Goals for the Masters of Education Program
During my Research Methods in Education course, I was told to write a one-page reflection on my goals for the M.Ed. program. Coming into the program I hadn't really thought about what I wanted to get out of the courses I complete so this was a great opportunity for me to consider what I wanted to take away from the program and what my topics of interests were. It was interesting for me to notice that my goals remained the same in terms of wanting to learn about pedagogy and technology. Coming into the program, I stated in my goals that I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and complete at least one course on adult education. Unfortunately, due to the availability of courses I was unable to experience this. However, adult education and technology use in adult learning environments has been addressed in courses that I have taken. In addition, I was able to step out of my comfort zone by taking a course in leadership. One of my main goals were to challenge my current understanding of education and teaching methods. Throughout the masters program I was able to mold a new idea of education and was able to learn various effective teaching methods. These have aided me in changing my philosophy of education for the better. I am proud to say that the M.Ed. program helped me in achieving my initial goals and I am now able to successfully apply my new knowledge and skills as an educator.
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How Have the Courses I've Taken Impacted my Learning?
1. EDUC 5001- Principles of Learning
During my Principles of Learning course, I was introduced to various learning theories that deepened my understanding of how children learn. In addition, this was the first course where I was given the opportunity to take part in a collaborative wiki. This opportunity broadened my understanding of what a wiki is,how it is used, and how I can apply it in my own classroom. Lastly, during this course, I reflected on how I thought technology use would change in classrooms in the year 2015. This gave me the chance to reflect upon the past and present use of technology and use that information to predict the future use of technology.
2. EDUC 5002- Research Methods in Education
This course was crucial in my learning because it was where my portfolio started to develop. Throughout the course I created a portfolio outline of what themes I wanted to explore during my Masters as well as my first concept map. In addition, I learnt a great deal about qualitative and quantitative research methods which were confusing to me prior to this course. Lastly, in this course, I learnt about what a literature review is and was given the opportunity to write one based on one of my portfolio themes.
3. EDUC 5102- Educational Technology & Communication
During this course, I learnt about various communication theories and their implications in educational settings. It was interesting to see how communication theories have evolved over time and the criticisms that were placed on each theory. In addition, in the course I was introduced to a website called www.sliderocket.com. This website allows users to create a presentation which all group members can go into and edit. I found this to be a great online tool since the classes were online and it was difficult to meet with group members on a face-to-face basis.
4. EDUC 5302- Curriculum Planning and Implementation
This course broadened my understanding of what implementation is. Prior to this course I had no idea that implementation is a step by step process that may take a while to fully complete. In addition, during this course, I was given the opportunity to create an implementation plan of my own. I chose to create it on making taking French compulsory up until grade 12. This was a great learning experience because I now know what an implementation plan includes. This will aid me in my future if I need to present on something that I want to implement.
5. EDUC 5005- Social and Cultural Context of Education
During this course, I was introduced to a variety of topics which I did not come across before. This course broadened my mind to the fact that when children come to school, they bring with them everything that is associated with them such as their social class, race and ability or disability. Through the course of this class we focused on three questions; what is my individual position in schools in particular, and in life in general?, what does my current practice look like in terms of my attitudes, beliefs and knowledge?, and what is the context of schooling in which I work and how will I improve my practice?. These questioned forced me to think critically of my personal life and my career as a teacher.
6. EDUC 5101- Learning with Technology
This course was all about problem-based learning. I learnt what problem-based learning was and how to use it in a classroom. During this course I was given the opportunity to use WebKf which is an online knowledge forum that allows classes to create a thread to discuss various topics. In addition, during this course I was given the opportunity to critically analyze a function of a social media website based on the themes that we learnt in class.
7. EDUC 5104- Learning Tools
The concept learnt in this course was very new to me. The course was focused on web-based learning tools (WBLT). Prior to this course my idea of WBLT was that they were online websites that helped children learn various concepts. I had no idea that WBLT were much more complex than that. The course deepened my understanding of WBLT and gave me the opportunity to create a WBLT. I now am able to know the difference between a good WBLT that will actually aid children's learning verses one that will not.
8. EDUC 5103- Online Technology in Education
This course focused on integrating online technology into an educational environment. During this course I learnt about how technology enhances and inhibits learning, accessibility, social learning, cognitive processing, and the role of the educator. In addition, during this course was my first interaction with a blog. Prior to this course, I did not even know how to start a blog. The blog was created in a group and focused on social media and its implications in education.
9. EDUC 5201- Foundations of Leadership
This was my final course in my M.Ed journey. I chose this course because I had no prior knowledge on what leadership was. Throughout this course I learnt about various leadership theories and models and applied them to an educational setting. In addition, I used the theories I learnt to analyze various situations where one seemed to be a leader. This course drastically changed my perception of what a leader is and what leadership encompasses.
