Master of Education EDM Personal Purpose Statement

Master of Education EDM Personal Purpose Statement Example, African American

I am deeply engaged in examining the achievement gap between Black and white boys, focusing on its connection to the socio-economic challenges of each child's background and social environment. It concerns me that even Black males above the poverty line often lag behind their white peers raised in poverty. I am dedicated to tackling this issue because I was one of those Black boys facing pressures that divert and alienate Black male children from academic success. I managed to overcome the allure of instant gratification and the negativity of racial stereotypes by concentrating on positive role models, which helped me cultivate a strong work ethic that led to my educational and professional accomplishments.

I succeeded in bridging the gap and aspire to assist future generations in doing the same.

Throughout most of my adult life, I have worked in the consumer electronics industry, spending the last twelve years in the video game sector. I have gained insights into what makes a successful game and how to design distribution systems to reach millions. My career has taken me across the United States and the European Union, living on both coasts and internationally in Iceland and the United Kingdom. During this time, I have mentored young men and participated in various volunteer programs. While my career has been financially rewarding and I have enjoyed the travel and cultural experiences, I am seeking new challenges that are more fulfilling on a personal level. I want to focus on educational research.

Several members of my immediate family are accomplished educators, which has motivated me to value educational opportunities. Over the past few years, I have felt increasingly drawn to this calling. I see the need to enhance the consistency of children's learning and to develop innovative tools and methods that enable them to learn more effectively in today's competitive academic and professional environments. I am concerned not only with the achievement gap between Black and white boys but also with the gap between America and the rest of the world.

I feel guilty for having both perpetuated and profited from this gap through my work in designing and selling video games. I am acutely aware that young men and boys of all ethnicities spend excessive time playing video games, learning to defeat opponents or win virtual sports, while gaining little knowledge about real-world survival. However, I see an opportunity to redeem myself by exploring how the interactivity that makes video games successful can be harnessed for educational purposes, creating a new generation of effective learning experiences. If used effectively by teachers and parents, this technology holds immense potential.

I am eager to research how game mechanics can be developed as educational tools, particularly for grades K-6 in the US educational system. I aim to conduct longitudinal studies to assess the effectiveness of this approach in narrowing the achievement gap between African American and white boys. This would allow me to apply my knowledge of video games in a positive way, using my understanding of video-game culture and current educational policies, trends, and research.

'Gamification' is a new industry term that refers to applying the mechanics, interactivity, and emotional engagement of video games to other societal aspects. My goal is to learn more about the learning process and current efforts to innovate the educational system, so I can combine my gaming industry expertise to "gamify" education, especially for African American males. I want to channel the passion for interactive experiences into designing constructive educational goals, which I believe would be my greatest contribution to society.

While my primary focus will always be African American males, I hope my contributions to curriculum development will enhance education for all children in my country. I want to be part of the movement dedicated to equipping future generations with the skills to adapt to changing labor needs, ensuring a more flexible and competitive workforce nationally and internationally.

I founded my own company, Plyngo, in Washington State, aiming to create engaging interactive experiences for African Americans. Unfortunately, I haven't had the right combination of time and financial support to develop software and online services that educate rather than just entertain. Additionally, I lack exposure to the latest research in this area and need to understand what has been tried, what has succeeded, and what hasn't. While it has been suggested that I hire experts in pedagogy and educational policy, I prefer to gain first-hand knowledge of the education ecosystem and how technology is being used to innovate learning.

After deciding to pursue an Ed.M. Degree, I researched various institutions and am convinced that XXXX is the right fit for me. The Achievement Gap Initiative (AGI) and Dr. XXXX's work on the achievement gap, particularly concerning African American males, are crucial factors in my decision. I am also impressed by Dr. XXXX's work and experience as Vice-President and Chief Academic Officer at XXXX Production. The opportunity to learn from a professor actively involved in educational software development is rare. Only XXXX excels in both my areas of interest: the achievement gap and software development. Thank you for considering my application to your program.

Master of Education EDM Personal Purpose Statement