Learning: To Be Continued..
Linnea Czerney
As graduation is fast approaching, I find myself questioning my Master's. Not the program, but rather my pacing. If only I had slowed it down, taken less classes per semester, stretched it out – savored the process. This program has really pushed my thinking as a leader, and most importantly, as a learner.
Learning is a process, it is a constant motion that should not be stopped and is never completed. You may learn a lesson, or learn a new skill, but that learning is never done. Although I may earn a degree for this learning I have completed, there will be no end to this journey. It is through learning that we reach accomplishments, but the learning itself is not finished. Up until now the learning path was easy, natural, and automatic. Elementary school, graduating to middle school, 8th grade graduation to high school, graduation and on to college, completing college and continuing with my Master's, but alas, I ask myself, now what?
When thinking of graduations, one instinctively thinks, what now? I become reflective upon the journey and how I got to where I am now. The best, and most overused, analogy is that of a car. Well in my case, it is a bus. There have been so many people to join and leave throughout my travels and journey as a learner. Regardless of those passengers, or those standing on the side of the road and waving, I have always been driving. However, in learning, there is no real destination, but rather the joy is in the journey. As Ernest Hemingway said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” My end is ever changing, and thus never really reached. Instead it becomes the fork in the road, that begs to question, now what?
It is my goal to complete a Doctoral program, but given a lack of true guidance for my future, and a lack of funds in my bank account, this cannot be my next learning venture. This caused for reflection as to where else learning can take place, outside of organized education. Yet, I found myself looking toward my work, which is in organized education. My learning will come from students, colleagues, co-workers, and all those in between. Just thinking about today, I realize how much I learned. Some information helpful and new, and some that may never come to be needed again, such as how to make homemade mac & cheese or who got kicked off the voice. Regardless of where the information comes from, I learn so much each and every day.
Within the technology field, I fear falling behind or out-of-the-know. Not only would that disappoint me, but my job requires my current technology knowledge. How do I keep informed without the support of MAET? Luckily, this program has equipped me with the tools and resources to continue pursuing technology education through a variety of avenues. Just recently I joined the Discovery Education Network Ambassadors’ program, an opportunity for me to communicate with fellow tech lovers and explore, discuss, collaborate, and most importantly, learn.
So here is my agreement, my goals, my student objectives, my future to be continued through learning:
Learning is a process, it is a constant motion that should not be stopped and is never completed. You may learn a lesson, or learn a new skill, but that learning is never done. Although I may earn a degree for this learning I have completed, there will be no end to this journey. It is through learning that we reach accomplishments, but the learning itself is not finished. Up until now the learning path was easy, natural, and automatic. Elementary school, graduating to middle school, 8th grade graduation to high school, graduation and on to college, completing college and continuing with my Master's, but alas, I ask myself, now what?
When thinking of graduations, one instinctively thinks, what now? I become reflective upon the journey and how I got to where I am now. The best, and most overused, analogy is that of a car. Well in my case, it is a bus. There have been so many people to join and leave throughout my travels and journey as a learner. Regardless of those passengers, or those standing on the side of the road and waving, I have always been driving. However, in learning, there is no real destination, but rather the joy is in the journey. As Ernest Hemingway said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” My end is ever changing, and thus never really reached. Instead it becomes the fork in the road, that begs to question, now what?
It is my goal to complete a Doctoral program, but given a lack of true guidance for my future, and a lack of funds in my bank account, this cannot be my next learning venture. This caused for reflection as to where else learning can take place, outside of organized education. Yet, I found myself looking toward my work, which is in organized education. My learning will come from students, colleagues, co-workers, and all those in between. Just thinking about today, I realize how much I learned. Some information helpful and new, and some that may never come to be needed again, such as how to make homemade mac & cheese or who got kicked off the voice. Regardless of where the information comes from, I learn so much each and every day.
Within the technology field, I fear falling behind or out-of-the-know. Not only would that disappoint me, but my job requires my current technology knowledge. How do I keep informed without the support of MAET? Luckily, this program has equipped me with the tools and resources to continue pursuing technology education through a variety of avenues. Just recently I joined the Discovery Education Network Ambassadors’ program, an opportunity for me to communicate with fellow tech lovers and explore, discuss, collaborate, and most importantly, learn.
So here is my agreement, my goals, my student objectives, my future to be continued through learning:
- I will seek professional development annually.
- I will participate in a technology team through my school, and the Media/Technology Advisory Committee.
- I will adapt when technology does not cooperate.
- I will engineer lessons using best practices.
- I will explore new tools and engage students in learning.
- I will pursue additional formal education in the future.
- I will connect with other professionals through technology.
- I will improve daily in my technology skills.
- I will adapt as technology changes.
- I will collaborate both locally and globally for authentic learning experiences.
- I will learn – each and every day!