Synthesis Essay | my-journey

Dreams Really Do Come True

Grew as a Leader in Technology

The skills I learned while attending MAET have given me the ability to share and collaborate with others within my building and throughout the world. As a Tech Committee Chair leader, our committee organized the first Tech Training day for teachers at our school. I also lead discussions on what our school’s future needs are, decisions on where our school should place new computers in the building, and what dated technology should be trashed. I have given tech training at the local and district levels.

When teachers need assistance with a public school event or stage productions, I am glad to collaborate. I am the “go to guy” and give them ideas on how to use tech tools that can enhance the show using sounds effects, music, and proper use of lighting. I have learned many of these techniques while attending MSU.

When our administration needs videos uploaded to the Internet, I have the knowledge to make this happen. Now parents serving our country as soldiers in remote areas of the world or grandparents living in the states can see what is happening at our school. I have the ability to make quality videos and upload them to the Internet, or make iMovie DVDs for families to cherish for the rest of their lives

MAET’s introduction to Schoology last year was timely. I had a head start, when the Department of Defense School System (DoDDS) implemented Schoology. We are one largest school systems in the world. We now have our own secure system of sharing technology. I have become a confident leader and have shared some of my best lessons and activities on Schoology.

Attending Michigan State University’s Master of Arts in Educational Technology program made me a better-rounded educator, equipped to take on leadership roles involving innovation at my school.

Dreams Can Come True

Learned Many Tech Tools

As I begin my day each morning, I feel I am at “Command Central”. I cue up software programs and numerous websites on my 4 computers to the overhead SmartBoard projector. I have more tech tools in my toolbox to teach. During the past three years I have invested in technology by purchasing an iPad Air, a MacBook Pro, and a quality SLR digital camera. Everyday I use them at home and at school. Creating a professional quality website is not difficult for me. I have had experience using three website applications: Weebly, Wix and WordPress. Other favorite applications I learned while attending Michigan State University include Camtasia, Snag It, Garage Band, iMovie, Photo Booth, Prezi, Schoology and an array of Google applications.

Discovered How to Integrate Technology Using TPACK

TPACK is one of the most important ideas I learned in the MAET program. The “T” stands for technological knowledge. The “PA” is pedagogical knowledge or the process and procedures of teaching. “CK” stand for content knowledge, which teachers must know for students to be successful. The TPACK model is shown using a Venn diagram that overlaps these three areas. The ideal lesson takes place when all three come together. This is called the "Sweet Spot". The TPACK model is a powerful method that helps me know if I am properly integrating technology.

As a child my dream was to someday spend a summer in Europe. I saw pictures of the Eiffel Tower, the Roman Coliseum, and the real Disney Castle. I wanted to be there to eat real ethnic food, see European art/architecture, and experience the ambiance of vacationing abroad. This wish seemed unattainable for an Iowa farm boy that wore hand me down winter jackets. My early life was tough. Dad milked his cows. Mom took care of the house and raised the family. I had a humble, simple childhood. Education was encouraged by my mother as the way to reach my dreams.

After completing my Bachelors Degree at the University of Iowa, I taught 18 years in Iowa and began raising my family. At the age of forty-three, I went to an International Job Fair and accepted an offer to teach for Saipan, a small island in the Pacific. A year later I was offered my “dream job” on the island of Guam, a US territory. I was now an employee of one of the largest school systems in the world. I would be working for the United States Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Two years later they asked me to transfer to Germany and teach music. For the past 17 years I have been living my childhood dream. I now live in Europe!

What I have learned from the past has prepared me for the future.

A dreamer must be passionate about their goals (there will be tough times).
Your life needs balance; you can’t do everything all at once.
You must work hard and prepare yourself for opportunities.
When opportunities are present, you must act!
Be confident, adventurous! Just do it!

Another life dream is almost complete. Soon I will earn my master’s degree. This dream took a similar path. It was not direct, nor did it happen quickly. It has taken many detours and had switchbacks. There have been some bumpy roads along the way and a few dead ends. At times I did not know if I would make it. Now, at the age of 63, I am weeks away from receiving my Masters of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) degree. What I have learned from instructors, classmates, and family the past three years will affect the rest of my life.

I began my first year with Michigan State in Galway, Ireland. I was glad to be in the overseas cohort. I could get nine hours of credit in just four weeks. Little did I know how much work this would demand and how unprepared I would feel after the first few days. I am pretty techy in music, but what they required us to do was more than just music. It was a lot of work in a very short time. Being isolated from family and friends allowed me to focus. I now know this was a good way for me to start.

My second year was more manageable and again was located in Galway, Ireland. One of my most memorable classes during my second year was CEP 800 Learning in School and Other Settings. The major project was called “Dream It.” This project was to submit a grant to make our “dream” in education a reality. For my project I wanted my students to play the soprano recorder on pitch with a correct rhythm and a steady beat. I compared three different methods to teach these skills. I decided an online web-base software program ‘SmartMusic’ was the best choice. This year I implemented this method and students are showing great improvements over previous years.

