In Manitoba we are constantly…

….Under Construction

My son worked on the highways this summer. As an “interested” mom, I learned about the road construction process. As I drove to Pelican Lake for one last weekend with the purpose of enjoying the fall colors we were paused in our travels for… you guessed it… road construction.

Road Closed?

Rather than being annoyed, it gave me time to contemplate this final project. I often make analogies of learning as a journey, but as I sat in the lineup of vehicles waiting to pass the workers, I took up the challenge to see the individual courses I took in my Masters programs as jobs or tasks that serve a purpose in strengthening and repairing.

Below is the list of courses I took. Please click on the links to find out more about my dominant “take-aways” from each course and how it falls into my personal construction project. Within each link, there are flipbooks to preview larger documents. Navigation and buttons to expand for reading are found at the bottom of the flipbook frames.

07:752, Overview of Educational Issues07:751, Interpreting Educational Issues02:780, Curriculum Foundations
02:781, Innovative Pedagogies in Education02:782, Curriculum Planning and Implementation02: 783, Contemporary Approaches to Curriculum Studies
07:798, Selected Topics: Action research07:798, Selected Topics: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion04:776, Social Ecological Resilience
01:770, Issues in Educational AdministrationMASS: Field-Led LeadershipSummative- under construction!
Click on any of the above links for reflections and artifacts.
My family system – one of many systems acting upon me at any given moment.
Talents – recognizing my strengths; celebrate others
Cycles – never ending, always moving.

Summary

Systems

One major awakening I had through taking my Master’s course was awakening to how many overlapping systems are in play at any given time. This could be with respect to student learning and growth, environmental awareness and consideration or personally in my life as a human.

Cycles

A second awareness that I was given time and space to consider in taking my Master’s program were cycles. Cycles appeared in many discussions of learning, growth and awareness. As a cycle is never-ending, we must be comfortable in our “incompleteness”.

Talents

My Master’s degree allowed me to understand more about myself through my growth, collaboration and self-reflection. When I struggled to find a place in this community, I always felt supported when I slipped. I was also encouraged in areas of talents and uniqueness was celebrated – practicing the idea of inclusivity and celebrating diversity.

Through reflections, stories, artifacts, analogies and images I hope I have indicated my personal growth throughout my Master’s “construction” project. I am proud of my achievements and look forward to applying my new skills and knowledge.

I am unsure what my next construction project will look like or how it will shape into being. I feel confident that issues and opportunities will appear, but with a new lens – colored by critical reflection. The cycle of construction will start with collection of resources and materials, acknowledgement of systems of influence and gathering of talents and skills to work to completion.