Technology Tempest
by Mark Hansen
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In the fall of 2011 I was swept away by a tempest of technology. The tempest came in the form of a one-to-one initiative and swept me into the unknown waters of educational technology. Throughout the remainder of 2011 and into early 2012, I slowly explored the waters of educational technology and found my way back to more familiar waters. My journey back, however, changed me and I made it my goal to pursue a master’s degree in educational technology. I felt that if I could learn to explore the unknown waters of educational technology I could then lead others on expeditions into the waters and help make sailing these waters a safer place for all educators. With this in mind I submitted a video (seen to the left) to MSU’s Master’s of Arts in Educational Technology program in hopes of getting accepted so that I could begin my journey toward becoming a true explorer of technological waters.
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Once in the program, I became a figurative apprentice captain and began exploring new technologies to apply to my teaching. These waters led me to whole new worlds and once again I found myself getting swept up in a tempest. This time the tempest came in the form of Project-Based learning and I had to learn to use new technological tools to navigate and survive the rough seas. The first tool I learned to use through the program was google documents. Although I had already used this tool I found that I could apply it in the world of PBL in order to have student write collaboratively. Not only did google documents allow students to write on the same documents I could use it to track who wrote what and individually assess student writing on collaboratively written papers. For me, an apprentice educational technology captain exploring the rough seas of PBL this tool was life preserver that allowed me to ensure all of my students were learning while at the same time staying true to the PBL process.
As I became more and more comfortable in the tempest filled waters of educational technology and acquired more and more tools with which to explore it I found myself facing my ultimate challenge. This challenge was one of the last tests I had to pass in order to prove to myself that I was ready to lead other explorers into technological waters. I was faced with having to design an online learning module. The thought of entering these tumultuous waters scared me, but I pushed forth. Once past the initial rough waters I found that designing an online course was not only easier than I had thought, but that if I applied the philosophies I had learned while exploring the PBL seas it became quite exhilarating. This exhilaration only increased when my students used the learning module even before I had received feedback on it and genuinely seemed engaged in using it.
With a successful conclusion to my journey in exploring online learning modules I finally felt capable of being the leader I had set out to become. Now, as I finish my time at MSU and realize that my various journeys into unknown waters have made me a season seafarer and that I am ready to be the captain of my own ship. Someday, I hope to teach others to explore the waters as I have and learn that while educational technology may seem harrowing at times if you sail on you will eventually find new glorious and fruitful lands that will leave you aching for new discoveries.
As I became more and more comfortable in the tempest filled waters of educational technology and acquired more and more tools with which to explore it I found myself facing my ultimate challenge. This challenge was one of the last tests I had to pass in order to prove to myself that I was ready to lead other explorers into technological waters. I was faced with having to design an online learning module. The thought of entering these tumultuous waters scared me, but I pushed forth. Once past the initial rough waters I found that designing an online course was not only easier than I had thought, but that if I applied the philosophies I had learned while exploring the PBL seas it became quite exhilarating. This exhilaration only increased when my students used the learning module even before I had received feedback on it and genuinely seemed engaged in using it.
With a successful conclusion to my journey in exploring online learning modules I finally felt capable of being the leader I had set out to become. Now, as I finish my time at MSU and realize that my various journeys into unknown waters have made me a season seafarer and that I am ready to be the captain of my own ship. Someday, I hope to teach others to explore the waters as I have and learn that while educational technology may seem harrowing at times if you sail on you will eventually find new glorious and fruitful lands that will leave you aching for new discoveries.