Jeff Miles

 

 

Charles Swindoll, a famous author stated “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”. Twenty years ago, I never would have imagined that I would be working as an Administrator, teacher, and coach in the mountains of North Carolina. After graduating high school in 1996 I started my journey into higher education with no idea what I wanted to major in or pursue as a career. My first year in college proved to be incredibly challenging as I played two varsity sports, completed 30 credit hours, worked a part time job, and still tried to enjoy the college experience. As my sophomore and junior years progressed I continued to stay busy, but still had no direction in what career I wanted to follow. I had changed my major twice and was at the stage where I had to declare a major. Most of my friends were headed in the direction of business or law, which I knew I had no interest in. By the recommendation of my advisor I elected to major in what I truly enjoyed studying, which was Psychology. While I had no idea what I would do with a Psychology degree I did well in my classes and would sort it out after college.

 

After I graduated college I was selected to play and coach in the Victorian Lacrosse league in Melbourne Australia. This was no doubt an excited opportunity for me and allowed me time to reflect on what would create a meaningful life as a career. After playing one season and coaching the under 17 team to their most successful record in history I knew I wanted to coach long term. Finally coming to the realization that playing lacrosse would not be a long term career I moved back to North Carolina and started applying for jobs. My first and only job offer was to start a new lacrosse program at a private, all boys boarding school in Asheville, NC. From the first day at practice I knew immediately I wanted to help coach and shape young men's lives as a career. The following year I was offered an entry level teaching job and houseparent role which I immediately accepted.

 

I was the youngest faculty member on campus and knew I was going to have to learn as much as I could on my own. I stayed up late nearly every night reading and preparing for classes the next day. I wanted to be a great teacher, one that inspired others to enjoy learning. In reflecting back, college could not have prepared me for the challenges I endured regardless of my focus of study. After eight years of teaching and coaching I was offered a senior Administrative role at our school. I knew at this time I would need some “tools for the trade” and started to look at graduate programs. Michigan State was no doubt the perfect program for what I was looking for. I needed a program to improve my knowledge for teaching, coaching, technology, and administration. It was clear out of all of the schools that I searched that Michigan State would be the only school that could satisfy my needs to become a better educator.

 

One of the most appealing aspect of the Michigan State MAED program was the flexibility to take courses that were relevant and applicable to my versatile role. I elected to focus my concentration on coaching and athletic administration to allow me to take three classes that would help shape and refine my coaching role. In Kin 855, Psychosocial Bases of Coaching promoted me to reflect and develop my coaching philosophy. It also allowed me to examine motor learning, human growth and development, and the Psychology of sport. Oddly enough this proved to be one of the most challenging courses I would take in the program. It forced me to evaluate myself as a coach and look at key ethical issues. Some of the other projects included mapping out practice schedules, and examining Title IX in depth. It was the first time that I examined gender differences in depth and I found a new understanding of female sports.

 

The next course in my concentration was Kin 854, Legal and Administrative Issues. This proved to be one of the most applicable courses I would take in the program. Each week we would examine an issue that Administrators face and we would reflect and collaborate in how we would handle each situation. Some of these issues like liabilities, torts, supervision, negligence, termination, due process, gender equality, waivers, sexual harassment, and emergency protocols are all relevant in my role as an Administrator. Some of the assignments like creating a waiver, forming an emergency protocol, and ways to avoid liabilities are all areas that are now used frequently by me. The last course that I completed in my concentration area was Kin 856, Promoting Positive Youth Development. This course focused primarily on muscle and growth functions for sport. While several assignments focused on memorizing muscles and movements of exercises, some of the most valuable assignments included creating a plan for injury prevention, forming an optimal workout out plan specifically for the sport that I coach, and a thorough investigation for all of the various supplements that can be used. One assignment in particular that I have implemented to our players is nutritional and hydration information for post workouts. My players have followed the recommendations and have seen improved in their recovery time for their work outs. Each of these three courses provided some valuable insight and applicable information that will improve my overall knowledge as a coach. The collaboration among other quality coaches in my courses would also help see other perspectives and would ultimately shape my coaching philosophy.

 

As education continues to evolve so does the use of technology in the classroom. It's important to examine what is most effective means in how we use technology versus what technologies might not have an effective method on most learners. There were several courses in this program that discussed technology, but two courses in particular allowed me to grasp a better understanding as to what is the most effective way learners in this generation best utilize technology. I have to admit I was a bit nervous enrolling in a course that would focus on the topic of technology, but EAD 882, Technology in the Digital Age proved to be a course that would force me to go outside of my comfort zone while learning key principles about technology in the classroom. EAD 882 was a self paced course divided into eight units where we examined new literacies, teaching methods with technology, and digital transformation. We also discussed in depth the works of Howard Gardner who's research on the mind and learning is unparalleled. In fact, I found his work so compelling that I decided to assign the Discipline Mind as an all faculty read.