My final year was all online and took an extreme amount of time, especially for me, a digital immigrant. I learned more and worked harder than I ever did during the first two years in Ireland. CEP 818 Creativity in Teaching and Learning was my favorite class. This class was different than any other class I have ever taken. We read a book entitled “Sparks of Genius: The 13 Thinking Tools” by Michele Root-Bernstein. We then had to create examples of the different thinking tools. The guidelines were open ended. In this class I composed songs, produced videos, and even wrote a dramatic sixty second commercial. One project was to show an example of the thinking tool “Embodiment”. My trombone, which has been a major part of my life for the past fifty years, had the ability to compose and sing a song to me. Another thinking tool was “Modeling”. I explored the 3 main dimensions of music: tempo, pitch and dynamics. I had fun lowering the pitch of my voice to sound like Darth Vader and then raising the pitch to sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks. My instructors liked my video so much they asked if they could use it in their own class. They thought it was an excellent example of the Modeling project. As I teach I must always remember how difficult it was for me to create these projects. It took time. I often wondered if my instructors would be on my same wavelength as me. Creating projects such as these challenge children to think differently. More of this type of problem solving is needed in today’s curriculum. It was fun. It was out of the box thinking. It was extremely gratifying when the instructors thought my projects were special.

TE 831 Teaching School Subject Matter with Technology was another favorite. In this class we developed strategies and methods for teaching school subject matter with digital technology. We learned about the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T), Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge Theory (i.e., TPACK), digital literacy, digital citizenship, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and 21st Century Skills. For one of my major projects I created a Vimeo account and then uploaded my first vodcast, “How to Play a Soprano Recorder”. In the future I hope to create more vodcasts for my school website that teach students other music skills. Online learning is the future. It is extremely valuable for a music teacher. My choir students can now rehearse their songs 24/7 anywhere there is an Internet connection. It can be used to review or remediate when there is a need. Online games help students learn while playing. Students are willing to fail and relentlessly try again and again to improve their scores.

CEP 807 Capstone Portfolio Coursework was my last class to complete for my MAET degree. I decided this would be a good time to create my first WIX site. This course allowed me to reflect on the experiences I had during my three year journey. I looked forward to this class not only because it was my last, but also I knew I would enjoy reminiscing. This portfolio would showcase my best projects and would document each step I took along the way. This portfolio would allow me to be creative and include a summary of all my accomplishments. I had support from my classmates and my instructors. These instructors wanted me to produce the best website possible and so did I. My Goal Reflection Essay allowed me to look back at my goals before I started the MAET program. I soon realized that my goals had not changed. Writing my Future as a Learner Essay reminded me there would be more adventures ahead, I am a lifelong learner. The next step in my life needs to be planned. What will I do? Writing things down has always helped me reflect. This was an opportunity to do some soul searching and decide what my next goals in life should be. I now have new tech tools to explore, more knowledge to apply and time to innovate. Now I can chart a new course.

My four goals as I entered the MAET program were to discover, learn, create, and grow.

I have...

Conclusion

By meeting these four goals I have become a much better twenty-first century educator. I have been in the trenches of education for over four decades. There have been many revolutions in education. I feel the biggest change is happening right now with the use of technology in teaching. I am glad I have been part of the past but I am very thankful that I now have the knowledge to be part of the future. As a music teacher, I feel enlightened and incredibly proud of the knowledge I have acquired the past 3 years and can’t wait to use education technology in innovative ways in the coming years.

One of the best things about the last three years is the time I spent with my son. He encouraged me to start this program with him four years ago. Ben has stayed with me until the end. My son is now a man, my buddy, and my friend. I will always cherish the time we had together as we earned our MAET degrees as father and son from the finest university in the nation, Michigan State University.

Every Spartan do your part, Light the Light!

Go Green!

I am still a dreamer that has been empowered by MAET.

Created Many Websites

Three years ago I made my first website. Now I manage ten sites. Hundreds of people from all over the world frequent them daily. They are my main online presence that I did not have when I started the MAET program. My school website is my primary communication tool with students and their family. It includes important dates, archived videos performances, important documents that can be downloaded, information about local musicians in our area, many online educational music games for students to learn and play, numerous music advocacy articles and videos for parents, a drop-box where students can send me audition clips that they want to share or have me critique. Students can practice along with videos and learn their part in ensembles or rehearse choreography any time of day every day of the week.

I believe creating and using websites is the greatest change in practice that I have made while attending MAET. Teaching 800 students in Germany is a daunting task. My music website has enhanced my ability to teach and communicate with all my students and their families while they live in Europe.

Jim Ayres