I have chosen "hiking" as the metaphor for my ePortfolio. I chose this metaphor because I love hiking. I like getting ready for a hike, planning the itinerary and packing the backpack. I love starting the hike in the morning and reaching the goal for the day. I love discovering places and then returning home physically tired but mentally and emotionally energized for the next couple of days after the hike. I feel that my time in the MET program took me through multiple "hikes", many times making me feel extremely tired but mentally and emotionally transformed. Those "hikes" had the right amount of challenge for me and allowed me to build strength in educational technology step by step. I decided to concentrate on one step after the other and found my pace by taking one course at a time. By doing so, I didn’t miss the beauty of the journey, and my knowledge grew step by step, and now I can look back and realize how far I have traveled.
Preparation
It is great to begin a hike with a set of skills to guide you through challenges and decisions. However, you may go on your first hike with experienced hikers who will guide you through your first hiking experience and acquire necessary skills by hiking and observing. This is how I went on my first 15-km hike - I decided to do it the morning of the hike as it was going to be an easy 15-km guided hike on a beautiful summer day. I came dressed in a summer a dress and sport sandals without a backpack. Everyone noticed I was an avid hiker then.
Similarly, I started my first MET course unprepared. I registered late and had only one course available at that time: ETEC 565M Mobile Education. During the course I acquired the following skills:
problem solving skills
research skills
video recording and editing skills
website creation skills
peer reviewing skills
content curation skills
I also learned how to decide which tools to use for various projects and how to collaborate with others in an online environment.
My second course was ETEC 510. In this course I was able to connect theory and practice by designing technology supported learning environments. I learned how students learn and how effective learning experiences are designed. This was the most enjoyable course in the program and most applicable to my current work. I had the best teammates for a group project.
These two courses prepared me well for the rest of the program. They allowed me to connect theory and practice, learn how to use various educational tools for creating learning experiences, they boost my confidence and equipped me with skills necessary to complete the program. They also made me feel that the rest of the program would be an enjoyable and valuable experience.