Personal Learning Plan

CEP 810 Goals
In CEP 810, I set a couple long term goals for myself.  I wanted to either become a professor of education or the technology director of a k-12 school district.  I was not sure which I preferred, but knew that I wanted to make informed decisions that would improve education for a lot of students.  My short term goal was to get accepted into the MAET program beginning in Fall 2011.  I just heard last week that I was accepted!  A medium term goal that I set for myself was to graduate from the MAET program in August 2012.  So far I am on track to accomplish this goal.  My advisor said that it should not be a problem.

Skills I Still Need (Want)
My greatest strengths regarding technology involve pedagogy.  I enjoy finding cool new tools and bringing them into the classroom.  To be a k-12 technology director, I will need to learn about networking.  I only know a little more than the average teacher when it comes to school networks.  I am not sure if the MAET program can help me get the network certifications that I may need (or just want).  I may actually have to go through a community college for some of this rudimentary (but important) knowledge.

If I choose to pursue a PhD I will need to learn how to conduct qualitative and quantitative research.  While the MAET program does not offer a thesis option, there may be some opportunities to conduct research (I am thinking that CEO 822: Approaches to Educational Research will help).  If not, that is something I would need to do either prior to a PhD program, or at the very beginning.

My Goals 2.0
Right now my goals are to graduate from the MAET program in August 2012, and become a technology director by 2014.  I really want to graduate by next August because I am the newest member of the Clio Educator's Association, and would therefore be the first to go if there were any layoffs.  My job is safe through the 2011-2012 school year, but anything beyond that will be determined by the state per pupil expenditures.

I would obviously like to get a technology director job as soon as possible upon graduation, but for the first time in my life, I would prefer to not move.  My wife and I just bought a house that we really like, and both enjoy our jobs.  I have taught in three states in four years of teaching.  Because of this, I will probably be willing to wait a few years before accepting a job as a technology director.

If, at some point during this school year, it becomes apparent that I may get laid off, I will apply to a few full-time PhD programs that offer free tuition for PhD students plus assistantships (e.g. MSU, U of M, Northwestern, Cornell, or Harvard).  I would also apply to jobs in my immediate area.  I would consider 1-year grant-funded positions, as well as jobs outside of education.