The story of my
Master of Arts in Educational Technology
An annotated Transcript
EAD 822 Diverse Students and Families, Summer 2011
Instructor: Dr. Melinda Mangin
Through texts, discussions, and written reflections, Dr. Mangin led me through the examination and consideration of many groups of people, all who are served in American public education. African Americans, Native Americans, Latino, Hispanic, women, deaf, handicapped, and special education populations were examined through personal stories. Class discussions brought out student's own diversities and how that helped or hindered their learning experiences in K-12 education. I left the class with a wider perspective on the many students who are served in American schools.
CEP 811 Adapting Innovative Technology to Education, Fall 2012
Instructors: Amy Pietrowski and Jodi Spicer
In this course, I learned how to use technology, not just as a tool, but to enhance learning in K-12 education. We had a review/introduction to teaching and learning theory, instructional design, web based resources, online learning, and new technologies. Throughout the course, we practiced ways in which teachers can employ technology to directly support independent student learning. Activities in this course included creating a web page for instructional support and evaluating technology tools. I found this course practical and useful for my career in teacher professional development.
TE 846 Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners, Fall 2012
Instructor: Dr. Patricia Edwards
Dr. Edwards led me through research on updated best practices for teaching adolescents reading in any subject area. Through readings and discussions, I learned that all teachers are teachers of reading and writing, not just a reading specialist or an English teacher. Instructional practices for reading and writing were a focus for what it looks like and means to read and write like a scientist, like a historian, like a mathematician. Authentic purpose for reading and writing was a main theme. To best serve our students, all educators should be teaching students to write for authentic purposes and audiences, covering various genres adults use in everyday life.
Instructor: Dr. Melinda Mangin
Through texts, discussions, and written reflections, Dr. Mangin led me through the examination and consideration of many groups of people, all who are served in American public education. African Americans, Native Americans, Latino, Hispanic, women, deaf, handicapped, and special education populations were examined through personal stories. Class discussions brought out student's own diversities and how that helped or hindered their learning experiences in K-12 education. I left the class with a wider perspective on the many students who are served in American schools.
CEP 811 Adapting Innovative Technology to Education, Fall 2012
Instructors: Amy Pietrowski and Jodi Spicer
In this course, I learned how to use technology, not just as a tool, but to enhance learning in K-12 education. We had a review/introduction to teaching and learning theory, instructional design, web based resources, online learning, and new technologies. Throughout the course, we practiced ways in which teachers can employ technology to directly support independent student learning. Activities in this course included creating a web page for instructional support and evaluating technology tools. I found this course practical and useful for my career in teacher professional development.
TE 846 Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners, Fall 2012
Instructor: Dr. Patricia Edwards
Dr. Edwards led me through research on updated best practices for teaching adolescents reading in any subject area. Through readings and discussions, I learned that all teachers are teachers of reading and writing, not just a reading specialist or an English teacher. Instructional practices for reading and writing were a focus for what it looks like and means to read and write like a scientist, like a historian, like a mathematician. Authentic purpose for reading and writing was a main theme. To best serve our students, all educators should be teaching students to write for authentic purposes and audiences, covering various genres adults use in everyday life.
TE 873 Literacy Leadership, Spring 2013
Instructor: Dr. Patricia Edwards
With literacy coaching being a common, but rarely defined, role in today's schools, Literacy Leadership addressed specific models and frameworks for a coach to work through in teacher coaching and staff development. The literature addressed the fact that many master literacy teachers are pulled from the classroom to coach peers, but aren't trained as such. Dr. Edwards provided practical and applicable strategies for the literacy coach to employ in their role, with help defining the role with their staff and administrators. After completing this course, I had a better understanding of my role as Coordinator of Instruction for literacy at the county level.
CEP 812 Applying Educational Technology to Practice, Spring 2013
Instructors: Alison Keller, William Marsland and Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf
In this course, I took the knowledge from CEP 811 and applied it to my practice in education. Considering what types of technology teachers employ to directly support independent student learning, I was able to create a webinar for teacher professional development that directly applies to my everyday job of teaching teachers and supporting literacy. This course was an excellent way of taking our learning of educational technology and applying it in a useful way. I was able to use the webinar (featured on my Technology Showcase) a few times for teachers who missed face-to-face opportunities for professional development.
Instructors: Alison Keller, William Marsland and Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf
In this course, I took the knowledge from CEP 811 and applied it to my practice in education. Considering what types of technology teachers employ to directly support independent student learning, I was able to create a webinar for teacher professional development that directly applies to my everyday job of teaching teachers and supporting literacy. This course was an excellent way of taking our learning of educational technology and applying it in a useful way. I was able to use the webinar (featured on my Technology Showcase) a few times for teachers who missed face-to-face opportunities for professional development.
