Just The Beginning
Amanda Stowe
Although I am nearing the end of my Masters of Arts in Education Program, I do not see this as the final buzzer for my education, but instead another step in a lifelong educational journey. I will enjoy being done with formal education for a little while, but can foresee myself pursuing more education down the road. I truly believe that continuing my education is very important and constantly learning is something I enjoy. I also feel that if I want to stress the importance of learning to my students and athletes, I need to model this behavior for them.
At the beginning of my MAED program I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I had been more involved in the world of professional basketball than I had the world of education. When I found myself back in a classroom as a substitute teacher my love of education came out full force. I was predominantly working with early year classrooms and working in the physical education department. I was enjoying every minute but felt like I was at a point that I needed to update and refresh myself when it came to being a well- rounded educator and coach.
These feelings I was having led me to choose two different concentrations while pursuing my MAED. The first one was a sports, leadership and coaching concentration. I really enjoyed the kinesiology courses that I took and they had an immediate impact on me and the way that I taught physical education classes and coached my athletes. These courses really helped me to see things from a teaching and coaching perspective. As I am still playing professional basketball it was hard for me to really think the thoughts from any angle other than athletes. This concentration helped open my eyes to athletes in a completely different light. I now see them as an educator, a coach, and even was fortunate to get ideas for how administrators need to view athletes.
On top of giving me a different outlook, these courses also gave me a new set of tools that I can use for coaching and teaching physical education. Ideas on warming up, nutrition, philosophies of coaching, the importance of physical activity at different ages, and how to get students and kids excited and engaged in sports were important aspects of this concentration that I needed to be refreshed on. As I have been playing professional basketball I clearly think differently about training, eating, and working out than a young girl in high school I am coaching will. Sports and physical activities need to be fun for children and these courses helped bring me back to that idea and not just see sports as a professional athlete and as a job.
My second concentration of literacy education has proved to be very useful as I am working in a K1 classroom this year. I work with predominantly English Language Learners and finding new techniques and practices that can best help them while they are beginning to learn the English language has been very beneficial. The courses for this concentration have really made me think about my classroom, and how everything I do, say, don’t do, don’t say can help or hinder the language development of my students. I have found myself constantly striving to create a literacy rich environment where my students feel safe and secure to learn the English language.
This program has introduced me to a lot of new technologies. I have been able to use this new technology when working with my athletes and also in my classroom. I now do a lot of video breakdown and replays using DARTFISH to help my athletes see their techniques and how they can improve them. We have iPad's at practice sessions so I can record a player practicing a certain skill, or the team working on a set play or defense and immediately let them see what I am trying to coach them on. I also feel much more confident with the use of the SMART board in my class and integrating technology on a daily basis. I would like to continue to expand my knowledge when it comes to technology, learn different ways to use this technology while I am teaching and coaching, and also incorporate ways for my students to learn and use this same technology.
My courses over the last two years have helped me gain much more knowledge and confidence when it comes to technology and helping other educators and coaches learn and use this technology. As the world of technology is very fast paced and ever changing, I want to stay on top of the new ideas and trends. I can do this through professional development opportunities that our school offers, but also want to still make my own time to read about, research and explore how technology can be used in my classroom and when I am coaching.
I have a love and passion for learning and will continue to be inspired to be a lifelong learner because of this. As I finish my MAED program I feel very confident in what I have learned and how it has had such a positive impact on me as an educator and a coach. While it’s the end of my program, this is just the beginning of my journey as an educator and coach. I will be done with formal education for the time being, but am looking forward to continuing my informal education. The main thing I have taken with me as I enter this world of education is that it's ever changing, and that knowledge is power. I will continue to strive to constantly learn, change, and adapt to myself as an educator, and to the ever changing needs of my students and athletes.
At the beginning of my MAED program I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I had been more involved in the world of professional basketball than I had the world of education. When I found myself back in a classroom as a substitute teacher my love of education came out full force. I was predominantly working with early year classrooms and working in the physical education department. I was enjoying every minute but felt like I was at a point that I needed to update and refresh myself when it came to being a well- rounded educator and coach.
These feelings I was having led me to choose two different concentrations while pursuing my MAED. The first one was a sports, leadership and coaching concentration. I really enjoyed the kinesiology courses that I took and they had an immediate impact on me and the way that I taught physical education classes and coached my athletes. These courses really helped me to see things from a teaching and coaching perspective. As I am still playing professional basketball it was hard for me to really think the thoughts from any angle other than athletes. This concentration helped open my eyes to athletes in a completely different light. I now see them as an educator, a coach, and even was fortunate to get ideas for how administrators need to view athletes.
On top of giving me a different outlook, these courses also gave me a new set of tools that I can use for coaching and teaching physical education. Ideas on warming up, nutrition, philosophies of coaching, the importance of physical activity at different ages, and how to get students and kids excited and engaged in sports were important aspects of this concentration that I needed to be refreshed on. As I have been playing professional basketball I clearly think differently about training, eating, and working out than a young girl in high school I am coaching will. Sports and physical activities need to be fun for children and these courses helped bring me back to that idea and not just see sports as a professional athlete and as a job.
My second concentration of literacy education has proved to be very useful as I am working in a K1 classroom this year. I work with predominantly English Language Learners and finding new techniques and practices that can best help them while they are beginning to learn the English language has been very beneficial. The courses for this concentration have really made me think about my classroom, and how everything I do, say, don’t do, don’t say can help or hinder the language development of my students. I have found myself constantly striving to create a literacy rich environment where my students feel safe and secure to learn the English language.
This program has introduced me to a lot of new technologies. I have been able to use this new technology when working with my athletes and also in my classroom. I now do a lot of video breakdown and replays using DARTFISH to help my athletes see their techniques and how they can improve them. We have iPad's at practice sessions so I can record a player practicing a certain skill, or the team working on a set play or defense and immediately let them see what I am trying to coach them on. I also feel much more confident with the use of the SMART board in my class and integrating technology on a daily basis. I would like to continue to expand my knowledge when it comes to technology, learn different ways to use this technology while I am teaching and coaching, and also incorporate ways for my students to learn and use this same technology.
My courses over the last two years have helped me gain much more knowledge and confidence when it comes to technology and helping other educators and coaches learn and use this technology. As the world of technology is very fast paced and ever changing, I want to stay on top of the new ideas and trends. I can do this through professional development opportunities that our school offers, but also want to still make my own time to read about, research and explore how technology can be used in my classroom and when I am coaching.
I have a love and passion for learning and will continue to be inspired to be a lifelong learner because of this. As I finish my MAED program I feel very confident in what I have learned and how it has had such a positive impact on me as an educator and a coach. While it’s the end of my program, this is just the beginning of my journey as an educator and coach. I will be done with formal education for the time being, but am looking forward to continuing my informal education. The main thing I have taken with me as I enter this world of education is that it's ever changing, and that knowledge is power. I will continue to strive to constantly learn, change, and adapt to myself as an educator, and to the ever changing needs of my students and athletes.