Setting Sail
by Mark Hansen
For the past two and a half years I have been an explorer of the rough and unknown educational technology waters. My explorations started quite by accident when a tempest blew me into these unknown waters and I had to find my way back. When I decided to explore the technological waters formally by signing onto MSU’s educational technology ship I hoped that I would not only learn to effectively use technology in the classroom and to teach this effective use to others I also hoped that I would learn to continue to explore the waters on my own and become a captain on my own ship and lead others in the exploration of educational technology waters. As I wrap up my training and prepare to take the helm of my own ship I know that my continued exploration will depend on my ability to learn, adapt, and teach others to explore these all too treacherous waters.
Taking the helm of my own ship to explore the technological waters of education is intimidating, but I will not be facing the challenge alone. One way I plan to continue my exploration is through the use of my Personal Learning Network. This network has grown over the past few years and now includes fellow seafarers from around the world. One of the biggest ways I plan to communicate with and learn from other explorers is through twitter. The interactions I have with people on twitter not only inform me of new ways I can use technology in the classroom, but also push me to expand my own thinking and practices in using technology to enhance the learning that takes place in my classroom. Twitter has also pushed me to become a leader educational technology by giving me a venue in which I can inform others of practices in exploring technology in the classroom and help my fellow explorers survive the rough technological seas. As I move forward in my explorations I plan to keep using twitter as a source of information, inspiration, and guidance. It will be essential in my continuing education.
Another part of my Personal Learning Network that I will use to help me in my explorations of the technological waters is the New Tech Network. I am in lucky to have access to this network and plan to use it to my advantage. I have already learned much from my fellow explorers that utilize this network, but by maintaining my contacts within it I know I will always be able to call on help when I enter unknown ports. This network will not only help me in exploring the as of yet undiscovered educational technological waters, but also help guide me through the rough seas of Project-Based learning; another educational passion of mine. As a result I know I can call the New Tech Network whenever I feel lost or want to expand my horizons in educational technology.
In addition to my Personal Learning Network I will take other tools with me in my explorations. One such tool is my ability to use the Universal Design for Learning rubrics that I learned about while exploring the educational technology waters with MSU. I have found that using these rubrics to evaluate my use of technology in my classroom has helped me ensure that I am using the technology to enhance the learning that is taking place in my classroom and not just using it to say that I used it. As a result, I have found that as I explore a new, untested technology in my classroom my instruction has been much more effective. As I look to my future explorations I plan on using the UDL rubrics as my compass guide me in my explorations and keep me on track with what I am trying to do. With these rubrics as an aid I will feel confident learning about new technologies and trying them out in order to enhance my instruction.
Another navigation tool I plan to take with me in my explorations is the TPACK model. This tool helps me see how the various aspects of education overlap and interplay with each other. As such, when I am learning about a new technology (maybe one I learned about from my Personal Learning Network) and trying to determine if it could help me enhance the learning in my classroom I will refer to the TPACK framework and see how that new technology might fit into my pedagogical practices and the content I am teaching. By using this tool I may be able to avoid disasters at in the rough technological waters while at the same time exploring possible paradises of technology that have yet to be discovered.
My time exploring the unknown waters of educational technology with MSU is coming to a close. As I get closer and closer to setting sail on my own my apprehension grows, but so does my resolve to be captain on these fickle waters and to teach others how to navigate them. In order to accomplish this goal my own learning must never cease and I believe that through my Personal Learning Network and the navigational tools I have learned to use during my time at MSU I will be properly outfitted to sail into unknown waters and come back to teach others about them.
Taking the helm of my own ship to explore the technological waters of education is intimidating, but I will not be facing the challenge alone. One way I plan to continue my exploration is through the use of my Personal Learning Network. This network has grown over the past few years and now includes fellow seafarers from around the world. One of the biggest ways I plan to communicate with and learn from other explorers is through twitter. The interactions I have with people on twitter not only inform me of new ways I can use technology in the classroom, but also push me to expand my own thinking and practices in using technology to enhance the learning that takes place in my classroom. Twitter has also pushed me to become a leader educational technology by giving me a venue in which I can inform others of practices in exploring technology in the classroom and help my fellow explorers survive the rough technological seas. As I move forward in my explorations I plan to keep using twitter as a source of information, inspiration, and guidance. It will be essential in my continuing education.
Another part of my Personal Learning Network that I will use to help me in my explorations of the technological waters is the New Tech Network. I am in lucky to have access to this network and plan to use it to my advantage. I have already learned much from my fellow explorers that utilize this network, but by maintaining my contacts within it I know I will always be able to call on help when I enter unknown ports. This network will not only help me in exploring the as of yet undiscovered educational technological waters, but also help guide me through the rough seas of Project-Based learning; another educational passion of mine. As a result I know I can call the New Tech Network whenever I feel lost or want to expand my horizons in educational technology.
In addition to my Personal Learning Network I will take other tools with me in my explorations. One such tool is my ability to use the Universal Design for Learning rubrics that I learned about while exploring the educational technology waters with MSU. I have found that using these rubrics to evaluate my use of technology in my classroom has helped me ensure that I am using the technology to enhance the learning that is taking place in my classroom and not just using it to say that I used it. As a result, I have found that as I explore a new, untested technology in my classroom my instruction has been much more effective. As I look to my future explorations I plan on using the UDL rubrics as my compass guide me in my explorations and keep me on track with what I am trying to do. With these rubrics as an aid I will feel confident learning about new technologies and trying them out in order to enhance my instruction.
Another navigation tool I plan to take with me in my explorations is the TPACK model. This tool helps me see how the various aspects of education overlap and interplay with each other. As such, when I am learning about a new technology (maybe one I learned about from my Personal Learning Network) and trying to determine if it could help me enhance the learning in my classroom I will refer to the TPACK framework and see how that new technology might fit into my pedagogical practices and the content I am teaching. By using this tool I may be able to avoid disasters at in the rough technological waters while at the same time exploring possible paradises of technology that have yet to be discovered.
My time exploring the unknown waters of educational technology with MSU is coming to a close. As I get closer and closer to setting sail on my own my apprehension grows, but so does my resolve to be captain on these fickle waters and to teach others how to navigate them. In order to accomplish this goal my own learning must never cease and I believe that through my Personal Learning Network and the navigational tools I have learned to use during my time at MSU I will be properly outfitted to sail into unknown waters and come back to teach others about them.