LEARNING: MY NEVER-ENDING STORY
Future Learning Goals Essay
Where to Go from Here
I enjoy examining my work and learning styles, and the CliftonStrengths framework has helped me understand what makes me tick and what brings me joy. One of my top five CliftonStrengths has consistently been Learner, and the last time I took the assessment, it was listed as my number one theme. While earning my master’s degree in education was one of my largest learning goals, it certainly is not my final learning goal. I see myself pursuing future career opportunities that incorporate the different areas in which I have worked: educational technology, curriculum development, and adult learning. My graduate work and future learning goals focus on these topics, so I can take these skills to the next level. To help me reach my goals, I plan on utilizing resources that I have been exposed to at my job or in my graduate courses. I hope my ongoing development can allow me to better serve colleagues, students, and the community.
Future Learning Goals
Educational Technology Goal: Become a Canvas expert
I have thoroughly enjoyed designing blended learning – a combination of online and face-to-face learning – during my time at Michigan State University. Over the past four years, I have served as an administrator for the learning management system Canvas, which is a great tool for blended learning. My training in Canvas has predominantly been self-guided and ad hoc. In keeping with the intentional use of technology theme from my graduate work showcase, my logical next step is to develop a richer understanding of Canvas as a platform and then apply its functionality to my curriculum design – rather than the reverse, which has been my modus operandi. Canvas offers a seven-part training series for both new and veteran users. Some of the topics may cover content that I already know, but I think the sequencing and agnostic approach will benefit me. I recognize that I may transition to an organization that utilizes a different learning management system in the future, but my experiences with Moodle and Schoology have shown that expertise in one platform often translates to other platforms. Becoming a Canvas expert will serve me well in any setting.
Curriculum Development Goal: Expand my best practices toolbox for teaching science
Engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is my passion, and I will continue to develop science curricula in a blended learning format. My coursework has introduced me to new models, like the Ambitious Science Teaching Framework, that complement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by using discourse and phenomena to engage students in a cycle of inquiry. I want to invest more time in researching and reading real-world examples of these models in action and generate tools for assessing curricular alignment to the frameworks. My first step is to read Windschitl, Thompson, and Braaten's new text, Ambitious Science Teaching, which accompanies their online tools that I have used. Over the past few years, Achieve has developed tools to evaluate the extent to which instructional materials and assessments are aligned to the NGSS. Reviewing Achieve's resources, such as the Primary Evaluation of Essential Criteria for NGSS Instructional Materials Design and the Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products (EQuIP) Professional Learning Facilitator's Guide, will prepare me to examine my curricular materials for standards alignment. Ultimately, I hope to join Achieve's Science Peer Review Panel in the future.
Adult Learning Goal: Support STEM teachers with improving their practice
I do not directly work with students anymore, but I do have the opportunity to support STEM teacher learning. While employed at a teacher leader professional development nonprofit, I learned so much about adult learning theory and structures that foster growth. Several of my graduate courses had me consider the lens of a school administrator and the role I could play in teacher development. Teacher observation and feedback will soon be a part of my current position, and I want to ensure that I am providing teachers with the right supports to improve their practice. Reading Jim Knight’s Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction and watching videos like “Effective Coaching Systems” on Teaching Channel are two steps that I want to take to address this goal.
Making My Best Better
Growing and learning will always be two of my top priorities, and I think all educators should model a growth mindset for our students. I feel fortunate to have explored diverse positions within the education industry, as I now have a better sense of what exactly I want to do with my career and where I still need to grow. I have a foundation in the areas of technology, writing curricula, and teacher development, and my new path is to build on those foundational skills to be an even better resource for the students, teachers, colleagues, and community that I serve.