Becoming Better
By Scott Repicky
I began the Master's program less than two years ago in the fall of 2010. While it seems like this program has been a complete blur, it has certainly helped to shape me into a better educator and leader. When I think about all the courses that I have taken in this program, the one thing that stands out to me is that while my knowledge on education and leadership has grown tremendously, I also see much room for improvement. I do not see learning as something that ends with a degree, but instead the degree is simply the beginning of becoming better.
When looking for programs for my Masters degree, I began searching for universities that offered an online program. This was essential to me because I currently live and work in Luxembourg. I had to find a program that offered courses in English on education. I looked in the UK and some other universities that offered summer programs, but the idea of an online education really appealed to me. I am originally from the state of Michigan and my certification there was about to expire, so I thought it would make sense to try and find a university in Michigan. This is what led me to enrolling at Michigan State University because they were the only university I found that offered an all online program. After looking over the choices for the courses offered and discussing some of them with my colleagues at work, I quickly determined that this program was the one for me.
When I began the program, I soon realized how much I enjoyed learning in a formal class again. I enjoyed the online and virtual community that was created through my classes that allowed me to get perspectives from other people that I had never met in person. This community helped me to question and clarify my beliefs in both education and leadership.
My favorite class was EAD 825 Shared Leadership in Schools, which was taught by B. Meloche. In this course, we looked at the importance of having multiple leaders to support and initiate the vision and practices of a school. This course was critical to me because I had just started in a shared leadership position in my school as the grade level leader for the fourth grade. I was able to take the philosophy of this class and directly put the ideals into practice. This class helped me to question what I was doing as a leader and how I could better support and understand my colleagues. It also stressed the importance of community and involving others in the decision making process so that ownership of the decisions is shared. This course made me feel better about not having all of the answers and helped me to develop confidence in my job at school. I really feel that without this course, I would have struggled much more in my first leadership position than I did.
I also thoroughly enjoyed TE 831Teaching School Subject Matter with Technology, which was taught by A. Horton. In this course, I was able to experience several different tools that I was not aware even existed and to think about and discuss how they could be used in the classroom. TE831 also stressed the importance of evaluating how technology can be used in a meaningful way as a tool for learning in the classroom, rather than as a gimmick. One of my favorite activities for this course was creating a digital story using pictures and a movie maker program. From this course, I also learned how to use a wiki, which I am now currently using in the classroom with my students. I also became more comfortable with using a blog, which I am also now using with my students.
Another course I enjoyed was EAD 801 Leadership and Organizational Development, which was taught by B. Smith. In this course, I read my favorite book that I had to read in all of my course. The book is called Better by Atul Gawande. While the book is written about experiences in the medical field, the ideas from the book are relevant to any organization. The focus is on finding ways to make organizations better. Gawande uses examples from medical experiences throughout the world to illustrate this. One of the things I learned from the book is making sure that you base decisions for an organization on research and experiments. It is important to be innovative in education so that you do not become stagnant. In order to do this, you must be able to take risks and chances. This inevitably will lead you to making progress as an educator. Gawande stresses not settling for being average and the importance of growing as an individual to help support the growth of an organization.
I am now currently enrolled in ED 870 Capstone Seminar, which is taught by S. Leahy, A. Zellner, and M. Koehler. In this course, I am working on creating an online portfolio (you are currently viewing this essay page which is one component). For my portfolio, I have chosen to use a web page development site called Weebly. I have found this task to be new and very interesting. Previous to this course, I have had no experience with creating a website. I find myself enjoying creating the pages and already find myself wondering how I could have my students use it next year.
The great thing about this course is it provides me with the opportunity to reflect back on the past year and a half and think about all that I have accomplished while earning my Master's degree. By forcing me to revisit what I have learned, I have been able to grasp the tremendous amount of work and learning that I have done.
As part of ED 870, one requirement was for me to reflect on my initial goal statement to begin the program. My goal was ultimately to learn more and become a better educator and leader. This goal has certainly been met and I have been left with the desire to continue learning. I see my education as one without an end point because there is and always will be something new to learn. I must constantly strive to become better both as an educator and a person.
As I look back on all that I have accomplished, I know the lessons I have learned will always support me in my life. I am now faced with an open road lying in front of me. While I don't know yet the exact direction of where I'm going, or all of the surprises, hazards, and bumps that lie ahead, I do know that I am better equipped to face these experiences and to learn from them than I was before the fall of 2010. My Master's program has pushed me and challenged me to become a better educator and I must continue to educate myself and not settle for ever being complete. The more educated I become, the better I will be able to adjust and travel down life's open road.
