As the curtains close on this final semester I find it necessary to take a step back and reflect on what has transpired over the last two years. As someone with two decades of experience in this field the most important adjustments have been in personal attitude and professional latitude. Where I have applied myself to the coursework and honestly assessed my existing methods, I have found fresh ideas by honoring the discipline. Aristotle famously said “through discipline comes freedom” and this has been evidenced by how much my tools and techniques in instructional technology have improved over the last two years.
The lessons gleaned in ITEC 7460 include a codification of the experiences unique to instructional coaching. The knowledge that these trials and tribulations are universal and providing proven strategies for dealing with them is something that will continue to benefit me greatly. I have also begun to focus much more on building relationships with my staff. The differences can be subtle, however, trust is a bridge to all of the change you envision and that bridge needs regular maintenance. I was also struck by many of the personal reflections in our textbook and I have already used the idea of paving the trampled grass as a metaphor for getting in front of change during several presentations.
Seeing as how this will likely be my last academic journey on a long and winding career path, it is my sincere hope that I can continue to find inspiration from others without spending the cost of tuition. As a down-payment on this idea I plan to aggressively expand my professional community over the next year and spend more time challenging myself and my ideas. I have been continuing to diversify my PLC and I am also looking at some ways in which I can enable and sustain more professional networking in all my endeavors. The other plan I have for personal improvement is in making time for myself and the various vocations that have informed and sustained who I am for the previous fifty-some-odd years.
The lessons gleaned in ITEC 7460 include a codification of the experiences unique to instructional coaching. The knowledge that these trials and tribulations are universal and providing proven strategies for dealing with them is something that will continue to benefit me greatly. I have also begun to focus much more on building relationships with my staff. The differences can be subtle, however, trust is a bridge to all of the change you envision and that bridge needs regular maintenance. I was also struck by many of the personal reflections in our textbook and I have already used the idea of paving the trampled grass as a metaphor for getting in front of change during several presentations.
Seeing as how this will likely be my last academic journey on a long and winding career path, it is my sincere hope that I can continue to find inspiration from others without spending the cost of tuition. As a down-payment on this idea I plan to aggressively expand my professional community over the next year and spend more time challenging myself and my ideas. I have been continuing to diversify my PLC and I am also looking at some ways in which I can enable and sustain more professional networking in all my endeavors. The other plan I have for personal improvement is in making time for myself and the various vocations that have informed and sustained who I am for the previous fifty-some-odd years.