CEP 818: Creativity in Teaching and Learning, Fall 2013
Instructors: Dr. Punya Mishra and Dr. John Good
The keys to creativity rest in how one perceives, patterns, abstracts, embodies, models, and plays with the topic. Dr. Mishra and Dr. Good led me through each of these creative exercises with my own topic of focus, literacy. By the end of the course, I knew my topic of literacy instruction in six new ways I had never thought of before. By looking at and working with my topic in new ways, I realized new angles by which to approach it with teachers in professional development. Without this course, I likely would not have looked at literacy through patterns or models. I appreciate the guidance through creativity in this unique way.
Instructors: Dr. Punya Mishra and Dr. John Good
The keys to creativity rest in how one perceives, patterns, abstracts, embodies, models, and plays with the topic. Dr. Mishra and Dr. Good led me through each of these creative exercises with my own topic of focus, literacy. By the end of the course, I knew my topic of literacy instruction in six new ways I had never thought of before. By looking at and working with my topic in new ways, I realized new angles by which to approach it with teachers in professional development. Without this course, I likely would not have looked at literacy through patterns or models. I appreciate the guidance through creativity in this unique way.
CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research, Fall 2013
Instructors: Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf and Ben Gleason
Based on the premise that every educator needs to know how to critically evaluate educational research, CEP 822 led me through an intense process of just that. Emphasis was placed in knowing how to use research to make informed decisions about instruction, assessment, curriculum, and for me, teacher professional development. Upon completion of the course, I know how to consider sources, credible authors, evaluation of data, claim, and how all this applies to my own work in education. Choosing credible and useful research to share with teachers is an integral part of my everyday work.
Instructors: Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf and Ben Gleason
Based on the premise that every educator needs to know how to critically evaluate educational research, CEP 822 led me through an intense process of just that. Emphasis was placed in knowing how to use research to make informed decisions about instruction, assessment, curriculum, and for me, teacher professional development. Upon completion of the course, I know how to consider sources, credible authors, evaluation of data, claim, and how all this applies to my own work in education. Choosing credible and useful research to share with teachers is an integral part of my everyday work.
CEP 800 Learners in School and Other Settings, Summer 2014
Instructors: William Cain and Josh Rosenberg
This course was based on the psychology of learning- the what and how students learn and know. Through various educational theories, I examined how a topic is taught and learned, and what learners bring to the setting, whether it be a traditional face-to-face classroom, or an online setting. Special attention and practice was a focus for learning how technology affects what students learn and how teachers teach. My projects in this course included a podcast, a digital story, and a lesson plan for online learning, all centered on literacy instruction professional development for teachers.
Instructors: William Cain and Josh Rosenberg
This course was based on the psychology of learning- the what and how students learn and know. Through various educational theories, I examined how a topic is taught and learned, and what learners bring to the setting, whether it be a traditional face-to-face classroom, or an online setting. Special attention and practice was a focus for learning how technology affects what students learn and how teachers teach. My projects in this course included a podcast, a digital story, and a lesson plan for online learning, all centered on literacy instruction professional development for teachers.
CEP 820 Teaching Students Online, Summer 2014
Instructors: Dr. Anne Heintz, Sandra Sawaya, and Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf
Close investigation of how to teach online was the premise of this course. While most students of this course will have been students and teachers in traditional classrooms, CEP 820 guides us to think deeply about ways that children and adults learn on the Internet. During the course, I learned to design my own quality online learning environment. I was guided to create a space for teachers to collaborate and build knowledge, while provided avenues for effective communication throughout their learning experience. By choosing a Wikispace as my Course Management System, I was able to create a supplemental online space for my teachers to use when we are not learning together face-to-face.
Instructors: Dr. Anne Heintz, Sandra Sawaya, and Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf
Close investigation of how to teach online was the premise of this course. While most students of this course will have been students and teachers in traditional classrooms, CEP 820 guides us to think deeply about ways that children and adults learn on the Internet. During the course, I learned to design my own quality online learning environment. I was guided to create a space for teachers to collaborate and build knowledge, while provided avenues for effective communication throughout their learning experience. By choosing a Wikispace as my Course Management System, I was able to create a supplemental online space for my teachers to use when we are not learning together face-to-face.
CEP 807 Capstone in Educational Technology, Summer 2014
Instructors: Dr. Mathew Kohler, Josh Rosenberg, Brittany Dillman, and Spencer Greenhalgh
Through weekly projects and collaboration, I built a professional portfolio showcasing my entire graduate experience in educational technology with my particular focus on literacy. Considering, genre, audience, purpose and technology features and design, my coursework, resume, reflections, teaching philosophy and background in education is featured on my portfolio. Through continuous practice and feedback, I was supported through this process to a professional end product.
Instructors: Dr. Mathew Kohler, Josh Rosenberg, Brittany Dillman, and Spencer Greenhalgh
Through weekly projects and collaboration, I built a professional portfolio showcasing my entire graduate experience in educational technology with my particular focus on literacy. Considering, genre, audience, purpose and technology features and design, my coursework, resume, reflections, teaching philosophy and background in education is featured on my portfolio. Through continuous practice and feedback, I was supported through this process to a professional end product.