Personal Learning Plan:

A Fairy Tale

By Laura Chamberlain

CEP 812 Spring 2011

Click Here to Turn the Page

nce Upon a Time…

In a far away kingdom, where knowledge and kindness was valued above all else….

here was a beautiful princess who sought to gain as much knowledge as she could about technology, so that one day she could help others learn and gain knowledge themselves.

Click Here to Turn the Page

(Okay so it’s not exactly the same, but work with me here people...sheesh pretend a little…)

Click Here to Turn the Page

uckily, the castle had a fortune teller who could tell the princess what she needed to do in order to gain such knowledge.

Click Here to Turn the Page

irst”, said the fortune teller, “You must use your powers of reflection to determine what you have and have not learned.”

econd, you must determine what it is you want to know.”

nd finally, you must determine how you will obtain the knowledge you seek.”

Click Here to Turn the Page

ut, you must do so in a timely manner! Otherwise your wish will be lost to time!

Click Here to Turn the Page

o the princess went to a quiet spot where she could think about what the fortune teller had said.

Click Here to Turn the Page

You stopped pretending didn’t you? See what happens when you stop believing?! Ok, ok, so the library isn’t quite in the woods, but there are the botanical gardens…

Click Here to Turn the Page

he princess looked at the list of all the things she had studied.

Click Here to Turn the Page

Ok, I’ll admit it’s a stretch, but it will have to do…..

Click Here to Turn the Page

“Previously, when I thought about what I knew and what I wanted to know, “ said the princess, “I had set some goals for myself. A major part of those goals was doing a lot of reading and research on my own.

Sadly, while I did check out several of the books I wanted from the library, the end of the year caught up with me, and I have yet to do the reading that I had intended.

Unexpectedly, I have spent much time in discussion with a fellow MAET scholar, and their insight into using technology in the classroom and the MAET program has been wonderful.

Completing the Certification courses has really broadened not only my knowledge, but my perspectives about using technology in the classroom.Click Here to Turn

the Page

“Oh, yes! The time! I mustn’t waste it! Now let’s see. The next step was to figure out what I want to know. Hm….

Specifically, I wanted to understand how students view technology in the classroom. Do they think that it is used as just another ‘gimmick’ to try and make school ‘cool’, or do they feel that they learn more and are more productive when teachers make the effort to use technology? And what about outside of school? And I want to make sure that as a teacher that I am not using technology as a gimmick either.

uddenly, a golden bird alit upon a branch near her, and began to sing in an urgent manner.

Click Here to Turn the Page

lso, I have realized that I need to gain more knowledge of the tools available to me, so that I am a good resource for others. Lay the foundations as it were. My! This is complicated!

Click Here to Turn the Page

efore she knew what was happening, there was a flash of light, and a horrible creature was standing in front of her.

Click Here to Turn the Page

ho are you?!” cried the princess. “What do you want with me?

I am the Terrible Troll of Too Many Thoughts! When you are thinking and

start to become overwhelmed by your ideas, I appear, to drag you down under

my bridge to wallow in the stream of unfinished ideas!”

Click Here to Turn the Page

fairy appeared and said, “My child, don’t you have a plan?”

Click Here to Turn the Page

[Susan Wright, fairy godmother]

Click Here to Turn the Page

Yes! I mean…ahem,

es! While I was looking over everything that I had learned and wanted to learn, I developed a plan to help me achieve my goals.

Click Here to Turn the Page

irst, I have applied and been accepted to the MAET program. Unless I have a full time teaching job in the fall, I hope to complete the program by December of this year. This was a goal that I had set previously, but it helps to think about how this will help me meet my goals about student understanding.

econd, I will set realistic reading goals for myself. There will be much reading for the cohort this summer, so I should choose one book at a time after I gain a better understanding of what they will be covering this summer. Click Here to Turn

the Page

inally, I would like to take time this summer to take some of the free computer classes that are offered at both my local library and the MSU library.

These classes will help to fill out my knowledge of basic programs and strengthen my ability to effectively find information using technology. Knowledge of both these things will help me help my students in the future.

And then, just a quickly as he had appeared-

Click Here to Turn the Page

The Terrible Troll of Too Many Thoughts was gone.

Click Here to Turn the Page

hank you for reminding me of the best thing to do when confronted with too many thoughts!” said the princess. “I will make sure to follow my plan always.”

And with a nod and a smile, the fairy disappeared.

Click Here to Turn the Page

he princess returned to her ivory towers (cough,cough) and thought about what she had experienced. She realized that what the fortune teller had said was completely right.

irst, she must reflect on what she already knew, then determine what she wanted to learn. And finally she must have a clear idea of how to achieve that knowledge.

Click Here to Turn the Page

aving figured out how she would accomplish her goals of learning and teaching others, the princess decided that she could spend a little time thinking about another pressing issue: Prince Charming.

Click Here to Turn the Page

“Ah, well. Perhaps he’s out there somewhere…”

The End