When I entered the MAET program my future with Educational Technology was something off in the distant horizon. My goals seemed realistic and far off all at the same time. After starting the certificate program I knew that I had made the right decision to continue my education by working on a degree in Educational Technology. I became eager and excited to take courses and learn anything I could from the program. At the left you will find the Prezi that I used for my goal statement portion of my application. While I don't expect you to read through the whole Prezi, you should discover the section on my goals as well as my professional goals.

My goals when I entered the MAET program involved wanting to create a paperless blended learning environment, integrate iPads into normal classroom functions, help my school transition into technology learning, and ultimately create online curriculum for History courses at the Secondary level.

My Reflection Pond

I was also interested in hands on learning as opposed to theoretical learning. It had been my experience in the past that many education programs simply taught the theories behind the practices without giving learners the opportunity to practice.

Over the course of my studies at Michigan State University, my goals haven't changed. If anything they became deeper and stronger. The more I learned, the more information I applied and shared with others. I took on the opportunities to team up with others and learn from not only my experiences but also the experiences of others. As the topics of my courses changed, the reoccurring theme of applying the knowledge taught in the course stayed consistent.

Creating webpages and finding technology solutions for common classroom problems has helped me keep track of my goals. I wanted to create a paperless classroom because I knew that technology was going to change the way education in the future. I saw a paperless classroom as my goal to help bring students into the 21st Century with their learning and to help prepare them for life after high school. I'm grateful that I currently work at a school that is willing to help me achieve the goals of a paperless classroom as well as iPad integration. The integration of iPads became a goal when I started playing around with using my own iPad in my classroom. I realized that there were many functions of a daily classroom routine that could be completed and improved upon with the use of interactive technology. As I have learned, there is creativity in technology and that by design you can do anything you want with the technology you choose.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to work with a team of teachers in my district to develop online curriculum. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, the program was cut. I was excited to go through the process and enjoyed having the background knowledge that was needed to create certain elements. It made me very thankful for my education and learning experiences in the MAET program.