Proficiencies 1
Running head: ACademic and professional prociencies
Assessment of Academic and Professional Proficiencies
Mike Dillon
WaldenUniversity
Foundations for Doctoral Study
SBSF-8005-02ED
Dr. Evelyn Johnson, Facilitator
12-16-07
Week 2
Proficiencies 1
Assessment of Academic and Professional Proficiencies
Participation in a doctoral program is a challenging venture that requires commitment, determination, hard work, self-motivation, and discipline. This type of program also requires a person to draw upon a variety of different skills and areas of knowledge including specific content areas, personal and professional experiences, writing skills, technology skills, and so forth. Forethought and planning are necessary in order to make the educational journey productive and efficient. Thus, an assessment of one’s strengths and needs is a necessary step in developing a successful approach to earning an advanced degree. This assessment should include academic coursework, professional development and contributions, experiences in research and writing, teaching experiences and volunteerism, technological skills and access to resources, strengths and needs in academic and research areas, a statement of goals, and careful consideration of the relationship between the student and the university.
Academic Coursework
I attended LutherCollege in Decorah, Iowa from September of 1995 to December of 1999. I graduated magna cum laude and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the college. In addition to a major in mathematics, I also obtained a secondary education credential as well as a minor in physics. Mathematics, physics, and education courses were a significant part of my coursework as an undergraduate, but the liberal arts nature of the college allowed me to take a variety of other courses including writing and history classes, general psychology, anthropology, foreign language, public speaking, computer science, and so forth. My educational experience at LutherCollege included an in-depth study of my major areas as well as an opportunity to explore other academic areas. I received a well-rounded education that prepared me to be successful in the professional setting.
Upon the completion of my undergraduate studies, I entered the education field and started gaining valuable teaching experience. After spending several years in the classroom, I decided to attend graduate school in order to continue to mature as an educator. I attended the Universityof Phoenixfrom December of 2004 to July of 2006. I completed a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Computer Education. Although a majority of the coursework dealt with developing curriculum and integrating that curriculum into the classroom, it also included three courses that prepared me for reviewing, designing, and conducting research. Additionally, I chose to earn a specialization in the use of technology in the classroom.
In general, I feel that my educational experiences at both the undergraduate and graduate levels have been high-quality and diverse. The academic knowledge I gained through my coursework has complemented my experiences in the classroom; and I have become a successful classroom teacher as well as a respected educator among my peers. That being said, I recognize that education is a dynamic field that requires me to continually adapt and evolve. Continuing my education and participating in professional development activities help me to maintain my creativity and stay innovative in the classroom.
Professional Development and Contributions
Many of the professional development activities that I have participated in dealt with the initiatives and goals set by the school district for which I work. Over the past several years, I have attended training that focused on improving reading and literacy skills, working with and incorporating diversity in education, and integrating technology into the classroom. In addition, I routinely attend mathematics conferences in order to connect with other educators, share information, and learn new ideas for classroom instruction. I also try to find as many opportunities to give presentations in professional settings. I have conducted in-service activities in my district regarding various technology applications. I have also given presentations at professional conferences on the topics of teaching experiences and effective classroom activities. Effective professional development is an important aspect of teaching. These types of activities allow teachers to model the ideals of lifelong learning.
Academic knowledge, classroom experience, and professional development are critical aspects of becoming an expert in the field of education. This knowledge provides the foundation for developing innovative ideas that significantly impact the field. However, the ability to share that knowledge and back it up with solid evidence is critical. Conducting research and effectively writing about the results are essential to sharing information with the rest of the learning community.
Research and Writing Experience
A significant portion of my graduate experience was based upon learning how to develop, design, and conduct an action research project. Over the course of the program, I conducted a variety of literature reviews. I gathered research and wrote papers on a variety of topics including math anxiety, quantitative and qualitative research methods, classroom pedagogy, curriculum, and so forth. I also developed an action research proposal for combating math anxiety in the classroom. The final product of this process was a sample research proposal that emulated all of the necessary components of a proper research project. Although the project was not a formal study, it gave me valuable experience for how to conduct research, how to use qualitative and quantitative research methods, how to design a study, and how to properly record and present research findings. Unfortunately, the constraints of the program did not allow me to conduct the actual project.
