What's Next: Future Ambitions and Learning Goals
What's Next: Future Ambitions and Learning Goals
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The highly dynamic and challenge rich times of the past two years have provided me with a better understanding of where I stand and where I want to go within my chosen field of education. Among the many opportunities I have experienced since the summer of 2019 was completing a graduate degree in education – at easily the most interesting time in my eighteen-year career as an educator. I think about it this way…I had the opportunity to study education online (as well as online education) while many in the world were educating and being educated online for the first time.
This experience illuminated not only my strengths and weaknesses as a professional educator, but new passions and interests and places I am adamant I must grow. The next chapter of my career is unwritten; but I am certain several areas of interest will figure prominently into how the story unfolds. Technology use in the classroom beyond just substitution but to the point of reimagining teaching and learning is something I am passionate about exploring. I also plan on growing and nurturing my online professional learning network (PLN) by continuing to share ideas and discussing topics with colleagues all across the globe. Lastly, I have always tinkered around with lessons and attempted to be innovative, but I believe there is so much more I can be doing, and I plan on doing in this area.
Technology
The SAMR and TPACK models have provided me with the language and clarity I need to integrate technology more effectively into my classroom. Even though I have ample experience with educational technologies, I believe there is so much more for me to explore. This upcoming school year my classes will be using version 2.0 of a digital student portfolio I created during my master’s program. I will also keep looking for ways to implement Web 2.0 tools and working with my students to better understand digital citizenship. Plus, I plan on joining the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) and taking advantage of its resources and networking opportunities.
Networking
EduTwitter is a vast landscape of people, ideas, opinions, and support for teachers beyond the lounge or professional development session. I am still in the early stages of developing my online presence; my following is relatively small, and I have yet to decide on a niche. However, I have already reaped many rewards by interacting with teachers from all over the world. I have engaged with colleagues on topics such as project-based learning, design thinking, assessments, curriculum, as well as books to read. The insights and information I have gleaned from my professional learning network have made me more effective in the classroom. I know I will keep learning new things and growing as an educator through Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. There is much for me to learn and share with some of the brightest minds out there, who are know just a smartphone away.
Innovation
I enjoy trying to re-engineer ideas and lessons in hopes of obtaining better outcomes. However, in the next phase of my career I will begin applying more formal approaches in my research and design efforts. More methodical approaches would better position me to one day publish with places like the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) or the Association of American Physics Teachers (AAPT). But the real impetus for further innovation comes down to several research and design projects I began in graduate school that I am very interested in seeing to fruition. I wrote a participatory research proposal involving the online formative assessment platform WebAssign. I have been using the program for years (I even worked there for a short time) and I am interested in understanding the best ways to use online formative assessments. Something else I have been working on is a new sequence of science courses for my school. Recently I used the Stanford Design Thinking model to create a curriculum map for a Physics First course related to the sequence of Algebra concepts taught at my school. I believe in true design fashion this model will undergo several iterations in the months to come and I am excited to work on and document that project.
Conclusion
I honestly believe the best thing about most plans is that they will change. I am excited about heading off in a new direction, I imagine a lot of people are after the past year. Even if I am not certain of the exact coordinates of my next destination, I am excited about exploring the possibilities. I am confident in my abilities and that by following my interests and passions I will keep moving in the right direction.
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