How I see myself as a learner…
Tammy Roosa
Whether we are sitting in a classroom or wondering around in everyday life, learning is taking place. As a society we are experiencing new endeavors each and every day. What we do with these experiences determines if we want to be active learners or not. Of course there are experiences that do not require new learning to take place or anything to be changed and therefore we continue on as status quo. It is those experiences that require change or learning that makes a difference in not only our lives but the lives of those surrounding us.
When I started this program I did not see myself as a lifelong learner. Actually, I would see myself as many of my students see themselves. I am an average student that struggles to maintain average grades and moderately understand the content. I also did not consider myself a technology savvy person. So why would I take an entire program on-line you ask? Well because I knew I needed it to become more comfortable with technology. Technology was the main difference in my return to college and what I believe to be my success as well.
Many years ago before computers were installed in every classroom and people carried around laptops and smart phones, education was very different and particularly in the English subject matter. Papers were all hand written with no spell check, grammar check, etc. For a student that is Dyslexic and struggles with English, spelling and grammar posed a huge problem. Going into college I knew this would be a problem for me… I was just not aware as to how big of a problem. When I took my first English class the teacher asked us to write about something. Although, I really do not remember exactly what it was about. So I wrote and wrote and wrote. Not really paying too much attention to my writing. The way around my struggles in English was having a very good proof reader at home, my mom. So I just figured I would write and have her look it over because surely this was simply a rough draft. Well after some time the teacher asked us to pass our papers to the person sitting to the right of us so that they could proof read it. At this point I was not really sure what I should do. I could not let the person read my writing. I was in college and was well aware that my writing abilities were less than the average college student. Even being in the lowest English class I knew they were low. So I simply placed my paper in my books, picked up my book bag, and proceeded to leave class. I walked right to the registration office and dropped the class. This same situation happened for three more classes over three semesters until finally I dropped out of college. That was now over 20 years ago.
I returned to college in my early 30’s to pursue a degree in education and again I knew this would be extremely difficult. I had learned a few things and found my way around passing my paper to the person sitting next to me to check my paper and that was on-line classes. I could take an English course online, have all my papers proof read, and nobody would be the wiser. Now being married the proof reading transferred to my husband. Well maybe someone other than my husband would read them but I would never have to see them in person so it did not really matter to me. A few short years after finishing my undergraduate degree I returned again to pursue my Masters degree in education.
The story I told is to take you though the changed view I have had of myself as a lifelong learner. At this point of my life I know that I will continue to learn new things as life goes on. Being a student that struggled through school I know what it feels like to be in a constant state of confusion. I also now know how I can help myself through that. The reason for getting into the special education field was in the hopes to teach students who I could actually relate to. My main goal for my students is to become aware of the areas they struggle with and learn different tools to help them be successful with those struggles. I want my students to know that it is ok to struggle and ask for help when needed.
This masters program has given me the confidence that I can really do anything if I really put my mind to it. As educators we are all learners. We can all learn to teach any subject matter that we want if we allow ourselves to take the time. Before writing this reflection I already started talking with my husband about possibly going back for a second master’s degree. I just became aware that the MSU offers a Master of Arts in Educational Technology. What better way to help my students learn more from technology than by continuing to learn about even more technology myself.
Future Learner Essay
Tammy Roosa
Whether we are sitting in a classroom or wondering around in everyday life, learning is taking place. As a society we are experiencing new endeavors each and every day. What we do with these experiences determines if we want to be active learners or not. Of course there are experiences that do not require new learning to take place or anything to be changed and therefore we continue on as status quo. It is those experiences that require change or learning that makes a difference in not only our lives but the lives of those surrounding us.
When I started this program I did not see myself as a lifelong learner. Actually, I would see myself as many of my students see themselves. I am an average student that struggles to maintain average grades and moderately understand the content. I also did not consider myself a technology savvy person. So why would I take an entire program on-line you ask? Well because I knew I needed it to become more comfortable with technology. Technology was the main difference in my return to college and what I believe to be my success as well.
Many years ago before computers were installed in every classroom and people carried around laptops and smart phones, education was very different and particularly in the English subject matter. Papers were all hand written with no spell check, grammar check, etc. For a student that is Dyslexic and struggles with English, spelling and grammar posed a huge problem. Going into college I knew this would be a problem for me… I was just not aware as to how big of a problem. When I took my first English class the teacher asked us to write about something. Although, I really do not remember exactly what it was about. So I wrote and wrote and wrote. Not really paying too much attention to my writing. The way around my struggles in English was having a very good proof reader at home, my mom. So I just figured I would write and have her look it over because surely this was simply a rough draft. Well after some time the teacher asked us to pass our papers to the person sitting to the right of us so that they could proof read it. At this point I was not really sure what I should do. I could not let the person read my writing. I was in college and was well aware that my writing abilities were less than the average college student. Even being in the lowest English class I knew they were low. So I simply placed my paper in my books, picked up my book bag, and proceeded to leave class. I walked right to the registration office and dropped the class. This same situation happened for three more classes over three semesters until finally I dropped out of college. That was now over 20 years ago.
I returned to college in my early 30’s to pursue a degree in education and again I knew this would be extremely difficult. I had learned a few things and found my way around passing my paper to the person sitting next to me to check my paper and that was on-line classes. I could take an English course online, have all my papers proof read, and nobody would be the wiser. Now being married the proof reading transferred to my husband. Well maybe someone other than my husband would read them but I would never have to see them in person so it did not really matter to me. A few short years after finishing my undergraduate degree I returned again to pursue my Masters degree in education.
The story I told is to take you though the changed view I have had of myself as a lifelong learner. At this point of my life I know that I will continue to learn new things as life goes on. Being a student that struggled through school I know what it feels like to be in a constant state of confusion. I also now know how I can help myself through that. The reason for getting into the special education field was in the hopes to teach students who I could actually relate to. My main goal for my students is to become aware of the areas they struggle with and learn different tools to help them be successful with those struggles. I want my students to know that it is ok to struggle and ask for help when needed.
This masters program has given me the confidence that I can really do anything if I really put my mind to it. As educators we are all learners. We can all learn to teach any subject matter that we want if we allow ourselves to take the time. Before writing this reflection I already started talking with my husband about possibly going back for a second master’s degree. I just became aware that the MSU offers a Master of Arts in Educational Technology. What better way to help my students learn more from technology than by continuing to learn about even more technology myself.
Future Learner Essay