 

The next course that added to my knowledge in technology was CEP 800, Learning in School. While EAD 882 focused more on the philosophical pedagogy that surounds technology in the classroom, CEP 800 focused on actual utilization of technology in the classroom. Our discussions and assignments included defining understanding student learning, powerful learning tools in technology, evaluating technology for teaching, and action research. One of the most useful tools in the class were the discussion posts with other students. It was fascinating to discuss the best practices with technology in the classroom by experienced teachers from a variety of schools all across the country. There were also some valuable assignments that allowed me to learn new skills in technology. One assignment taught me to use Imovie to create a digital story with voiceovers and music. We also learned how to use Imovie to create a lesson plan similar to ones that are used at Khan Academy, the online math learning center. Both of tools were new to me as a learner, but I've been able to implement some online lessons in my classes. There is no doubt that technology will continue to change and evolve, but finding tools that can help create an optimal learning environment will be essential in the future.

 

In just twelve short years of teaching I've noticed a significant difference in learning styles and the influence of technology in teaching. As a teaching I'm always looking for ways to improve as a teacher and many of the courses in the MAED program would offer insight in methods to hone techniques as a teacher and help mold my educational philosophy. Nearly every course in the program offered some ways to improve as a classroom teacher. One of the first classes in the program ED 800, Educational Inquiry focused on a variety of topics like individual, institutional and social views on curriculum, education in and outside of the classroom, globalization, communication technologies, and most importantly the influence of leadership in education. This course opened areas of teaching that I previously did not use like hypermedia, educational online resources, video and audio exhibits. This course was self paced where we examined the philosophy and history of education, classroom-based or teacher research, theories of the mind and the curriculum, biography, and ethnographic participant observation with autobiography. One of my favorite assignments in the is class included the comparison in curriculum of Howard Gardner and Ed Hirsch. While both approaches were far different, incorporating each of their ideas into modern curriculum is a must. Specific content and deep thinking is essential not only in the classroom, but also in the modern work world. This course aimed “to provide encounters with different forms of inquiry, and their purposes, methods, uses, and meanings” which proved to be accurate and valuable as one of the initial courses in the program.

 

Another course that proved to be beneficial to classroom teaching was EAD 860 Concepts of a Learning Society. This course investigated programs, goals, activities, and plans for education now and in the future. One of our first assignments was to define and explain what a learning society means and how it influences our global economy. We also investigated Tul Gawande, who was a 2006 M acArthur fellow, an associate professor at Harvard, and a general surgeon in Boston who has devoted much of his intellectual focus on the idea of performance and learning as it applies to the professional work world. We also examined Noah Adams who coined “An Adult Learning Project”. Adams expressed the importance of learning beyond the conventional academic realm, and why self directed learning projects create a learning society. We also looked at another type of learner through physician and writer Thomas Lewis when he self taught himself the goal “I wish I could play the piano”. It exemplified so much more than just a musical instrument as it showed me what is possible in teaching students when you allow creativity and embrace problem solving abstract thinking. We then explored Deborah Fallows who brought about some important questions about learning with her book Dreaming in Chinese. The lessons she learned from her experience living in China and the distinct challenges in learning another language allowed me to see how difficult this process can be. Even being as well educated and prepared as Fallows was before she went to China, there is still time, experience, exposure, and patience needed to effectively learn language. Perhaps the most compelling piece of work that we read was Ken Bain who introduced the important idea of “deep learning” as a crucial element to succeeding in college and creating the foundation of a “learning society”. His interviews in What the Best College Students Do solidified my preconceived notions about reading and deep thinking. Interestingly enough, they found no correlation to good grades and success. Instead, learning to integrate your abilities and finding your passion is at the root of what a “learning society” should be. Reading and evaluating the important works from each one of these educational leaders helped me recreate my educational philosophy in the classroom and allowed me to challenge my students to be optimal learners and deep thinkers.

 

Finalizing the capstone project and reflecting on my experience of the MAED program culminates my knowledge for the areas of coaching, technology, teaching, and will help guide me as an Administrator. It's important to keep in mind that learning is a life long process and is essential to continue to be ahead in the field of education. Fortunately, I feel confident that I now have the necessary tools to be a quality educator now and in the future. 

 

By Jeff Miles