Original Statement of Goals

The opportunities and experiences that served as my foundation as I entered into the Master of Instruction Program provided me with a wealth of information in content knowledge, instructional delivery, and assessment practices in many disciplines and career pathways.  These aspects united with intense exploration into the emerging field of Educational Technology have since enhanced the quality of my programs through the acquisition of knowledge, proven techniques, and instructional insight.  Undoubtedly, I have grown and matured with respect to my instructional beliefs and educational direction throughout my graduate experience at the University of Delaware by way of the course work, the countless hours of research, and the sharing of teaching experiences among fellow M.I. candidates and colleagues.  However, the greatest impact occurred recently as I embarked to compile and organize the materials for the Master of Instruction portfolio.

The mere act of reflecting has provided quite a rewarding seasoning for the accountability issues and requirements that lie before all education professionals.  I consider myself blessed to have acquired the plethora of documentary material prior to my graduate acceptance to enhance my awareness of past practices.  Every individual should conduct this reflective process not once, but periodically throughout their lives to aid in solidifying beliefs, aspirations, goals, and more importantly, chosen pathways.  The key to fulfillment lies not on the roads upon which we trampled one another and snuffed out opportunities, but on those avenues upon which we traversed on the backs of others or provided support for a weary traveler, ourselves.

My world and the environment that I have created for my students have been shaped by numerous influences from friendly acquaintances (the meekest of travelers) to admired colleagues (legacies in travel lore).  Stemming from the field of engineering with its mathematical and scientific ties, and possessing the free-spirited and creative mind of the arts, my original program goals were conceived to improve the instructional techniques in my Visual Art and Technology Education classrooms through the construction of real-life contexts and introduction of past encounters.

Never altered, but frequently revisited, my statement of goals for improving
the quality of instruction in my classroom seek:

To provide each student with an opportunity in Visual Art and Technology Education that is exciting, memorable, and applicable to his or her world, and tailor the instructional delivery to meet the needs of all students regardless of learning ability.
Determine learning difficulties that may hinder a student's ability to acquire knowledge;
Utilize alternative methods of instruction to provide students with a variety of learning; and,
Provide students with real-world applications in their problem solving experiences.

[ Courses that assisted in the fulfillment of goals ]

To effectively integrate educational technology trends into the classroom to broaden and enhance the Visual Art and Technology Education curriculums as well as obtain emerging information with regards to recent technological advancements.
Select applicable multimedia equipment to effectively deliver curriculum;
Integrate appropriate hardware/software to enhance the learning environment; and,
Utilize Web Quests for the acquisition of knowledge from the vast array of resources that will be pertinent and meaningful to the student's problem solving and critical thinking activities in the classroom.

[ Courses that assisted in the fulfillment of goals ]

To deliver innovative approaches in interdisciplinary studies and provide fair assessment.
Provide students with cross-curricular lessons to enhance their educational experience;
Select and apply appropriate assessment strategies to evaluate student work; and,
Increase communication opportunities between the school environment and parent/student.

[ Courses that assisted in the fulfillment of goals ]

To serve as a resource for my fellow colleagues in the aforementioned educational areas.
Provide colleagues with opportunities to integrate educational technology into their classrooms;
Arrange instructional support for students at-risk in core curriculum areas through the application of interdisciplinary projects; and,
Share experiences in educational technology during in-service or faculty meetings.

[ Courses that assisted in the fulfillment of goals ]