Annotated Transcript:
the knowledge I've gained and how it is being used
Spring 2009
CEP 810: Teaching for Understanding with Computers
Carolyn McCarthy
photo by cherylt23 from pixabay.com CC0 license
This course put into light that everyone is a learner, even teachers! Effective teaching strategies and best practices for incorporating technology into each method were discussed. Programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint were explored and expanded upon. I discovered how to use web tools like VoiceThread and Weebly to more effectively communicate with my students in creating projects and presentations. I was able to put many of these projects into practice immediately and it led me to develop “Tech Tuesdays” for my staff so that I could share my learning with them. This was the beginning of my quest into Educational Technology and it ignited my learning!
Summer 2010
CEP 812: Applying Educational Technology to Issues of Practice
Melissa White
photo by Open Clips from pixabay.com CC0 kucense
Is technology the solution to all of our problems or is it creating a problem? Throughout this course I learned the importance of a well-developed technology plan that includes technology which supports the curriculum and the student’s learning. Issues such as copyrights and digital citizenship were explored and we were able to create lessons to share with our students. I expanded my skills in this class to include creating a podcast and digital storytelling as part of our special interest group project. Working as a team to develop or find resources is a job I am often asked to do as a technology coordinator. Through this class I was able to polish these skills as I worked with my team to find resources, meet deadlines and publish a website with my team.
photo by Nemo from pixabay.com CC0 license
Summer 2013
CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research
Tatyana Li &
Dr. David Wong
Finding credible sources and conducting quality research is a skill that has proven to be invaluable as I work to find tech tools that can assist the needs of my students. Learning how to interpret statistical data and research a project proposal were another strong focus of this course. My skills at obtaining and interpreting data were enhanced as a result. I am better able to interpret our school's achievement test results and explain these to the parents that I serve. The topic for my literature review was the use of iPads in the classroom. I was able to use the information I collected to create a presentation for our school administration and create an action plan to purchase these for our teachers. This research pointed out ways the many ways in which iPads were better suited to the needs of my young learners, giving me many ideas to ponder for the future of my own classroom.
Spring 2014
TE 846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
Lynne Watanabe
photo by PublicDomainImages from pixabay.com
CC0 license
Being able to identify and assess literacy skills in students was the primary focus in this course. We were taught many ways to evaluate students, look at factors that influence success in literacy and decide on strategies for adapting materials to suit their individual needs. One of the most rewarding aspects of this course was the Literacy Case Study in which we selected a student who was struggling in an area of literacy and worked with them throughout the term. I saw firsthand the difference intervention can make as my student experienced success in their comprehension scores and gained motivation to continue to make improvements in their English scores. I am now able to implement assessments with confidence and am better equipped to reach the many literacy levels of my students having taken this course.
Spring 2010
CEP 811: Adapting Innovative Technologies to Education
Susan Wright
photo by Nemo from pixabay.com CC0 license
Creating an interactive resource for students is a powerful tool. This course taught me how to choose appropriate material from the internet, use PowerPoint to create a Stand Alone Instructional Resource and implement this lesson in my own classroom. I had the opportunity to witness my student’s excitement as they went on their first Webquest. The skills I learned in this course advanced my use of PowerPoint and website design immensely. I also learned how to use Audacity to compile audio recordings, allowing my students the freedom to work at their own pace. This skill has proven to be invaluable as I continue to produce resources for my classroom and school.
Summer 2013
CEP 800: Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings
Hannah Klautke & Sean Leahy
photo by Geralt from pixabay.com CC0 license
By combining psychology and technology, CEP 800 focused on the effects technology can have on students’ learning and how teachers teach. An important concept that was addressed through this course was how to identify students’ misconceptions and gaps in their learning and how technology can serve to address these needs. With many project-based learning experiences, the course allowed me to try new techniques, such as digital storytelling with my students and reflect on the knowledge they gained compared to the traditional ways of presenting the materials. We also spent time looking at assessments and discovering that these need to be customized to the individual. One way may not be right for everyone. This has lead me to reevaluate my methods in my own practice to make sure I am finding many methods for assessing my student's learning.
Fall 2013
CEP 815: Technology and Leadership
Luke Rapa & Josh Rosenberg
Image purchased from Getty Images & used with permission
“Bridging the Gap with Teamwork”/John Lund/Photodisc/Getty Images
Summer 2014
CEP 820: Teaching Students Online
Dr. Anne Heintz, Rohit Mehta & Sandra Sawaya
photo by sharpemtbr from pixabay.com
CC0 license
As one of the most influential courses I’ve taken in the Educational Technology program, this course forced us to examine the difference between instrumental and missional thinking and how it applies to leadership decisions. This eye-opening moment made me realize that so many of our past decisions had been driven by instrumental thinking and that we were on the wrong track at our school. This course provided me with the confidence to work with our staff and put students needs before our need for the latest and greatest tech toys. We were able to create and research many projects that I have been able to apply in my own educational setting, such as my sustainability project on effective communications with parents. The motivational strategies that were learned in this class have been beneficial as I have been presenting in front of larger groups outside of my school and hope to inspire others through my ideas.
Education can take on many forms and online learning environments have played a central part in my own learning as I completed my Master’s degree. Having taken all of these courses online, I am familiar with the concept of online learning. However, our instructors gave us hands on instruction in what good online teaching is really about. They modeled open communication, immediate feedback and offered many tools for evaluation. In order to make our learning more personal, they gave us room to explore the many learning management systems that are available and develop our own online course tailored to the needs of our own classroom. I developed a reading course for my kindergarten students. My skills in communication and universal design were greatly enhanced as I blended traditional learning with online learning in a format that would be understood by these young learners.
Summer 2014
CEP 850: Technology and Literacy for Students with Mild Disabilities
Dr. Cynthia Okolo &
Rachel Kopke
photo by PublicDomainImages from pixabay.com
CC0 license
Research has shown that the main obstacle most students with disabilities face is literacy issues. Throughout this course I learned of many assistive technologies that can aid these students and create a more successful learning environment for them. I gained a better understanding of the laws, evaluations and what evidence-based practices really mean. Our final project, a website dedicated to five literacy challenges that can be aided by technology solutions, offered a chance to synthesis our learning and provided a wonderful resource for both teachers and parents.
Fall 2014
CEP 807: Capstone in Educational Technology
Dr. Matthew Koehler
Photo by D. Matasovsky
This is the final course in the Master of Arts in Educational Technology Program at Michigan State University and allows me to reflect on past achievements while looking to my future. Being able to show competency in technical skills, communication and design elements are all aspects of technology that this has been focused around. I gain feedback through my instructors and peers while being led through the steps in building my own online portfolio. This portfolio will serve not only as a testimony to my learning experiences, but as a means in which others may learn more about my accomplishments and contact me in the future.