As I finish the first semester for my M.Ed. in Educational Technology and am beginning to engage with research, I am organizing my digital space and my thinking.

What I consider to be my “digital space” consists of my laptop and the programs and files within it. I have not used paper files or notes in over six years. I occasionally take short notes on paper, but I primarily have digital files, including my files from my undergrad, and everything for my jobs and volunteer work. I am often told that I am an organized person. I can see this through my digital filing which includes numbered folders and intentional naming conventions for files. I have a folder for everything related to my M.Ed. and this folder has sub-folders categorized by course. When I am working and need to add a file to this folder, I tend to toss it in the folder and then every month or so, I go in and make sure all of my files are organized. I am growing an excel doc with all the research articles I am collecting, using the template provided in EDCI 570/571. I also regularly use Zotero and am getting to know this tool better as I use it. In my undergrad, I did a lot of research-based projects and was very familiar with the journal databases. Unfortunately, this was 13 years ago so I have lost some of these skills but am re-learning them quickly. I also used to visit the physical library at SFU to find primary sources and wonder if I will ever need to do this for my M.Ed. as I absolutely loved it. Overall, I feel that my digital space is quite organized.

I also find myself organizing my thinking at the end of my first M.Ed. semester. By this, I mean I have reflected on myself as a learner, educator, parent, daughter, sister, and friend. I have always known that I would go back to school but did not expect to do this during a time of unexpected tumult in my life. I have moved twice already this year and will move once more next year. My entire life has changed more than once, and my weeks look foreign compared to years before. I have worked incredibly hard to be where I am but am still climbing that metaphorical mountain. The word “Captain” keeps coming to mind these past few months when I think of myself as a strong woman who is steering her way through life. Captain is the nickname my dad gave me when I was young. A wise friend sent me an image of support at the start of this semester, knowing what I am going through. This image comes to my mind regularly when I think of myself right now. I am keeping focused on my journey through this M.Ed. program, which has become a huge part of my life and will continue to be the next two years. I will continue to reflect on my thinking and how I am organizing myself mentally to engage with not only the research I read, but also the larger program. The research I have read so far has already had an impact on my practice as an educator. I intend to take the most thoughtful and reflective approach that I can while in this program while being kind to myself at the same time.

Photo by Samantha Borges on Unsplash.