Pursuing Knowledge
"I know what I know, and I’ll learn what I don’t."
Alejandro Gonzalez
The journey of a learner is never ending. There is no end in sight, as the drive to pursue knowledge keeps one moving forward. The inspiration of an idea, a shift in perspective, or a change in approach, fuels the vehicle of learning. A vehicle that we steer with questions and guide through the roadmap revealed by our curiosity.
A lifelong learner is within us all. We aspire to become knowledgeable about the skills we contain, and their interactions with our environment. Often I approach a situation with a constant stream of thoughts and ideas rushing to provide a solution. My experience and ability to problem solve have accumulated an incredible repository of knowledge, that each concept, idea, element, approach, and practice I have learned is eager to make itself useful. It is these situations that motivate me to continue learning. To continue to absorb, digest, and process new knowledge. It is this information that will come to the rescue when least expected. This is not to say that the goal is to hoard trivia, but more so to be able to absorb, filter, store, and process for future use.
Enrolling in the MAET program was the first step towards committing to continuing my education. Not only did I begin to learn, but I began to focus the efforts of my knowledge. My goal was to become a better resource, to support those in my organization. Before the MAET program I was a self-sufficient IT department, unit of one. In my continuing goal to be a better resource, I found that the MAET program would allow me to better understand IT through the perspective of educators. Through this perspective I continue to approach issues and concerns, while being proactive towards situations that require a forward thinking approach.
My current professional environment allows me to learn from teaching. I plan on continuing this approach. Allowing myself to listen to teachers and students I support will provide me with opportunities to learn, to see things from their point of view. These learning opportunities also offer me chances to teach, and create a personal learning cycle. Not only am I providing a solution, but I am also able to empower someone with the knowledge necessary to address a situation or similar issue. This cycle of learning is how I learn best.
One on one sessions are not the only settings in which I can learn. I also lead professional development sessions for my work. In these sessions, I find it incredibly enlightening to allow the group to have a voice and provide their issues and take on possible solutions. In these kinds of settings I find myself being the teacher as well as the learner. I will continue to learn from my interactions with my fellow peers, and students that I support. Ongoing education comes in may forms, especially nowadays.
It used to be that my education came in the form of a book, a conference, or a webinar. Now, with the proliferation of online resources, I learn at any time of day, through many kinds of formats and on any kind of device. No matter where I am, I find that my mobile phone, laptop, or tablet provide me with a window into the collective brain we call the Internet. In many cases, the Internet is not simply a search engine. I usually use the Internet as a way to communicate in real-time with people, or unattended online services. The Internet will be vital to my ongoing education, for it provides me with a link to someone or something. With the use of Learning Management Systems, I am also able to create an online community, where I can engage my peers to learn about their issues, and learn about their solutions. Whether I provide the solutions or not, each interaction allows for an opportunity of learning. Their learning is my learning; their empowerment is my goal.
Once I have finished the MAET program, I will take a deep breath, smile, and release with joy. This is another step in my journey as a lifelong learner. Through the readings, projects, emails, discussions boards, websites, videoconferences, and a long list of usernames and passwords for various services used throughout the program, I feel adequately ready to take the next step. Whether it is in Educational Technology, or some other field, I am ready to pursue knowledge.
A lifelong learner is within us all. We aspire to become knowledgeable about the skills we contain, and their interactions with our environment. Often I approach a situation with a constant stream of thoughts and ideas rushing to provide a solution. My experience and ability to problem solve have accumulated an incredible repository of knowledge, that each concept, idea, element, approach, and practice I have learned is eager to make itself useful. It is these situations that motivate me to continue learning. To continue to absorb, digest, and process new knowledge. It is this information that will come to the rescue when least expected. This is not to say that the goal is to hoard trivia, but more so to be able to absorb, filter, store, and process for future use.
Enrolling in the MAET program was the first step towards committing to continuing my education. Not only did I begin to learn, but I began to focus the efforts of my knowledge. My goal was to become a better resource, to support those in my organization. Before the MAET program I was a self-sufficient IT department, unit of one. In my continuing goal to be a better resource, I found that the MAET program would allow me to better understand IT through the perspective of educators. Through this perspective I continue to approach issues and concerns, while being proactive towards situations that require a forward thinking approach.
My current professional environment allows me to learn from teaching. I plan on continuing this approach. Allowing myself to listen to teachers and students I support will provide me with opportunities to learn, to see things from their point of view. These learning opportunities also offer me chances to teach, and create a personal learning cycle. Not only am I providing a solution, but I am also able to empower someone with the knowledge necessary to address a situation or similar issue. This cycle of learning is how I learn best.
One on one sessions are not the only settings in which I can learn. I also lead professional development sessions for my work. In these sessions, I find it incredibly enlightening to allow the group to have a voice and provide their issues and take on possible solutions. In these kinds of settings I find myself being the teacher as well as the learner. I will continue to learn from my interactions with my fellow peers, and students that I support. Ongoing education comes in may forms, especially nowadays.
It used to be that my education came in the form of a book, a conference, or a webinar. Now, with the proliferation of online resources, I learn at any time of day, through many kinds of formats and on any kind of device. No matter where I am, I find that my mobile phone, laptop, or tablet provide me with a window into the collective brain we call the Internet. In many cases, the Internet is not simply a search engine. I usually use the Internet as a way to communicate in real-time with people, or unattended online services. The Internet will be vital to my ongoing education, for it provides me with a link to someone or something. With the use of Learning Management Systems, I am also able to create an online community, where I can engage my peers to learn about their issues, and learn about their solutions. Whether I provide the solutions or not, each interaction allows for an opportunity of learning. Their learning is my learning; their empowerment is my goal.
Once I have finished the MAET program, I will take a deep breath, smile, and release with joy. This is another step in my journey as a lifelong learner. Through the readings, projects, emails, discussions boards, websites, videoconferences, and a long list of usernames and passwords for various services used throughout the program, I feel adequately ready to take the next step. Whether it is in Educational Technology, or some other field, I am ready to pursue knowledge.