To date, I have had a lot of classroom experience and many opportunities to hone my writing skills. However, I have not had the opportunity to publish an article or conduct a formal study. I feel that the pursuit of an advanced degree is the avenue that will allow me to take the next step as a scholar-practitioner by using research and publication to actively join the academicdiscourse that drives educational philosophy.
Teaching Experiences and Volunteerism
I am currently in my ninth year of teaching. Throughout my career, I have had a variety of different experiences. I have taught in a large, suburban school and in small, rural communities. I have taught in districts with significant amounts of cultural diversity and in a small farming community with very little diversity. I have also had a variety of teaching experiences at all levels of the secondary curriculum. I have taught seventh grade math, General Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I and II, Geometry and College Geometry, and Calculus. I have utilized application-based mathematics curricula, math curricula based on fundamental skills, and software-based resources. I have taught Physics and have developed curriculum for the talent and gifted (TAG) program. I have worked with TAGstudents, special needs students, English language learners (ELL), and regular education students. Although I have not had a long career at this point, I feel that the experiences I have had helped me develop a teaching style that responds to the needs of many different types of learners.
I have been in my current position at PostvilleHigh School for six years. Teaching at Postville has been a unique experience. Although it is a small, rural community in northeast Iowa, a large processing plant has attracted a large number of immigrants to the town. Postville has a relatively large Hispanic population, many individuals from Eastern European countries, and a large number of Hasidic Jews. This cultural diversity in the community is reflected in the student population of the school; and the educational challenges faced by the school are a unique blend of those faced by small schools and those faced by larger districts. In my classroom, I must continually work to develop ways of working with groups of students whose educational needs span the entire spectrum. At any given time of the day, a single class may have TAG students, special education students, English speaking students that are native to the community, students who speak little English that have recently immigrated to the country, privileged students, students from very poor families, students with aspirations to be the first in their family to attend a post-secondary program, and so forth. Working in this type of classroom setting has required me to continually seek out new and innovative ways to help students learn.
In addition to my role as a classroom educator, I am involved in many other activities at the school. Some of these activities are volunteer positions and other pay a modest stipend. I am the technical director and accompanist for the musical. I am also a junior class advisor. Both of these jobs allow me the opportunity to work with students outside of the classroom. I feel that this is important in developing a good rapport with students. I have coached younger students in summer activities, and I volunteer my time to broadcast sporting events for the local, non-profit radio station. These types of activities allow me to get to know students in other settings and vice versa.
I also have taken on a variety of leadership roles in the school. I am the district website designer and coordinator. I serve on the district technology committee, I am a member of the Teacher Quality Committee, and I am the APR (Annual Progress Report) coordinator for the math department. I also have been an officer for the local education association for three years. Currently, I am president of the association and work with union personnel and administrators to resolve issues that arise. My teaching experience has been diverse; and I have taken on many different roles that have helped me develop skills as a teacher, a mentor to students and colleagues, and a leader.
Technology Skills and Resource Availability
The online learning environment provides a unique manner in which to learn new information, communicate will peers, and continue the pursuit of lifelong learning. Due to the nature of this setting, technology skills and the ability to navigate through vast amounts of information are essential. I feel that I have good technology-based skills. I can utilize a variety of different applications, have the ability to learn new applications quickly, and am excited about the opportunity to advance my technology skills. I also have a variety of resources that are available to me in my studies. I have access to computer programs that allow me write, create presentations, and manage information. Through high-speed access to the Internet, I can also retrieve information from the Walden University Library, from online databases suchas EBSCO Host, and so forth. The Internet also allows for communication with my classmates, professors, and other people throughout the learning community. In addition, my work setting affords me the chance to work with other professionals in education. Although face-to-face communication with individuals at WaldenUniversity is somewhat limited, the resources necessary to successfully work toward a degree are available and accessible.