During my Principles of Learning course, I was introduced to various learning theories that deepened my understanding of how children learn. In addition, this was the first course where I was given the opportunity to take part in a collaborative wiki. This opportunity broadened my understanding of what a wiki is,how it is used, and how I can apply it in my own classroom. Lastly, during this course, I reflected on how I thought technology use would change in classrooms in the year 2015. This gave me the chance to reflect upon the past and present use of technology and use that information to predict the future use of technology.
2. EDUC 5002- Research Methods in Education
This course was crucial in my learning because it was where my portfolio started to develop. Throughout the course I created a portfolio outline of what themes I wanted to explore during my Masters as well as my first concept map. In addition, I learnt a great deal about qualitative and quantitative research methods which were confusing to me prior to this course. Lastly, in this course, I learnt about what a literature review is and was given the opportunity to write one based on one of my portfolio themes.
3. EDUC 5102- Educational Technology & Communication
During this course, I learnt about various communication theories and their implications in educational settings. It was interesting to see how communication theories have evolved over time and the criticisms that were placed on each theory. In addition, in the course I was introduced to a website called www.sliderocket.com. This website allows users to create a presentation which all group members can go into and edit. I found this to be a great online tool since the classes were online and it was difficult to meet with group members on a face-to-face basis.
4. EDUC 5302- Curriculum Planning and Implementation
This course broadened my understanding of what implementation is. Prior to this course I had no idea that implementation is a step by step process that may take a while to fully complete. In addition, during this course, I was given the opportunity to create an implementation plan of my own. I chose to create it on making taking French compulsory up until grade 12. This was a great learning experience because I now know what an implementation plan includes. This will aid me in my future if I need to present on something that I want to implement.
5. EDUC 5005- Social and Cultural Context of Education
During this course, I was introduced to a variety of topics which I did not come across before. This course broadened my mind to the fact that when children come to school, they bring with them everything that is associated with them such as their social class, race and ability or disability. Through the course of this class we focused on three questions; what is my individual position in schools in particular, and in life in general?, what does my current practice look like in terms of my attitudes, beliefs and knowledge?, and what is the context of schooling in which I work and how will I improve my practice?. These questioned forced me to think critically of my personal life and my career as a teacher.
6. EDUC 5101- Learning with Technology
This course was all about problem-based learning. I learnt what problem-based learning was and how to use it in a classroom. During this course I was given the opportunity to use WebKf which is an online knowledge forum that allows classes to create a thread to discuss various topics. In addition, during this course I was given the opportunity to critically analyze a function of a social media website based on the themes that we learnt in class.
7. EDUC 5104- Learning Tools
The concept learnt in this course was very new to me. The course was focused on web-based learning tools (WBLT). Prior to this course my idea of WBLT was that they were online websites that helped children learn various concepts. I had no idea that WBLT were much more complex than that. The course deepened my understanding of WBLT and gave me the opportunity to create a WBLT. I now am able to know the difference between a good WBLT that will actually aid children's learning verses one that will not.
8. EDUC 5103- Online Technology in Education
This course focused on integrating online technology into an educational environment. During this course I learnt about how technology enhances and inhibits learning, accessibility, social learning, cognitive processing, and the role of the educator. In addition, during this course was my first interaction with a blog. Prior to this course, I did not even know how to start a blog. The blog was created in a group and focused on social media and its implications in education.
9. EDUC 5201- Foundations of Leadership
This was my final course in my M.Ed journey. I chose this course because I had no prior knowledge on what leadership was. Throughout this course I learnt about various leadership theories and models and applied them to an educational setting. In addition, I used the theories I learnt to analyze various situations where one seemed to be a leader. This course drastically changed my perception of what a leader is and what leadership encompasses.
Final Thoughts
My journey through the Master of Education program has given me a deeper understanding of pedagogy, technology and reflection through the various courses I have taken. At the start of the program, I was very skeptical about online learning as I felt that it was not for me because I was accustomed to learning through lectures. However, over the past year and half, I have grown to acknowledge and appreciate what learning through online means has to offer. I have learnt the importance of collaboration with peers and I have become more open to speaking up during class time and voicing my opinion, both things that I have struggled with in the past. Since completing my Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education I have always been fascinated with the way children learn. Thus, choosing pedagogy as a theme was something that I wanted to gain a deeper understanding in prior to entering the program. My second theme, technology, was always important to me as I grew up using various forms of technology and thought I knew a lot about technological tools. That was until I started this program and was introduced to a whole new aspect of technology which I didn't even know existed. Reflection is a theme that I started to embrace during my M.Ed. Prior to starting this program, I had very little interest in reflection because it always seemed forced and I had no idea why I was reflecting. Fortunately, during my courses I had the change to reflect in various ways and on various topics. I now understand the importance of using reflection in every aspect of my life. These three themes have been explored throughout my M.Ed and I feel I have strengthened my abilities as a learner and an educator. I feel that I will be able to use everything that I have learnt through course lectures, collaboration and assignments and successfully apply it to my teaching practice.