My
education is not finished just because my Master’s is complete. The human race
is designed to continuously learn and adapt to its environment. I have several
dreams for my future after this program; a lot of them involve more learning
and more class time, and several of them involve personal development and
traveling to new places.
Due to TE 831 Teaching Subject Areas with Technology, I have a new interest in incorporating more technology into my classroom. I have an abundance of resources from class to use. I will practice these and get them ready for classroom use. Of course then I will have to explore the ever growing resources available and continue to adapt my classroom to technology. This year I introduced four classes to Moodle, two classes to Photo Story 3, and one class to Glogster.edu. My plan is to continue using those and add more to my curriculum. I may research university programs and professional development opportunities dedicated to technology in the classroom.
It is because of my online experience in education that I see the benefits of online learning, and of having resources available, but I also see the limitations of online learning. In ED 800 I found the online classroom too distracting; every lesson had link, after link, after link. The idea was to read and synthesize information into a reflection, but what really happened was there were too many links and it was too easy to get distracted. I love the Moodle or the Wiki classroom, but I want the students to take the traditional routes as well. My thought is to combine online aspects with “traditional” aspects of learning literature. I have already started this path. I have Moodle set up for my students. Students can check in on the Moodle to see what is happening, get their assignments or absent work. I have created links to any of our texts that are available for free online. Some students prefer to read a computer screen rather than a physical book. I have also taken some of their “traditional” writing assignments and put them on a forum on Moodle. Students have to answer in “traditional” essay format on an online post this has turned out to be very difficult for them; they have to learn formal and informal writing. I post in the directions “Just because we are online does not mean we write like we are online. We are in AP Literature, write accordingly”. It is kind of humorous. When English III wrote their theme essay about the Scarlet Letter, we turned them into videos with the essay as the narration. There is a place for new technology and there is still an importance for “traditional” learning. We are fighting a war with distractions.
As for my own personal life long learning, I have always wanted to explore my personal writing. In college I used to write stories of all kinds and entertain my house mates with the tales of different characters. I enjoy creating interesting characters that get into messes. The problem comes with trying to get them out. My family always asks me when I’m going to write again. I can see myself setting aside time to write again, in the near future. Maybe there is a novel in the distant future. I also want to be a better writing teacher for my students. Writing is important. Writing is a skill students need, employers and professors are looking at our students to be able to communicate thoughts and information. Even if I am doing a good job teaching my students to read, I feel a compulsion to improve writing instruction. I want to continue learning about writing.
For personal reasons, I want to explore more literature. Now that I am a Literature teacher, I feel I did not read enough literature in school. I want to take literature classes, I want to read on my own and I want to share literature with my students; and not just to the AP students, to all of them. I want to expose students to essay contests. I found several this year that revolved around literature. I want my enthusiasm for reading to influence students to read more.
There are no plans yet to begin another Master’s program, but I am still rolling around in my head the ideas of a Master’s in Literature. Two years ago I would have chosen British Literature or Shakespeare. Now I have many other choices (American Literature, African American Literature, Writing, Teaching Writing…).
Before moving to Missouri I was a member of Dancing Feet School of Gaelic Culture and Dance. This is a non-competive dance school. For several years I learned and performed Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton hard and soft shoe dancing. I miss dancing. I have made contact with an Irish dance school in Kansas City. If she offers adult noncompetitive classes then I will be able to dance again. I have also spoken to my boyfriend about taking ballroom dance classes, first up--the waltz.
I do not consider my education complete. I also do not consider education as entirely in a classroom. Opportunities like dance lessons, traveling, and possibly becoming a parent are all lifelong learning opportunities.
Due to TE 831 Teaching Subject Areas with Technology, I have a new interest in incorporating more technology into my classroom. I have an abundance of resources from class to use. I will practice these and get them ready for classroom use. Of course then I will have to explore the ever growing resources available and continue to adapt my classroom to technology. This year I introduced four classes to Moodle, two classes to Photo Story 3, and one class to Glogster.edu. My plan is to continue using those and add more to my curriculum. I may research university programs and professional development opportunities dedicated to technology in the classroom.
It is because of my online experience in education that I see the benefits of online learning, and of having resources available, but I also see the limitations of online learning. In ED 800 I found the online classroom too distracting; every lesson had link, after link, after link. The idea was to read and synthesize information into a reflection, but what really happened was there were too many links and it was too easy to get distracted. I love the Moodle or the Wiki classroom, but I want the students to take the traditional routes as well. My thought is to combine online aspects with “traditional” aspects of learning literature. I have already started this path. I have Moodle set up for my students. Students can check in on the Moodle to see what is happening, get their assignments or absent work. I have created links to any of our texts that are available for free online. Some students prefer to read a computer screen rather than a physical book. I have also taken some of their “traditional” writing assignments and put them on a forum on Moodle. Students have to answer in “traditional” essay format on an online post this has turned out to be very difficult for them; they have to learn formal and informal writing. I post in the directions “Just because we are online does not mean we write like we are online. We are in AP Literature, write accordingly”. It is kind of humorous. When English III wrote their theme essay about the Scarlet Letter, we turned them into videos with the essay as the narration. There is a place for new technology and there is still an importance for “traditional” learning. We are fighting a war with distractions.
As for my own personal life long learning, I have always wanted to explore my personal writing. In college I used to write stories of all kinds and entertain my house mates with the tales of different characters. I enjoy creating interesting characters that get into messes. The problem comes with trying to get them out. My family always asks me when I’m going to write again. I can see myself setting aside time to write again, in the near future. Maybe there is a novel in the distant future. I also want to be a better writing teacher for my students. Writing is important. Writing is a skill students need, employers and professors are looking at our students to be able to communicate thoughts and information. Even if I am doing a good job teaching my students to read, I feel a compulsion to improve writing instruction. I want to continue learning about writing.
For personal reasons, I want to explore more literature. Now that I am a Literature teacher, I feel I did not read enough literature in school. I want to take literature classes, I want to read on my own and I want to share literature with my students; and not just to the AP students, to all of them. I want to expose students to essay contests. I found several this year that revolved around literature. I want my enthusiasm for reading to influence students to read more.
There are no plans yet to begin another Master’s program, but I am still rolling around in my head the ideas of a Master’s in Literature. Two years ago I would have chosen British Literature or Shakespeare. Now I have many other choices (American Literature, African American Literature, Writing, Teaching Writing…).
Before moving to Missouri I was a member of Dancing Feet School of Gaelic Culture and Dance. This is a non-competive dance school. For several years I learned and performed Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton hard and soft shoe dancing. I miss dancing. I have made contact with an Irish dance school in Kansas City. If she offers adult noncompetitive classes then I will be able to dance again. I have also spoken to my boyfriend about taking ballroom dance classes, first up--the waltz.
I do not consider my education complete. I also do not consider education as entirely in a classroom. Opportunities like dance lessons, traveling, and possibly becoming a parent are all lifelong learning opportunities.