The Rest is Still Unwritten

On my desk is a picture of a young girl, dressed in old-fashioned clothing, climbing over a stone wall. The words on the picture say ‘She tiptoed to the edge of what she knew and crossed over into the wilderness of what she wanted’. I feel that I am that girl and I have just climbed over the wall. It seems surreal that this is the final blog post for my master’s degree program at Walden University. It is a bitter-sweet conclusion to an awesome experience. This last course, though, has given me the insights that will enable me to continue on my quest to successfully integrate technology into my classroom.

The learning activity I completed for this course and my portfolio involves the use of a personal financial game simulation. I have researched the game, tried the demo and laid the groundwork for my future grant application. I am hopeful on receiving a grant and look forward to encouraging my colleagues at school to incorporate gaming into their lessons. I can’t wait to use the simulation with my students. For me there is no turning back to my old ‘pre-Walden’ ways of teaching (lecturing). I now have the tools and skills to take that leap of faith and become the outstanding teacher I long to be. It’s all up to me now.

One thing I had not anticipated when beginning this program, is becoming a technology leader in my school. That was definitely outside of my realm of comfort. Yet last month I found myself volunteering to provide two workshops to 40 fellow teachers. The workshops were on wikis and concept mapping. The experience went well and I am looking forward to providing future professional development opportunities to my fellow teachers. Although I am one of the oldest teachers at my school, my technology age is one of the youngest.

I plan a two-pronged approach to keeping abreast of new and emerging technologies. I now have the research skills to locate journal articles, blog posts and wikis on upcoming technologies. I also plan to tap my students and much younger nieces and nephews to learn what they are using outside of the classroom. I can then research and brainstorm ways to use those emerging technologies to improve my teaching. Just last week I purchased a Droid cell phone and have unlimited Internet access on it. Several days ago I sent my first text message. The decision to purchase that phone with the Internet access was strongly influenced by this course I am finishing. I love the constant access to the Internet and all the free applications and widgets. I am like a kid in a candy store.

I began this master’s program being technologically extinct and end it being technologically emergent. The following song lyrics sum up my future-my book is still unwritten. The sun is shining, and my pen is poised to create the inspiring teacher I will become.
Instead of saying ‘so long’ to my Walden colleagues, instead I will say ‘see you in cyberspace.’

As Spock said, “Live well and prosper!”

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
I am unwritten,
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah

Oh, oh
I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines,
oh yeah yeah
We've been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can't live that way