Larry Jacques

Staying the Course: a vision coming true

 

By Larry Jacques

 

 

 

A year ago in early October I had set goals to help focus my pursuit of a Masters of Art in Educational Technology (MAET).  I set out to do the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The goals listed were a part of a larger application to the Educational Technology program. (Link to Prezi)

The goals that were set back in the beginning of the program have relatively stayed the same.  There has been however, many experiences during the program that have helped change my perspective in regards to educational technology.  The change in perspective has added focus to my goals, added clarity to how I will be obtaining those goals, and has brought me closer to where I want to be as an agriculture educator in northern Michigan. 

 

 I am planning on completing graduation this December with a 3.65 GPA or slightly above.  Post-graduation I will be using my educational experience to continue to aid in the development of a certificate program for sustainable agriculture.   During the time spent in pursuit of the Masters of Arts in Educational Technology I had been obtaining a better understanding of how to combine certain technologies, pedagogy, and agricultural specific content, which has and will continue to influence future programming that I perform.  Throughout the masters program, I have used the assignments to help create material, to help setup projects, or to better define my thoughts on subjects so that I can better create thoughtful technology embedded coursework.   For example, one class in particular aided in the development of a logic model that shaped the flow of information for how to create courses while keeping in line with stakeholders, administration, abilities, and institutional values to evaluation and reporting.    

 

In reflection to what I wanted to do and where I am at now, I notice that I am now equipped with the skills and ability to create programming that is influenced by some of the most modern thought on teaching with technology.  The ability to use technology is something that is highly needed for remote areas similar to where I work (in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), and with the specific populations that I work with (or intend to work with) such as with agricultural students, and with Native American students. 

 

When I started out in the MAET program I believed that with the new tools that this program would allow me to better understand learners and their needs and I would be able to soon create a difference in my part of the world; with only a week left in the program and on the verge of graduation I still believe that today.  The tools and the thought that we were exposed to during the past year and a half have opened my eyes up to a future of much more personalized learning experiences that move students closer to mastery.