The long Journey back to USF

When the idea of a digital curriculum was introduced at my school, I was thrilled. I teach a highly technical, hands-on course and I wanted to be able to deliver information efficiently without having to deal with all of the paperwork. I created my own website, YouTube channel and online resources. Two years later the district finally issued everyone a district sponsored Google Suite. My irritation was only that I had to go through the arduous task of transferring all of the content that I created to another location. Everything except the YouTube page was transferred because I’d lost too many of the original files and if I deactivated, the videos would be lost forever. In the process of transferring everything over was that I was ahead of the game. I had created and shared videos on how to use Google Docs with my fellow teachers and they mostly ignored me. Now I was very popular because I already knew how to do everything they were still learning. While using Google Classroom I began to wonder why we had to use several different systems to accomplish one task. I hated transferring data from a Google Spreadsheet to our online grade book and use a different system to send out reminders that assignments were due. I thought that I could collaborate with a software developer to create something that would be a one stop shop for teaching. When I arrived at Canvas training, I was thrilled and irritated. Finally a learning management system that put all of the elements into one place. I realized during the Canvas training that I think like an innovator. The worst part about being someone with big ideas is being stuck behind people who cannot think outside of the box. At that moment, Bethune Cookman extended tuition waivers to family members of employees so I signed up under my father’s name for the Entrepreneurial leadership Master’s degree. It was online so I could continue to work.

I completed one semester of the program before my father’s position was terminated and my tuition waiver was gone so I did not continue the program. Later, I found an online program at FIU in Curriculum and Instruction. I signed up to receive more information. Just as I was looking into the program, my realtor found an affordable home in my neighborhood. After four years of trying to find a home, I closed on my first home.

Innovators and Followers.

When my school decided to implement one to one devices, they built a digital curriculum team. Despite my passion for technology, I was overlooked for a position on the team. While I didn’t let that bother me, I realized that I always seemed to be thinking outside of the box. I wanted to do more with technology in my classroom. My career was beginning to plateau and I wanted to move forward with my ideas rather than follow antiquated methods. USF had an online program in instructional technology. It had been over a decade since I graduated but I decided to return because it was time for a change. The online program would allow me to continue working while earning my degree. I am very happy that I made the decision to earn my master’s degree. I consider learning to be one of the best benefits of being a teacher. While I may not always be the best student, I enjoy the process of learning and sharing ideas. Since I’ve begun I’ve learned more about education and I’ve also learned how much I already knew since I’ve been teaching. Implementing my coursework with my teaching is the best part of this program. It helps bring context to what I’m doing. My goal is to surround myself with other innovators in technology and provide a real world context to the products that they build. I am certain that this degree will help me reach that goal.