The official beginning of a journey into educational technology

Hi, I’m Heather Braum, and I currently am the technology librarian at the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS). I come to the ed tech program with a different background than most students, in that I don’t have an education degree or much formal teaching experience. I’ve taught one graduate-level course for the library school I graduated from, on technology, naturally. I’ve also presented at numerous workshops and conferences on technology topics and delivered countless hours of training to the librarians NEKLS serves.  I’ve also started dabbling in online teaching through remote login software, webinar platforms, and website modules. This is the future of continuing education for adults.

In 2010, I helped develop, organize, and lead a statewide online continuing education program for librarians called 23 Things Kansas. Through this process, I discovered how much I loved teaching adults about technology in an online environment.

I see a shift in how, where, and when people learn. Online teaching and learning is becoming an important part of our society as jobs and information quickly change. People need to constantly retool, but can’t always travel. The convenience of online education through online meeting software and online systems is critical for lifelong learning opportunities.

Through Twitter, I have connected with innovative educational technology leaders. They ignited my interest in the field of educational technology, and I realized further study in this area would better prepare me to help others harness the power of technology. A career path toward education technology is a natural next step for me to take, enabling me to combine my interest in these emerging learning environments with my passion for teaching adults.

I’m pursuing the Education Technology degree and the Online Teaching certificate (Adult Learners) because I want to know better how to reach and serve adults when training them with technology. I also want to learn how to better incorporate technology into training on any topic. What works, what doesn’t work, and why is it that way? A lot of my knowledge is self-acquired, and I know pursuing a degree in education technology will help fill in the holes in my knowledge.

My career goals are many:

  • Become fluent in the new learning and instruction.
  • Become skilled in online instruction to instruct librarians, information professionals, and other professionals through continuing education opportunities.
  • Expand my instructional strategies to become a more effective trainer.
  • Serve as a faculty technology instructor or a technology resource librarian in online classrooms.

Boise State’s program intrigues me because the contemporary curriculum indicates the faculty is knowledgeable in the latest research and trends in educational technology instruction, which only improves the quality of its students’ education. The combination of strong, theoretical courses and practical courses will provide the best framework for a career in an ever-changing profession. Adding the Online Teaching (Adult Learners) certificate will prepare me for a career in online instruction and support.

I’m excited about the opportunities and knowledge to be gained as part of this program. This journey unofficially started awhile ago, but has now officially begun!