In November 2020, the Information Literacy Specialist at my school was offered a new position and left mid-trimester. I was wrapping up a long-term fourth grade position when my principal approached me and asked if I wanted that job. I was slightly in shock and fully unprepared, but despite not knowing much about the position, I accepted and set out on my educational technology journey. As I finished my first year in the position, I was excited but overwhelmed. I wanted to be the best possible teacher for my students, but I had no background in technology instruction. Deciding that I needed to grow my skills, I applied to and began the Master of Arts in Educational Technology program at Michigan State University in 2022. 

My first goal coming into the program was to understand when and how to incorporate technology in the classroom, as well as being able to share that expertise with classroom teachers in my building and district. I started learning in the overseas cohort in Galway, Ireland in summer 2022. We learned about TPACK in our first week of classes, which is a way that teachers can combine their technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge in ways that is most appropriate for their instruction (Koehler, 2009). This helped me immediately be able to understand when technology is helpful to supplement my other practices and get content to students in the most beneficial way. I have been able to use this framework over the past two years as I continue to work through my degree and teach lessons in my classroom. It is something that has allowed me to reflect on practices and share those ideas with colleagues that are trying to similarly use technology in instruction. 

My second goal for my MAET program was to learn about and practice using new technologies and tools in my classroom, personal, and professional life. Every course I've had in the program has taught me new skills, platforms, programs, hands-on tech, and more that I have been able to learn and apply. Some of these programs are highlighted on my Resources for Teachers page. The most beneficial tools came from a class Programming Concepts for K12 Educators. In this, I learned a lot about Scratch, Python, JavaScript, and Google Apps Scripts. These have all been incredibly helpful programming platforms that I regularly utilize both in and out of the classroom. This is a goal that can never truly be completed, since each new course offers me new tools and technology changes at a rapid pace. (Artificial Intelligence was barely around in my first MAET course, and now it guides the current conversation about educational technology.) I will continue to learn and implement new technologies even after I graduate from MAET, but it has given me so many steps on this path. 

My last goal coming into my master's degree was to network and make connections with other educators who were passionate about educational technology. I was incredibly lucky to be able to go to Galway, Ireland my first two years with MSU and work on my degree in person for 4 weeks. During this time, I met amazing people who shared ideas, resources, and their passion with me. I still keep in touch and collaborate with many of them in our roles. As the only person at my school in my role, I can feel isolated at times, so having this network has made me feel more enthusiastic and supported as I continue in my teaching career. In addition to my new teacher friends, I have been blessed to work with some amazing professors through MSU. They have guided me through so much and continue to be a resource, even when I'm not in their classes. Being a part of the MAET community has also allowed me to network with people in my district that have been a part of this program before. It is amazing to share this bond with so many fabulous educators and know that people share my passion for thoughtfully incorporating technology into their work. 

Overall, I have made excellent progress on all three of my goals, but they are all goals that will follow me through my years to come in education. I will always be striving to know when and how to best utilize technology in my instruction, I will always be discovering and applying new tools and technologies, and I will continue to make connections with passionate educators through MAET even after graduate. I plan to go forward with these three goals in mind as I teach and learn, and I thank MSU for getting me this far. 

As I reflect on what I have done through my work with Michigan State University's MAET program, I begin to think about my future goals as both as educator and a learner. I am proud of where I am in my academic, professional, and personal life, but I am also ready to begin to dream about where I might find myself after another 5 years as an educator. Thinking about my future brings three goals to mind: be critical but open-minded to new technology, share my ideas and speak up for what I believe in, and continue to grow as a learner. 

Goal 1: Be critical but open-minded to new technology

There is always new technology coming out, and while it is often helpful, it cannot be accepted with a blind eye and used to replace things that currently work well. When I started MAET, artificial technology was not at the forefront of any educators mind, and we were all heavily focused on applications like Zoom and hybrid learning. Now, the conversations have shifted to heavily focus on AI, and almost everyone in the US has returned to in-person learning for the foreseeable future. We are going to continue to see new technology and ideas come out to replace the current ones, and I strive to be critical but open-minded. I do not think that we should accept each new fad that comes out and utilize every new gadget without deeply thinking about the affordances and constraints. I want to be able to be objective with new technology and think of it through the lens of all I have learned in the past four years. However, I also do not want to be stuck in my old ways and use a 2020 style of teaching in 2035. I need to be open-minded and understand that technology will change significantly, and I want to be on the fore-front of the changes, excited to try new things and think about teaching and learning in new ways. My first step will always be to try out the technology as it comes out. One resources that will be very helpful with this goal is Common Sense Education, who have resources for both educators and parents that review apps, websites, and more. This goal will be put to the test each year, but MSU has given me the tools to successfully to stick to it through my years in educator. 

Goal 2: Share my ideas and speak up for what I believe in 

I tend to be a more held back person in large settings, choosing to keep to myself and do what I think is right in my own room instead of making waves in my building and district. Through working on my masters degree, I have realized what it means to be a leader and that I need to push myself to speak up more and share my opinions. In my work, I have learned a lot about tempered radicals and the seven transformations of leadership, and these two ideas have changed my perception of myself as a leader. I plan to take these ideas forward and push myself to make outspoken change instead of sticking to my classroom. I am a member of a team of 13 elementary ILSs in my district, and my first step is to start by being more vocal in our time together. I want to share what I am doing and take a more outspoken stance, despite being the youngest and least experienced member of the team. Another step I am taking this year is to share and present at more professional development opportunities at my school, district, and even at a conference if possible. I am planning to present at a PD in my school in August, which starts me down the path. I am proud of the work that I do and the ideas I have, and I'd like to use my work with MAET to gain the confidence to share more vocally with others. 

Goal 3: Continue to grow as a learner

Lastly, I love learning. I always knew that I would get a masters after graduating from Albion College, and I know that this is not where my academic journey ends. I am not yet sure what courses, certifications, or programs I will do next, but I know I want to learn more and be a part of more classes and learning opportunities. One step that I have taken to grow is joining the Computer Science Teachers Association, which gives me networking and learning opportunities in my field. I will continue to attend conferences and workshops, gaining skills and lessons from other educators. My favorite conference I've attended and one I plan to continue to go to is MACUL, which takes place each March for Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning. I want to earn more certifications for educational technology, as well as continuing to grow my research skills and learn about the educational world. A step I can take quickly is to become a Google Certified Educator, something I have thought about in the past but have not completed. We are a Google-based district, so working on this helps me understand the platform and prepare to be a leader in the district, which connects back to my second goal. I know that my academic journey does not end with me graduating from MSU, and I am excited to see where I end up next as a learner. 

I am very proud of who I am and the work that I've done in my first five years teaching and my three years with MAET. I have grown in confidence and ability, and I am ready to go on to be a leader in educational technology in my team, school, district, and hopefully, beyond. I am going to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and lead in a more direct way, not being afraid to share my opinions and ideas publicly, instead of only in my classroom. I want to continue to be a learner, finding academic and professionally opportunities to further grow my skills. At the center of it all, I want to be an open-minded, yet critical user of technology, finding ways to fit it into my work that isn't just technology for the sake of technology. I am excited for what my future holds and to continue to strive towards this goals as I go.