Student Profile: Blake
Current student: U TOPS Superintendent Certificate Program (UT Permian Basin)
Graduate: M.Ed. in Educational Technology (UT Brownsville)
UTTC: Blake, the last few years have been pretty action packed as far as education goes for you. Can you sum up your graduate program activity for us?
Blake: I graduated from the online Ed Tech program in 2004. Then I completed a traditional face-to-face Master’s in Administration in December 2005. Now I’m working on the Superintendent’s Certificate, also through UT TeleCampus. I should complete it by May 2007.
Clearly you have an interest in both technology and school administration. How did you get started learning online with UTTC? What attracted you to the online classroom originally?
Just prior to beginning my M.Ed. in Educational Technology, I was teaching computer applications at a Math and Science magnet campus in Midland, Texas. One day I was looking online for learning projects for my students. I found the UT TeleCampus and saw the Ed Tech program listed as a graduate offering. I thought that was right up my alley so I called the advisor, Dr. Mike Sullivan and asked him about getting started. It ends up I had made this discovery just prior to the start of the semester so I had to hurry to make the deadlines. I faxed him my transcript. Then I got a note from the registrar’s office a couple of days later that said I hadn’t paid my application fee and couldn’t be enrolled in the program because I was too late. I called Dr. Sullivan and explained the situation to him, along with my desire to get started. He actually went to the registrar’s office on my behalf, paid the fee and I got him the check. Needless to say, I was very impressed with a professor taking such an interest in me.
Well it looks like your background and interests make you a natural for the Educational Technology program, but how did you feel about your experiences as an online learner? Was it what you expected it to be?
There were several things that surprised me about my online learning experiences. For me personally, I felt that the online experience was superior to face-to-face instruction. My professors were accessible, the resources were plentiful, the environment was interactive, and there was 24/7 tech support. It was a world class experience for me. I was surprised too, by the great relationship with my cohorts in the program We engaged in chat lectures, online group presentations, and conference calls. It was interactive and inspiring actually.
Graduates from this program frequently praise the relevance of the projects generated as part of their studies. Was that your experience? Did these class assignments spill over to help meet your professional challenges during your studies?
The online assignments were very relevant to my work place. I used the projects to generate a technology curriculum for our campus. The program was very successful. In fact, in February of 2005 the math and science campus I was working on was recognized as one of the top technology programs in the state. Speaker of the House Tom Craddick came to our campus to ask questions about the project and I was invited to the state capitol to present our technology curriculum to members of both the house and senate. Along with twelve other technology educators I spoke about “the effective use of technology in public education” at the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse Symposium. I’ve created many projects for students in Midland.
That’s certainly valuable that your class projects led to some broad meaningful applications in your school. How about your career? You were teaching computer applications when you started the Ed Tech program. Did this M.Ed. lead to any changes in your career?
Since attaining the M.Ed. in Ed Tech my career has definitely been on the fast-track. I had intended on becoming a technology director, but after graduating I decided to get an administrator’s certification and I began interviewing for jobs as an assistant principal. Technology questions are now part of every interview for those administrative positions. Without the graduate credential in educational technology I believe I would have been overlooked as ‘just another candidate.’ I’m an assistant principal now at Goddard Junior High in Midland, Texas.
You’ve got the credentials, the job, a family with a daughter who is a senior in college and son who is a senior in high school, and here you are starting another online program. What’s your interest in the UTOPS program?
Well, I’ve raised the bar on my goals. Now I want to be a district superintendent. This program provides me with the certification to reach for that.
As an adult learner you had to balance a lot of personal and professional activities with your learning. What advice would you have for other working professionals entering these graduate programs?
Assertiveness is the ally of the online student. Intrinsic motivation is a challenge for some, and many activities in online learning are driven by calendar date and personal motivation. Your professors, while available, are not necessarily going to check up on you. The online arena offers you exactly what you put into it. Carpe Diem!
What advice would you have for professors teaching online?
Well, while I do now consider myself an expert in the matter of online teaching and learning, I must defer to my professors at UT Brownsville. I would offer other online professors this valuable piece of advice: speak with Drs. Sullivan and Corbeil at UT Brownsville. Their professional commitment and their ability to reach vast distances through a virtual format to significantly affect the lives of their students with meaningful learning experiences is truly amazing.To them I say, keep up the good work. You both nurtured my career and inspired me to keep learning, thank you.
Any parting thoughts on the importance and value of integrating technology into the curriculum?
There is no better media than technology by which we can create valid, learner-centered educational experiences for our students. As an administrator, I will be a strong advocate for a technology-rich environment for all of the students on my campus. Along with that technology, I am committed to providing teachers with the training to effectively employ technology resources.
Read more UTTC stories.