I never expected that I would be completing the final requirements for my Master of Educational Technology degree during the COVID-19 school closing. Assisting teachers with adjusting to emergency remote learning has reinforced the importance of the experiences, strategies, skills, and digital tools that I have gained throughout my coursework. While none of us were fully prepared to adjust to virtual learning, I had already developed an online home base with helpful resources, established a personal learning network of innovative educators, and had experienced online learning as both a learner and as an instructor. Courses such as Chromebooks in Education, Google Tools for Educators, and Tech Integration have been especially helpful.
I have to admit that the research project and thesis are the reasons why I have waited nearly thirty years to complete a master's degree. Following the conventions of scholarly writing and APA format are outside of my everyday work and practice. Completing my research project and thesis has provided me with valuable resources and strategies for finding and evaluating relevant research related to my work. The results of my research project provided valuable data regarding the use of digital tools in my district.
Completing a master's degree is something that I have always wanted to do since I started my teaching career in the early 1990's. Even though it took much longer than expected, I am glad that I waited until a I found a program that matched my interests and needs. I will look back on this experience with a sense of acommplishment and pride.