When looking for programs for my Masters degree, I began searching for universities that offered an online program. This was essential to me because I currently live and work in Luxembourg. I had to find a program that offered courses in English on education. I looked in the UK and some other universities that offered summer programs, but the idea of an online education really appealed to me. I am originally from the state of Michigan and my certification there was about to expire, so I thought it would make sense to try and find a university in Michigan. This is what led me to enrolling at Michigan State University because they were the only university I found that offered an all online program. After looking over the choices for the courses offered and discussing some of them with my colleagues at work, I quickly determined that this program was the one for me.
When I began the program, I soon realized how much I enjoyed learning in a formal class again. I enjoyed the online and virtual community that was created through my classes that allowed me to get perspectives from other people that I had never met in person. This community helped me to question and clarify my beliefs in both education and leadership.
My favorite class was EAD 825 Shared Leadership in Schools, which was taught by B. Meloche. In this course, we looked at the importance of having multiple leaders to support and initiate the vision and practices of a school. This course was critical to me because I had just started in a shared leadership position in my school as the grade level leader for the fourth grade. I was able to take the philosophy of this class and directly put the ideals into practice. This class helped me to question what I was doing as a leader and how I could better support and understand my colleagues. It also stressed the importance of community and involving others in the decision making process so that ownership of the decisions is shared. This course made me feel better about not having all of the answers and helped me to develop confidence in my job at school. I really feel that without this course, I would have struggled much more in my first leadership position than I did.
I also thoroughly enjoyed TE 831Teaching School Subject Matter with Technology, which was taught by A. Horton. In this course, I was able to experience several different tools that I was not aware even existed and to think about and discuss how they could be used in the classroom. TE831 also stressed the importance of evaluating how technology can be used in a meaningful way as a tool for learning in the classroom, rather than as a gimmick. One of my favorite activities for this course was creating a digital story using pictures and a movie maker program. From this course, I also learned how to use a wiki, which I am now currently using in the classroom with my students. I also became more comfortable with using a blog, which I am also now using with my students.
Another course I enjoyed was EAD 801 Leadership and Organizational Development, which was taught by B. Smith. In this course, I read my favorite book that I had to read in all of my course. The book is called Better by Atul Gawande. While the book is written about experiences in the medical field, the ideas from the book are relevant to any organization. The focus is on finding ways to make organizations better. Gawande uses examples from medical experiences throughout the world to illustrate this. One of the things I learned from the book is making sure that you base decisions for an organization on research and experiments. It is important to be innovative in education so that you do not become stagnant. In order to do this, you must be able to take risks and chances. This inevitably will lead you to making progress as an educator. Gawande stresses not settling for being average and the importance of growing as an individual to help support the growth of an organization.
I am now currently enrolled in ED 870 Capstone Seminar, which is taught by S. Leahy, A. Zellner, and M. Koehler. In this course, I am working on creating an online portfolio (you are currently viewing this essay page which is one component). For my portfolio, I have chosen to use a web page development site called Weebly. I have found this task to be new and very interesting. Previous to this course, I have had no experience with creating a website. I find myself enjoying creating the pages and already find myself wondering how I could have my students use it next year.
The great thing about this course is it provides me with the opportunity to reflect back on the past year and a half and think about all that I have accomplished while earning my Master's degree. By forcing me to revisit what I have learned, I have been able to grasp the tremendous amount of work and learning that I have done.
As part of ED 870, one requirement was for me to reflect on my initial goal statement to begin the program. My goal was ultimately to learn more and become a better educator and leader. This goal has certainly been met and I have been left with the desire to continue learning. I see my education as one without an end point because there is and always will be something new to learn. I must constantly strive to become better both as an educator and a person.
As I look back on all that I have accomplished, I know the lessons I have learned will always support me in my life. I am now faced with an open road lying in front of me. While I don't know yet the exact direction of where I'm going, or all of the surprises, hazards, and bumps that lie ahead, I do know that I am better equipped to face these experiences and to learn from them than I was before the fall of 2010. My Master's program has pushed me and challenged me to become a better educator and I must continue to educate myself and not settle for ever being complete. The more educated I become, the better I will be able to adjust and travel down life's open road.