To Infinity and Beyond
Angela Engardio
“To infinity and beyond.” Iconic words, at least for a Disney kid like me, expressing determination and hope. When Buzz Lightyear declares to the rest of the toys in "Toy Story" he can fly and takes a leap off the bed (sure to meet his doom) he is calm, trusting and believing in himself. Due to random flukes he appears to be flying and becomes a hero of the toy room, Buzz had achieved his goal.
In July 2010 I took a leap of faith, trusting and believing in my own capabilities. With only one year of teaching experience and a narrow vision for how technology would change education I applied for the Masters in Educational Technology program (MAET) through Michigan State University. There were many struggles along the way – attempting to learn and balance my professional goals and limited experience with my enthusiasm and determination to succeed far beyond the MAET program.
My overarching goal at the onset of this program was to evolve and keep up with best practices in education. Technology, now more than when I started, represents the future of best practices for my district and myself. In my short 4 years I have watched the evolution of Promethean Boards and individual response mechanisms to hybrid classes and 1-1 iPads. The integration of technology is not a dream in my classroom it is an everyday reality. My ability to craft appropriate and meaningful lessons by infusing technology with goals and purpose using TPACK has greatly improved my lessons and the outcomes. Google Forms are a regular use in my Student Council surveys and data collection. Building meaningful online resources is mandatory for my hybrid class development. Just as Buzz used the tools in the toy room to achieve his goal of “flying,” so to was I able to use my resources, the wonderful professors, class design, and fellow Spartans, in achieving my goals.
With infinite possibilities and potential through technology, taking the leap with MSU’s MAET program has pushed my students, lessons, and myself far beyond original expectations.
In July 2010 I took a leap of faith, trusting and believing in my own capabilities. With only one year of teaching experience and a narrow vision for how technology would change education I applied for the Masters in Educational Technology program (MAET) through Michigan State University. There were many struggles along the way – attempting to learn and balance my professional goals and limited experience with my enthusiasm and determination to succeed far beyond the MAET program.
My overarching goal at the onset of this program was to evolve and keep up with best practices in education. Technology, now more than when I started, represents the future of best practices for my district and myself. In my short 4 years I have watched the evolution of Promethean Boards and individual response mechanisms to hybrid classes and 1-1 iPads. The integration of technology is not a dream in my classroom it is an everyday reality. My ability to craft appropriate and meaningful lessons by infusing technology with goals and purpose using TPACK has greatly improved my lessons and the outcomes. Google Forms are a regular use in my Student Council surveys and data collection. Building meaningful online resources is mandatory for my hybrid class development. Just as Buzz used the tools in the toy room to achieve his goal of “flying,” so to was I able to use my resources, the wonderful professors, class design, and fellow Spartans, in achieving my goals.
With infinite possibilities and potential through technology, taking the leap with MSU’s MAET program has pushed my students, lessons, and myself far beyond original expectations.