Strengths and Needs in Academic and Research Areas
The pursuit of doctoral degree is a significant undertaking, and I believe that I possess a variety of academic and research strengths that are necessary in order to successfully complete this type of program. In addition to the specific academic knowledge that I have in mathematics, physics, technology, and education, I have strong general knowledge that gives me a good foundation for learning new things. My graduate education also involved studying research techniques, conducting literature reviews, and learning how to properly conduct and report research.My educational experience has helped me develop other skills that are necessary to be successful in a doctoral program. I have excellent verbal skills and can communicate in a variety of ways. I can effectively convey my ideas and information orally, in written form, and through electronic media. I have also had a significant amount of experience working successfully in groups and am a team player. I feel that I have earned the respect of those that I work with and that I am an individual that people can trust and easily communicate with. I have a strong work ethic, I am open to learning new things, I am a fast learner, and I am intrinsically motivated to complete tasks and goals to the best of my ability. I set high standards for myself and do not accept mediocrity in the work I do.
Although I feel that I am well-prepared to pursue a doctoral degree, there are several needs that I have. First, I want to continue to develop my knowledge of educational pedagogy. I specifically want to continue to learn about technological applications and want to learn how to effectively integrate technology in the classroom. Second, I want to continue to improve my writing skills in order to prepare myself for preparing and reporting research. I have also not had the opportunity to publish articles or share my ideas with the educational community. Scholarly writing is one avenue that can help me become a more effective scholar-practitioner. Third, I have not had many chances to formally conduct research, and I feel that I need more opportunities to gain actual experience in this area. Throughout my career, I have built upon a strong academic background, and I have gained diverse practical experience. I feel that my most significant need involves learning how to blend my academic skills and my practical experiences with formal research practices in order to actively contribute to the greater learning community.
Learning Community Goals
By examining my strengths and needs in the academic and research settings, I have identified several goals that I would like to achieve as I complete my doctoral program. First, I want to continue to increase my knowledge with respect to educational techniques and the use of technology in the classroom. Second, I want to continue to work on my presentation skills and develop my abilities to effectively share ideas with my peers. Third, I want improve my writing skills with the intent of eventually publishing articles and research results. Finally, I want to gain more experience with conducting research and using that research to guide educational decision-making.
Relationship with WaldenUniversity
In my pursuit to further my education, the online educational environment has proven to be an excellent match for me. Online learning provides the freedom that allows me to successfully balance the needs of my family, the demands of my job, and the requirements of attending graduate school. In addition, my previous experiences in online learning were very successful and enjoyable. The online setting has helped me become more comfortable with a form of communication that is becoming the norm in the global community. Earning a degree in educational technology and attending classes in the online setting seem like a natural fit since the learning environment itself will allow me to directly apply the same ideas that I will eventually use in my classroom as part of my own education.
I feel that earning my degree through WaldenUniversity, specifically, will allow me to maximize my learning efforts. A doctoral degree in educational technology will provide me with the knowledge and skills that will allow me to reach both immediate and long term goals. I will be able to work toward my personal learning goals, to use the skills in my current job to improve as a teacher, and to open doors to other opportunities in the field of education. I will be challenged by the content and rigor of the classes, will have access to extensive amounts of information and resources, will have the chance to develop superior content knowledge and communication skills, and will have the support of an institution that prides itself on integrity and the mission of social change.
Summary
I am excited about the opportunity to earn an advance degree through WaldenUniversity. I feel that I have many of the necessary skills in order to be successful in the program. I have a diverse academic background that draws on knowledge from a variety of different areas. I have professional experience as a teacher that has given me insight into the educational system. I have writing skills and technology skills that will allow me to successfully function within the learning community. I also feel that WaldenUniversity will provide me with opportunities to continue to grow academically and professionally. This educational experience will allow me to improve my research and writing skills and to gain valuable scholarly experience. In addition, the core values of the institution provide the foundation for participating in a challenging program that will give me credibility as a scholar and as a professional.