Wk 4 DB: Topic 2

Topic #2: What stands in between you and your dream job? Why do you deserve to work in a dream job environment? What do you bring to the table? Be specific. 

Great question and I must admit it really got me to thinking! I feel that what stands between me and my dream job is the current economy and job market for teachers.  I know that here in Oregon they are cutting not only teachers, but days from the school year as well with the $5 million in budget cuts for next year.  I try my hardest to stay up with the latest technology and trends to keep a fresh perspective.  I also am signed up to substitute teach for three different school districts here locally, so that I can become familiar with the staff at the various school districts I have been applying for positions at.   It is still hard though because without any prior teaching experience it is hard to get your foot in the door in sometimes what can be considered a very political environment.  As I stated in topic one that since taking the EMDT program here at Full Sail I have become really interested in teaching online, but I have no idea where to even begin that venture or what I would have to do, so that is another thing that is standing between me and my dream job.

I feel that I deserve to work in my dream job environment because I am a life-long learner.  I stayed home to raise my children and went back to college at 34 to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher.  I completed my undergraduate program in three years because I was eager to get out into the teaching field and share my passion for learning.  I just didn't know that no one was going to be hiring teachers in Arkansas and that by the time I graduated there was actually a freeze on hiring teachers.  After my job position as an accounting supervisor being eliminated at the television network I was at in Arkansas and a messy year and half divorce I packed up my children and moved to Oregon for a fresh start.  I then decided to broaden my teaching experience by completing the EMDT program at Full Sail to hopefully give me new opportunities in the teaching field and keep me current with technology and teaching practices that are being used or should be used in schools today.  In short, I just feel like my passion for teaching and desire to learn should be shared with others in the hope to spark that same intensity inside of them for something they feel passionate about.

I feel that with my technology skills from working at a computer store for five years (1998-2003) creating estimates for school districts on computer labs, troubleshooting computers, installing hardware/software, and researching the latest technology for our storefront and customers that I have great technology skills to offer any school district.  I have also had my own web design and hosting business since 1996 giving me another great set of skills that I can bring to the table.  On top of that as I stated previously, I am a life-long learner who is always looking at all the new technology available and eager to share it with others.  I feel that all of these skills plus my current course study at Full Sail would make me a great asset to any school district who would be willing to give me the opportunity to showcase my skills for them.

Wk 4 DB: Topic 1

Topic #1: Briefly share what your dream teaching or presentation environment would be like, be specific about what such a place would include (beyond just the tech toys).

Hmmm...this one is somewhat hard for me because my dream job has always been to become an Art teacher, but when I went for my undergraduate degree in Arkansas there were no Art teachers in the schools. It wasn't until about a month before I graduated that they put it back into the schools and at that point I was not financially able to add another 60 hours in art courses that were needed to obtain that degree. Therefore, I went into Elementary education (P-4).  After completing my student internship in 2006 I was sure that if I couldn't teach Art that I would very much like to teach 4th grade in a school very similar to the one that I completed my internship at.  I was placed at a technology school where all of the classrooms had a Smartboard, projector, computer, and printer.  Then one classroom from grades 2-4 had laptops for every student.  It was amazing the things they were learning and with my technology background I was totally immersed in that style of teaching.  Unfortunately most school districts aren't that fortunate and are lucky to even have a computer in their classroom at all.  After taking my courses here at Full Sail online I have really become very interested in becoming an online instructor, but am not quite sure where I would even begin looking or becoming qualified for such a position.

At any rate, my dream teaching environment (regardless of the grade level) would be one where I could implement many of the strategies that we have learned during our time here at Full Sail. I loved the gaming strategies course and completed my Action Research on teaching social skills for the workforce using gaming, so I would love to be able to implement some form of game-based learning into my classroom.  Other than that being able to communicate with my class online through Schoology or a platform similar to Full Sail's would rate high on my list.  This has been an incredible journey and left me wanting to unleash my creativity and explore all I can do with the technology available to me.  I would love to share that passion and journey with other students. Just being able to keep the students engaged and in a comfortable setting is important as well.  Wouldn't it be great if classrooms weren't full of stark white walls and 30 or so wooden desks or tables tightly crammed into a small space?  Having the opportunity to teach others online from the comfort of their own home provides a much more personal feel to me. I know that it is not the same as being in a classroom full of students who are right there in front of you, but I really think I am tailored for the online atmosphere or at least one where I could integrate both the classroom and online aspects equally.