The Fork in the Road
by
Brian Perry
In 2007, I made the decision to further my academic inquiry and began my master’s program. However, at the time Michigan State University was not the institute I was considering. I actually began my master’s through a Central Michigan University satellite campus, but realized early on that Michigan State University had much more to offer, which also included a totally online option. Having taught computer applications two years prior to beginning my master’s, I felt a technology concentration was the best avenue for me. The choice to follow that particular concentration has not only provided me with the knowledge to be a better educator, but has also steered me to explore different career paths.
My interest in technology was not always present. Having a social studies major, my focus or want was always to teach some type of history class. Computer applications were something I did as a side bar. However, in a declining economy and job market, beggars cannot be choosers and I was able to find employment at a charter school utilizing my computer science minor. My first year was filled with ups and downs, including trying to find effective classroom management skills. I also searched for ways to use the technology to my advantage, to use it in a way that engaged the students into the lessons. As the years progressed, I was taking more interest in new technologies (like Facebook) that would help teachers engage the students, which in turn could help with the management problems I was encountering. I became a performance education testing coordinator, and did my best to find anything related to technology in education to view or read. I also felt that as a technology teacher, I had the ability to share what I knew with my co-workers, which sparked an interest of teaching adults.
After pondering the decision of whether to leave Central Michigan University for Michigan State University, and looking at the pros and cons, I felt that Michigan State’s program was a better fit for me. The total online program makes it more accessible for those who are working, or have family commitments. The program also allows someone like me, who is interested in educational technology, to have firsthand experience of the path technology is taking in education. As I look back on the courses I have taken at Michigan State University, in some way they have all shaped my learning. They have done so either by giving insight on how to better my instruction, or just by having me self-reflect on what I have done, and what I want to do. I will not say I enjoyed all the classes, but there are a few that really changed who I am as an educator.
Technology
One of the first classes I took at Michigan State University was in the summer of 2009. The course was TE 865 (Teaching Social Studies Online) and was taught by Professor Garrett. The course itself focused on how teachers, in the social studies field could present the material to the students in a way that was exciting and creative. Through readings and different projects, students learned not only how to develop projects for the students, but also to understand what pitfalls the students may have while completing a particular project.
One project that stands out as something engaging and that students may want to do, involved using Google Earth. In the assignment, students had to choose locations out of a specific reading that dealt with a specific topic. So for example, I read an article dealing with employment of women in different countries such as India and China. After reading, on Google Earth, I had to plot each location, add graphics and captions, and directions from one destination to the next. Although at first it was a challenge to get used to the program, the assignment was engaging, interactive, students had to be creative, and at the same time had to do the research to create the captions and related pictures. This project really made me think outside my comfort level, but gave me more ways to engage the students, especially those who are at risk.
I feel that the TE 865 class provided a great foundation in providing how to incorporate technology in social studies. However, the problem I encountered in this particular course was the fact that at the time I was not teaching social studies. I felt, at the time that I would not be able to apply the material in my subject area. The question then is why did I choose to take this course? I chose the course because of the technology aspect. Even though it was social studies based, I will be able to take the technology aspect and apply it to other subjects, or will be able to apply it if and when I am able to procure a social studies position. The course did allow me to reflect on my practices as an educator. As a teacher, I was not integrating technology into the lessons well enough to engage the students.
Another course in the technology concentration that really affected me as a teacher and student was the CEP 820 class (Teaching K-12 Students Online) with Professor Wolf. This particular course allowed graduate students, using a learning management system, to create an online learning environment to present a specific topic. In my particular situation, using Moodle I created an online environment where students could receive lectures, interactive maps, and assessments for World War I. The course stressed how as a teacher, I could provide online information that went further than the text, and once again engaged the students. I found CEP 820 critical for furthering my goals as a teacher, especially at the collegiate level. Many schools today are using Learning Management Systems to instruct students or provided additional resources to the students. After five years of teaching, this class actually made me look at different avenues of the education career field, and made me look at teaching collegiate instead of secondary. The course also opened up the possibility of entering an instructional design field. The main reason I enjoyed this class was because it allowed me to showcase my understanding of technology and allowed me to incorporate what was being learned into my practical lesson plans.
