As this long and eventful time in my life comes to a close, I have to wonder where I will go from here. The state of education is such that nobody's job is safe. Will this degree help me stay employed in the coming years? Based on what I have learned and seen for the future of technology and its need in education, I would have to say yes.
The application for weeks six and seven were truly eye-opening...in fact, the whole process from September, 2008 until now has opened my eyes to the potential of technology in education. The application helped guide my teaching in a new direction, away from the traditional paper and pencil classroom setting. It also showed me the possibilities of grants being used for any content area. Find the grant that meets your needs and is most beneficial to your students. I have already begun the implementation of web-based learning for my music students. There has been a positive response already with the first day of usage. The next few weeks will give me a better idea of how the students like this new way to learn music. If my music computer lab ever gets powered up, I will be able to spend as much time as I need in the computer lab with my students.
The one adjustment to my attitude and thoughts about teaching is that the job does not end during summer. That is clear to me now. I had lost that concept several years ago. I will be spending a lot of time this summer exploring and applying for technology grants that will not only benefit music, but benefits other needs at school. All subjects are important for learning. With technology integrated into the curriculum, the students will want to learn because they will be engaged. The teachers will be able to connect with the students in ways that they enjoy.
Ray Rust
