CMU GRADUATE STUDIES

D. M. Egan, Junior's Fall Semester 2016 Resources Related to EDU 707 Through CMU's Global Campus

WEEK 01 (October 24 - October 30):

Introduction To My Classmates and Professor:

Outline:

OCTOBER 28, 2016

I started out as an undergraduate student studying elementary education with a major in mathematics and a minor in geography. Like all of us, I had big dreams; yet, I did not know what the dynamics of my career would involve as circumstances evolved. After graduating from CMU in 2006, I substitute taught in a long-term high school position in Coleman, Michigan, before teaching 6th grade math for two years in Davidson County, North Carolina. Subsequently, my wife and I started a tutoring business with the model of using interactive whiteboard technology as a means to engage students who need support in their learning of mathematics. Incidentally and about half of a year later, financial and other reasons caused me to take a mid-year teaching position in Polk County, Florida, where I taught 5th grade math and reading, as well as facilitated a service learning project related to a need in a nearby community. After that school year we moved back again to our home State of Michigan.

Beginning in 2010 until 2014, I had the privilege of developing professional relationships, throughout various mid Michigan school districts, as a substitute teacher before taking a position in August of 2014 as a fatherhood support specialist in connection with the Head Start and Great Start early childhood programs. However, due to budgetary reasons (after gaining over two years of experience) I was issued a layoff from the local community action agency who employed me, and am now unemployed as of October 2016.

In terms of the next chapter of my life and career, I am focusing on many things which include: (1) seeking employment, (2) striving to be an increasingly involved parent at Renaissance Public School Academy where our 3 sons attend and (3) continuing to earn this online master’s degree in Educational Technology, which I began in 2013! Prior to EDU 707, I have completed: EDU 590, EDU 603, EDU 614, EDU 642 and EDU 662. Consequently, I am just getting over the halfway point toward the 33 required credits and hope to finish the remaining 15 credits over the next 2 to 3 years as finances and other circumstances permit.

It is important to clarify that I am no longer a classroom teacher; yet, I believe that this degree is preparing me for a myriad of opportunities in the future. I’m honestly not sure how my career will blossom; however, it will likely involve some level of experience with the following: entrepreneurial aspirations, business in its many applications, non-profit public outreach and ministry and/or potentially with a school district functioning in a certified position as either a teacher or in a specialized position. My concept of what a specialized position would entail is essentially where I would support the integration and relevant use of technology within the broad range of components of the academic curriculum; doing so as a bridge between the families of every student and the larger society in which our children are being raised and with which they will fully engage themselves when they mature into adulthood.

As an educator with a passion for helping people learn, I believe that 21st century technologies, when used correctly and ethically, are among the most powerful educational tools which can and should be harnessed for the purpose of promoting good citizenship (which is my ultimate goal as one who desires to positively influence our youth in terms of helping them to develop respect and responsibility as fundamental character qualities)! Furthermore, I enjoy spending time with family, biking, swimming, camping, kayaking, landscaping, horticulture, cooking, reading, research, writing, composing songs, singing, guitar and piano playing, motivational speaking, utilizing interactive whiteboard and other technologies for creating a broad range of educational resources, encouraging elderly residents in nursing homes and reaching out to incarcerated men for the purpose of cultivating a brighter future, in light of prisoners who will reenter society after serving time with the Department of Corrections.

I expect to discipline myself this semester as I strive for excellence through taking each assignment seriously so that I can expand my knowledge of technology in connection with helping students, whether children or adults, to achieve success in connection with various subjects, concepts and skills. I hope to be an encouragement to my classmates in any way that I can, within reason, so that, as a team of EDU 707 classmates, we can all finish this semester with a sense of authentic online collaboration which will catapult each of us into the next stage of our careers. Ultimately, I want to gain the skills necessary for helping me to make the world a better place through my influence as an educator who wants to harness technology as a vehicle which will bring knowledge and support to children and adults.