Creativity
The third course that I found to be highly influential in my education was the CEP 818 (Creativity in Learning) course taught by Professor Mishra. The CEP 818 course focused on how to incorporate different methods of teaching the material into fun and creative ways. Again, by taking this particular approach, students not only would be engaged in these projects, but would have fund doing them as well. The second component of this class that was influential was that it still used technology to help bring life to the lessons. During one particular project, graduate students had to take a nursery rhyme and used modeling clay to actually construct characters in the story. At each part of the story, after the characters had been created and moved, a picture was to be taken. Once the story was complete, and all pictures had been snapped, the student created a poster board showing the pictures and progression of the story. Being an online course, there was no way to physically present the poster to the class. So, the poster itself was photographed and uploaded to the Learning Management System. This concept could be incorporated into any subject. It would allow students to investigate stories or terms, and would allow them to literally model what they learned. This is a great lesson on how to teach those students who learn through tactile methods, and also engages the at-risk school population.
Adulthood
Out of all the classes I have taken, the one that did not involve technology, but one that had an impact on me, was EAD 861. EAD 861 (Adult Learning) was taught by Professor Dirkx. The class itself focused on how adults learn differently compared to high school students. In the class, we also discussed how adults bring different experiences from their personal lives into the classroom. These factors are important when trying to figure out how to keep adults in the classes, along with what they are looking for in terms of education. As my fifth year of teaching is coming to an end, I have been toying with the idea of teaching at the college level. As a possible adjunct faculty member, it is imperative that I know where my adult students are coming from, and what things they bring to the table. The class also showed that adults need to know why they are learning the material in order to keep them engaged, and keep them coming back to the class. There were many times in both my undergraduate and graduate programs that I felt the instructors did not tie the material to what was important in my life or career, and I really was not interested in really delving into the material, or truthfully even attending class at all. The class also made me reflect on where I wanted my career to go. I personally believe that leaving the secondary level and entering an institution where students want to learn, is the path or the fork that I need to take.
EAD 801 (Organization and Leadership) with Professor Jennings was another class that prepared me for dealing with adults. In the class, students were exposed to different leadership styles, and allowed students to analyze and determine what their own management style was. This is very important not only working in a business environment, but also when working with groups, which many corporations and schools focus on, learning communities. EAD 801 also showed me how to be a better leader in front of the classroom, and how to incorporate what my students bring with them into my management style. The class however, was based on readings and theories instead of how to incorporate it into the real world. I felt that if the class was based more on practical applications, I would have gained so much more from it.
EAD 801 (Organization and Leadership) with Professor Jennings was another class that prepared me for dealing with adults. In the class, students were exposed to different leadership styles, and allowed students to analyze and determine what their own management style was. This is very important not only working in a business environment, but also when working with groups, which many corporations and schools focus on, learning communities. EAD 801 also showed me how to be a better leader in front of the classroom, and how to incorporate what my students bring with them into my management style. The class however, was based on readings and theories instead of how to incorporate it into the real world. I felt that if the class was based more on practical applications, I would have gained so much more from it.
Reflection
What is ahead for me is a question that I am not even sure about. As I end my master’s program I cannot help but think about where I was prior to starting the program and where I am at now. At first I was hesitant on starting my master’s program. I felt that if I attained my master’s, I would be less likely to gain employment in a public school. However, as I finish up my master’s program, I have a very different outlook on the program. The completion of the classes has shown me how to be a better educator at the school I am at now, and also has shown me how I can engage my students. Instead of looking ahead to what might be, I need to use the knowledge and the lessons given to me by my professors at Michigan State University to make the “now” better. The concentration in technology has given me the opportunity to use existing technology and emerging technology to further engage my students, and to get them to want to come to class every day. Motivating students is one of the hardest aspects of being a teacher, but by using the knowledge given to me, I can help those students achieve, and feel proud to pass on my knowledge to them. The program also allowed me to explore my interests in teaching adults at the adult level. By taking courses in adult learning and also in leadership and organization, I have prepared myself for challenges that may arise at the college level. We know that students all learn differently, but we also know that adults learn differently than children.
Even though the program is coming to an end, my learning will not stop here. A poor teacher is one that uses the same thing year after year, and does not investigate new technologies, or new ways of doing things. Through professional development, and self interest, my learning will continue once graduation has come and gone. I truly believe that the master’s program at Michigan State University has provided guidance and knowledge to travel down the future road.
Even though the program is coming to an end, my learning will not stop here. A poor teacher is one that uses the same thing year after year, and does not investigate new technologies, or new ways of doing things. Through professional development, and self interest, my learning will continue once graduation has come and gone. I truly believe that the master’s program at Michigan State University has provided guidance and knowledge to travel down the future road.
