to broaden my skill set and make sure that if I ever wanted to branch away from teaching, I would have a degree to back me up.
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A degree in educational technology seemed to fit the bill. The degree was relevant to my current needs as a teacher, since technology is something I incorporate every single day while working in a school district that is 1:1 with students to laptops. It also would give me the option of taking on a different role and potentially becoming a technology leader within the education world as well.
Example of a teacher's pay scale
My goals in the beginning were admittedly a little lackluster in the dreaming big department. The Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program at Michigan State University, however, turned out to be so much more than I could have imagined. The way it was structured, the variety in methods instruction was delivered, and the surprisingly hands-on projects and activities that were used for assessment were engaging in ways I thought were not possible when getting a fully online-only degree (and they did it with free or very affordable resources). It sparked a desire to develop that same level of rigor, engagement, and collaborative education for my students using the technological tools that are available to me. Going through this program helped me find a path to pursue.
My goal now is to focus on purposeful integration of technology that elevates the learning experience for my students and the teaching experience for myself. The sudden shift to a fully online delivery of instruction during 2020 due to the pandemic, then the transition to hybrid learning in 2021 really put the spotlight on how little training teachers received on developing and delivering quality online instruction. It was a trial by fire, and while it was difficult, teachers managed to scramble through the year. It opened up the eyes of educators across the country, if not the world, to the need for teachers to become excellent educators in the online setting. Earning my master's degree in this field has given me a head start, and I hope to use this introduction to educational technology to continue my path, and perhaps even help others forge a path, of becoming responsible, technology-savvy educators that are able to maximize the tools that are available to create a meaningful experience for students.