Saturday, June 23, 2012

Professional Learning Plan

I am amazed at how much I have learned in the past six months by through Michigan State University’s Educational Technology courses.   When I started CEP 810 in January, I thought I had a fairly good amount of experience with technology when in reality I had little experience with technology. I guess I didn't realize how much the world of technology has to offer.  I have accomplished so much in the last six months and enjoyed every minute of it.

This past Friday I was offered and accepted a teaching job at Okemos Public Montessori at Central for the 2012-2013 school year.  It will be a Pre-Primer Kindergarten and Kindergarten split class.  It would be difficult for me to incorporate some of my new skills with such young children but that will not stop me from using what I can! In order to increase the use of technology in my classroom, I would like to create a class blog page as a communication tool for parents and coworkers.  I think it would be a great way to share classroom activities, announcements, notes home, questions, comments, pictures, links to videos, websites, worksheets, and more.  I would also like to start making class videos and taking more pictures to post on our blog.  Students could also post some of their class work for others to see.  I find it necessary for today’s students to have as much practice on the computer as possible.  So I would like to look into finding some resources for my kindergarten students.  I can use Google Docs to collaborate with my coworkers.  Each classroom has a web page and now I will be more prepared to make my webpage a really useful tool for my student’s parents.  I think that most of this I will be able to do on my own but I can always turn to my coworkers and fellow MSU classmates for help if I need it.

I would like to increase my skills with Prezi.  I love the program and think that it would be a great tool I could use in my classroom and with school work in the future.  I would like to connect more with TPAK.  It's a great concept and I find it necessary to relate most if not all of my lessons to.  I think that along my journey as an educator I will run in to several opportunities to use my new technological skills.  I may not be able to predict the future but I am willing to bet that I will get to use most of what I've learned in my CEP classes at some point in time in my future.

My personal plans are to complete MSU’s Master of Arts in Educational Technology program.  After this class is over, I will have earned my Educational Technology Professional (teaching) Certificate.  Next, I plan to continue my education so I can earn an NP Endorsement in Educational Technology.  I will be finished with those four classes by March, 2013.  Finally, I am going to take the last three classes needed to earn a Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET).  I will have this completed by August, 2013. If I need help with some of my work throughout the MAET program, I would like to be able to turn to my classmates as well as past and present professors.

Overall, I am pleased with all I have learned in MSU’s Educational Technology Professional Certificate program.  I look forward to applying what I have learned in my personal and professional future.

3 comments:

  1. Kim,

    I also thought that I had kept up with technology well-I mean, I used it all the time with my students...or so I thought. I was amazed at how far behind I really was. MSU has offered an eye-opening experience. Congratulations on your new position. I love the fact that even though you will be working with the little ones, you are keeping technology in mind. I bet they know more than I do!

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  2. Congrats on the teaching position! That is such a great feeling to get that phone call! Like you, I do find it difficult at times to incorporate what we have learned even in my second grade classroom. As the year goes on they become more and more independent and able to use many of the technologies. You never know until you try, right!? Good luck with your future classes.

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  3. Congrats on the new job! I have also found that some of the technologies that we have learned might be difficult for 1st graders but I have also learned that there are so many technologies that I can use in my teaching and also that they are able to use on their own. I think that a blog will be a great way to communicate with parents. I am really excited to get a classroom website up and running for this same purpose. Good luck with the new job and future classes!

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