Discussion 6

Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

Begin your post for this week with some background: what is your current job, what program are you enrolled in, what brings you to that program, and what do you expect when you graduate (change jobs? obtain a promotion?).

Currently I am employed at Boles Independent School District at the middle school as a 5^th and 6^th grade science and social studies teacher and 7^th & 8^th grade art teacher. I also will take on any other odd job at the district because I absolutely love where I work. I work concession stands, work the gates at volleyball games, and this year have taken the special interest in teaching anyone who is willing to listen and want to learn more about technology and how it can make your life easier on a daily basis both at home and at work. We only have one computer technician who only works part-time so many urgent issues take some time to get fixed. As a person who cannot stand down-time, I have learned how to solve many of my own problems and now more of my co-teachers are turning to me for help. Already this year I have taught 5^th through 8^th graders how to send and receive email using district Google accounts, how to create and share documents using Google Docs, how to set-up and use blogs, and have started helping students start their own e-portfolio. I am fortunate enough to have a principal who got me a substitute for several days and cleared my schedule to teach these classes all day long during a hour and a half sessions. I am currently enrolled in curriculum and instruction waiting for an opening in the doctoral program so I have decided to receive more training on technologies that may be of use with my students while I wait. I am not expecting to change positions when I finish either the educational technology program or curriculum and instruction program since I love where I am. Learning to me is a passion and I strive to seek out more knowledge for self-satisfaction. Eventually one day I may change my mind and I will have the necessary training to pursue whatever I choose.

Next, describe the kind of work that you want to do and the type at of organization or institution in which you want to work. Use the WorkMatrix^TM in the chapter titled “Getting a Job in Business and Industry” to help organize your thoughts. Do you most desire first, second, third, or fourth level service? Or would you rather design or develop instruction? What features of work are important to you? What economic sector do you want to work in?

After completing the WorkMatrixTM my scores show that I desire first-level service or teaching and delivering training the most. My next highest score was on developing instruction since having to design instruction is not a high importance to me. The features that are the highest to me are high income growth and high promotion growth but no one feature was rated very high with high travel being almost none. I believe that I have found the educational sector to be the best fit for myself with public service being a close runner-up.

Based on these intentions, explain what you need to learn. What skills and qualifications do you need? Will you obtain the skills you need in the required courses in your program? What electives might you need to take to help you develop skills specific to your aspirations?

Based on my results on the WorkMatrixTM, my learning for the career I want to be in will be never ending. I must continue to learn how to reach learners from all backgrounds and all learning types. I am always looking for new technology courses both at the institutional level and ones offered by local teachers' organizations and groups. Moving from traditional teaching methods to more authentic and hands-on learning have become my biggest concern at the present time. As a Texas teacher I am required to continue my training to renew my state certification every five years but personally I continue my learning not to satisfy my certification requirements but as a necessity to provide the best teaching skills as possible. I find myself not only taking those courses necessary to complete my program, but also ones that I am just interested in knowing more about. I have taken several elective courses in gifted and talented education, literacy, and classroom management that will help me reach my goal of understanding how to reach multiple populations.

Finally, what organizations would best support your continued learning after you graduate? Do you think you would benefit from joining those organizations before graduating? Explain why or why not?

I believe that by joining teacher organizations now before I graduate is the best way to continue developing my skills as a teacher. I belong to several specialty groups in science and art, technology groups, and a master teachers' group that concentrates on teaching other educators how to build more authentic lessons that mirror the real-world in their classrooms or school communities. This is extremely beneficial not only to my career but also to making sure I have the most up to date information and training. I often seek the suggestions from more seasoned teachers and teachers from different content areas to see how I can bring variation into my classes. I know that I myself am unable to know everything myself, so seeking the expertise from others who are willing to share their knowledge and skills is the best way to gain necessary skills needed to ensure my students are receiving the best that I have to offer. Professional organizations tend to pool the knowledge and share strategies that have been proven to work in real-world settings. This is also the best option for getting a wealth of information in the most economical way.