If anyone has had an opportunity to see how MSU’s National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory or the CERN Large Hadron Supercollider fragments particles traveling nearly at the speed of light, then this analogy will make better sense. Because it was a collision destined to take place, the Masters of Arts and Educational Technology (as the fragment standing still or moving in a vacuum), and an educator inspired by the needs of learners, (the fragments traveling nearly at the speed of light, played by me). “Boom”… The speed and force of this collision brakes down, re-aligns, and creates new thoughts, ideas, visions, and points of view that did not exist before. In the fragmented remains of this colossal impact, I now see the future that awaits me in educational technology and all the points of experience and growth that I will hold on to in order to be successful.

 

 As part of my growth, I want to put myself in positions where I can gain more knowledge about the personal discoveries I’ve made, this can be accomplished by working for an University or School District in a key technology position. This would place me in a situation where I can learn and apply the knowledge I’ve gathered almost simultaneously. I know and understand that I need to seek the information I want to learn, and I can do this by hosting and attending webinars, workshops, conferences, etc. After spending time gaining experience and knowledge in a work environment, in order to truly fulfill my academic dreams I will need a Ph.D., then I will be in a position with more impact and influence, and I will be able to act with much more ease on my ideas and vision of what education on the 21st century should look like. To step to that level of academic knowledge would allow me to be at the forefront of education and technology, which is my ultimate goal.

 

 Now that I’ve embarked in this road, the continued mastery of new technologies that can have a relevant effect on learners is my current focus. Specifically, I would like to focus on the technology that already exist in the professional world, and should be adopted by education in order to provide learners with an accurate picture of what is used in the workplace of the 21st century. I would like to also conduct “in school” “techshops” before and throughout the school year. The tech coaches and I would host these “techshops” and cover all the relevant technology to be used during the school year in order to make sure that teachers are well prepared to use these technologies. Often enough we find that students are more familiar with the technologies available than educators. For the most part, this is not a willing shortcoming on behalf of the teacher. In many occasions it is difficult for them to find the time necessary to learn the new technology. The landscape of education has changed In the 21st century, and clearly information technology, online resources, blended learning and other media have changed and are re-shaping the way we learn and what is considered worth learning. For continuous growth, the world of academia must provide students with the advanced theoretical and or practical understanding of scientific knowledge and the application they require. This "eduknowlogy", will be key to the adaptation and development of all tools needed by the students and educators.

 

 My very first academic degree was going to be in digital and communication electronics from Lansing Community College, so in retrospect I’ve always had an affinity towards technology. Regardless of my work environment my personal and academic growth has always been important to me, and I always make sure to put myself in a position where I can apply gained knowledge. Now that I’m in education, the important factor is to see what issues learners are dealing with and how can technology help them. Through the process of obtaining this M.A. I was able to learn factors that made me capable of being successful, like the human element, online tutorials, and putting the time necessary to learn. Learners need to make these same discoveries in order to accomplish their academic career. My recommendation to educators and students is to become more self-educated and proactive in their knowledge development by using sights like www.coursera.com www.atomiclearning.com, www.ted.com, and www.commoncraft.com. I have used these sights and others in order to advance my personal and academic knowledge.

 

 Allow me to conclude by saying that as a professional, I want to “Usain Bolt” my way to the edges of discovery and be part of what is next, I want to be part of the manufacturing of what is next, I want to do the discovering of what is next. My future as an educator of teachers and students and pioneer of new ways of thought looks bright, and I am excited about it.