Let it be known that this is my very first post in my learning journey through my Master’s degree in Educational Technology! I am eager and curious to learn, yet there is a lingering feeling that I am unsure of what to expect. From what I do know about the program and this course (EDCI 570/571), I am well supported in my re-entry into academia in terms of getting back into engaging with research. It has been a long time since I have touched an academic text. I am confident in my ability to synthesize, extrapolate, and integrate the literature in my writing, but I am hesitant about where to start to look for the articles themselves. Are the publications I relied on in my undergrad still the journals that are popular? Is there a new collective that I should be aware of? Will there be enough research on the topics I’m interested in? Concepts in educational technology change so quickly to meet the demands of the technological changes we see in our daily lives. What was relevant 10 years ago may not be the gold standard anymore. I am hoping this course can help direct me to topical research that will greatly improve my understanding on best practice, benefits, precautions, and in-depth discussions on concepts in education related to technology integration for all.

This course also provides my colleagues and I a chance to explore topics in educational technology that we are presently interested in. At the time of this writing, the topic on every educator’s mind is the rise of ease of access to artificial intelligence networks (AI) for our students, and what that means for the future of learning. Although I am interested in what the research has to say on the matter, I am currently more intrigued to learn about the development of computational thinking and how to support it in our youngest learners. There are so many different free stand-alone programs and curriculum designed with older elementary students in mind, yet the resources for students of the kindergarten and grade 1 levels are significantly limited. Either the programs themselves, or the physical components to accompany the app/program are very expensive and not realistic to purchase in a school setting. I have taught many primary students how to code in non-verbal ways that provide the foundation for later more sophisticated lessons at the intermediate level. I would like to educate myself on what the research suggests best practice is for supporting the development of these skills, especially under the confines of a public school budget.

Overall, this program seems to allow me the freedom to ask the questions I want, pursue the topics that speak to my context, and apply what I learn into the classroom with discussions among my colleagues. What I put into this program is what I will get out of it and I’m determined to give this my all!