Setting Goals: Instrumental & Missional Thinking
Short Term Goals (within the next 6 months)
Participating in this STEM program has broadened my horizons. I understand that though instrumental thinking is my usual MO, now I feel that I need to use missional thinking. Within the next six months, there are a few things that I hope to accomplish. First, I would like to spend the summer becoming comfortable with creating assignments on Google Classroom and possibly creating videos for students who are behind or missing days or information to help them catch up with the rest of the class. I also want to take time to explore the educational apps and tools that are available on my phone, tablet, and classroom computer to see how I can use the current technology that is available to me to the best of my ability to enhance the engagement level of my students during the end of this school year and the beginning of the next school year. In addition, I want to research rich math tasks to use in my classroom to ensure a high level of instruction and engagement for my students. I also plan to support my school colleague, Mr. Strong, who will be in the next MSU cohort this upcoming year and hopefully, together we can develop math pd’s for our math teachers and work together on more fully integrating the mathematics program at our school with our school STEM goals.
Long Term Goals (to do in the next 5 years)
Within the next 5 years, I would like to use what I have learned to help create and expand a STEM program at my church. In speaking with the pastor, some of the members want to incorporate STEM into the after school tutoring that is currently offered at the church. They are upgrading the building and trying to determine what sorts of technology could be used to enhance their current tutoring program. I see an opportunity here to use what I have learned so far to participate in the STEM discussions and projects during the summer. Hopefully, this will be a playground where I can test ideas on teaching and learning and technology. The pastor is also interested in my participating in the after school tutoring with math around my schedule. Perhaps this will help me to better understand what student engagement for elementary students involves and help me to develop better methods for engaging students at the high school level in my curriculum. In the future, I also feel that as I improve my understanding of STEM and student engagement, I will better be able to lead my math department teachers in developing STEM related projects within our math curriculum and show them how to think outside the box when trying to use technology to help achieve their goals or improve student engagement.
Short Term Goals (within the next 6 months)
Participating in this STEM program has broadened my horizons. I understand that though instrumental thinking is my usual MO, now I feel that I need to use missional thinking. Within the next six months, there are a few things that I hope to accomplish. First, I would like to spend the summer becoming comfortable with creating assignments on Google Classroom and possibly creating videos for students who are behind or missing days or information to help them catch up with the rest of the class. I also want to take time to explore the educational apps and tools that are available on my phone, tablet, and classroom computer to see how I can use the current technology that is available to me to the best of my ability to enhance the engagement level of my students during the end of this school year and the beginning of the next school year. In addition, I want to research rich math tasks to use in my classroom to ensure a high level of instruction and engagement for my students. I also plan to support my school colleague, Mr. Strong, who will be in the next MSU cohort this upcoming year and hopefully, together we can develop math pd’s for our math teachers and work together on more fully integrating the mathematics program at our school with our school STEM goals.
Long Term Goals (to do in the next 5 years)
Within the next 5 years, I would like to use what I have learned to help create and expand a STEM program at my church. In speaking with the pastor, some of the members want to incorporate STEM into the after school tutoring that is currently offered at the church. They are upgrading the building and trying to determine what sorts of technology could be used to enhance their current tutoring program. I see an opportunity here to use what I have learned so far to participate in the STEM discussions and projects during the summer. Hopefully, this will be a playground where I can test ideas on teaching and learning and technology. The pastor is also interested in my participating in the after school tutoring with math around my schedule. Perhaps this will help me to better understand what student engagement for elementary students involves and help me to develop better methods for engaging students at the high school level in my curriculum. In the future, I also feel that as I improve my understanding of STEM and student engagement, I will better be able to lead my math department teachers in developing STEM related projects within our math curriculum and show them how to think outside the box when trying to use technology to help achieve their goals or improve student engagement.