It's the Final Countdown!!!

I don't think I'm quite ready to graduate!! It's not that I don't think that I will finish in time, but more, what will I do once I'm done! It's hard to believe that almost two years ago I began this adventure into continuing my education beyond what's expected of me. I chose to get my Master's degree in instruction technology because I have always had an interest in technology. It stems from watch my father build a computer at home with parts he would get from broken computers. You know how kids who are interested in cars usually grow up watching their dad's build or work on cars? Well, that's the same thing with me, except my dad wasn't building or fixing cars, he was building and fixing computers. Technology has changed so much since I was a child, playing Oregon Trail on our large apple computers with the orange backs! Those were so cool looking! Now students are creating and collaborating with technology! Who would have thought that students would be ALLOWED to bring their phones into the classroom and use it for something other than texting their friends! It's amazing to think how different technology will be 15 years from now!

Looking back on the past two years, I am amazed at how much I have learned in such a short period of time. What I can really take from this experience is the leadership the program has taught me. I have transformed from an average first grade teacher, to someone teachers go to for help in technology. In addition, I was asked to be a facilitator of the technology committee. I don't believe that without this instruction technology program at KSU, I would have those leadership opportunities. I also learned how to use technology in the classroom to increase student engagement as well as using technology to activate those higher level thinking skills.I am not the only one who has benefited from the classes I have been taking at Kennesaw State University, my students have learned more using technology than not, and they love technology! I think that it is important to prepare our students for their futures, and the future of the children today will undoubtedly include technology! I am so excited to be so close to completing this program! This was a life-changing experience, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to earn my Masters degree in instruction technology.