Learning how to become a teacher during a global pandemic wasn't easy, but technology transformed my student teaching experience and the teacher I would become. The role of technology became essential during the pandemic and connected people then as it does now. As I get more comfortable in the classroom, I see how technology continues transforming the learning environment in countless ways. As I determine my future plans, I plan to stay current with teaching practices and innovations in education and technology, continue to incorporate digital technology activities into my teaching practice, and continue to grow and develop as a technology resource.

Goal #1: Stay Current with Teaching Practices and Innovations in Education and Technology

As an educator, I am committed to growing and expanding my toolbox in education and technology. By regularly attending education and technology conferences, I will continue to build on the foundation of knowledge I have learned throughout my time in the MAET program and my skills as an educator. The purpose of conferences is to connect with other educators and professionals while finding new tools and research to keep my teaching current. The Michigan Council for the Social Studies Conference (MCSS) and the Michigan History Conference are two examples of social studies gatherings that I would like to attend to continue to adapt my teaching practice. For technology, The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) host regular conferences that allow educators to gather and discuss ideas and tools in the world of technology. These conferences will allow me to continue my learning and stay current with the latest in their respective fields to help me network, collaborate, and discover engaging resources to create meaningful learning experiences.

Goal #2: Incorporate Digital Technology Activities

As a social studies teacher, I always look for ways to integrate more technology into my classroom. Since the world of technology is continuing to evolve, the possibilities are endless as a tool. Digital tools help bring meaningful learning experiences into my classroom and engage students in social studies. For example, the variety of resources available helps give students more visual representations of the historical events I teach and gives access to resources such as primary and secondary sources right at their fingertips. Also, there are countless resources gathered by WeAreTeachers that help promote the role of technology in the classroom and aid teachers in using technology in meaningful ways. In the future, I plan to expand my toolbox by creating more digital assessments, incorporating maker tool experiences into my content, and designing digital interactive notebooks.

Goal #3: Continue To Grow and Develop As a Technology Resource

Throughout the MAET program, I've learned much about technology and its crucial role in the classroom since the pandemic. As a teacher, I realized how vital it is to incorporate tech skills into my content area. This observation led to me collaborating with my colleagues and other teachers about the technology I am curious about using in my classroom. The more I share about what I'm doing in the classroom, inspires me to become a technology coach and share my ideas with others. At my current school, I've become a tech support with the new tools and software we are implementing, encouraging me to achieve the goal. I've also earned my Google Educator Certification, Level One and Level Two, which has supported me as I have thought about becoming a tech coach. As I continue to work towards the school, I plan to strengthen my skill set and stay current with other resources for educational technology, such as Canva and Padlet. I will improve my communication and leadership skills as I expand my knowledge of various applications and resources to help me bring fresh ideas into this role to help coach others about the ideas of technology.

As my time in the MAET program at Michigan State University ends, I am excited to take the tools I have learned with me and technology to help tackle future educational challenges. The role of education is continuing to change as we know it, and the future is bright. The tools and resources can change how we look at learning for all students. Technology can help in this transformation and help me prepare my students with the 21st-century skills they need in the workplace. Even though my time in educational technology and teaching is only beginning, I can't wait to see what is next for my future in education and technology.