As our perspectives change so do our expectations. Practically my expectation of this program was to obtain a masters degree in an innovative and interesting field so I could potentially explore more diverse career options. Intellectually, I have been removed from the University setting for the past 14 years and I have been craving academic structure and guidance. My involvement for the past two years in district 68’s “Project Success” and building a language program that incorporated iPod learning, steered me towards OLTD. The once overworked fields of my mind had been left fallow and were now ready to be plowed once again. I am so glad I waited, as the experience has far exceeded my expectations and has been so much more influential to my everyday teaching than I ever imagined.
As for personal learning expectations, they are in flux. Here’s what I know now. I want this program to push me towards mastery in teaching. I want to become increasingly confident and competent in the latest tools and online learning strategies. I want to continue to improve all aspects of my language programs. I already employ inquiry based learning components in my classes, however I want to push their boundaries from simply projects to encompass the entire framework of the courses I teach. I want to continue to use technology in my classes and explore the potential for a blended model of online and face to face learning in neighbourhood schools and classrooms. I want to strive towards developing a culture of collaboration between my students and colleagues, both through sharing and learning together. I want to take what I am learning from the OLTD and employ it immediately to my teaching, I want my learning and my teaching to blend together, both feeding off of one another, this is perhaps the greatest advantage of studying while working in the field. When I completed my bachelor of education my training preceded my work experience, this created a shallower learning environment as we were preparing for a reality we couldn’t fully understand, consequently I wasn’t able to relate as deeply to the lessons and assignments as I can now. Ultimately I want my teaching to have a meaningful impact on student success. Moving forward I want to understand better the question of how we are to meaningfully measure student success, at a classroom, school, district, provincial and national level?
As for personal learning expectations, they are in flux. Here’s what I know now. I want this program to push me towards mastery in teaching. I want to become increasingly confident and competent in the latest tools and online learning strategies. I want to continue to improve all aspects of my language programs. I already employ inquiry based learning components in my classes, however I want to push their boundaries from simply projects to encompass the entire framework of the courses I teach. I want to continue to use technology in my classes and explore the potential for a blended model of online and face to face learning in neighbourhood schools and classrooms. I want to strive towards developing a culture of collaboration between my students and colleagues, both through sharing and learning together. I want to take what I am learning from the OLTD and employ it immediately to my teaching, I want my learning and my teaching to blend together, both feeding off of one another, this is perhaps the greatest advantage of studying while working in the field. When I completed my bachelor of education my training preceded my work experience, this created a shallower learning environment as we were preparing for a reality we couldn’t fully understand, consequently I wasn’t able to relate as deeply to the lessons and assignments as I can now. Ultimately I want my teaching to have a meaningful impact on student success. Moving forward I want to understand better the question of how we are to meaningfully measure student success, at a classroom, school, district, provincial and national level?