Technology Showcase
Below you will find a listing of the courses I took in my Masters of Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. This program has taught me to think differently about technology and how to integrate it into my classroom in new and creative ways but still linked to teaching pedagogy. Next to each course listing, you can find an example of work I created in that class.
CEP810: Teaching for Understanding with Technology
Spring 2010
Instructor: Carolyn McCarthy
This course focused on how to effectively integrate technology into teaching. It also explored how to use technology as a tool to solve a problem in the classroom. In this course I worked on educational applications of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. I learned new functions in these programs and how they could be applied in the classroom. I also worked on an Innovation of Technology project in which I explored the use of Blackboard to save paper in my classroom. Finally, I learned how to create an RSS Reader page and explored one of my favorite new tools: Voicethread.
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CEP811: Adapting Innovative Technologies in Education
Spring 2010
Instructor: Melissa White
This course focused on applying instructional principles and methods to educational settings and the creation of a variety of media for use in the classroom to promote media. In this class, I learned how to create a Stand Alone Instructional Resource (STAIR) in Microsoft PowerPoint and a WebQuest. In this class I also created a blog for reflections on teaching and my work in the MAET program and a class website using Weebly.
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CEP812: Applying Educational Technology Issues to Practice
Spring 2011
Instructor: Nancy Ayers
This course focused on creating and implementing technology based solutions to problems found in an educational setting. Throughout the duration of the course, I worked on my WICKED Project in which I defined a problem in my school, designed a technology based solution, and implemented that solution. For my WICKED project, I implemented training and PowerPoint tutorials for my fellow staff members on the use of the program, Compass Learning. This solution helped to decrease the number of phone calls I was receiving during my instructional time to help other staff members navigate through the Compass Learning program.
During this class, I also worked on a group project in which we researched a new Web 2.0 technology and presented on the technology's use and benefits. My group focused on a website called Vyew. Vyew is a free meeting and collaboration website that can be used in an educational setting to meet with students outside of class or have students meet in groups outside of class.
Finally, I also created a Professional Learning Plan in which I outlined my learning goals as a professional educator. For this project I learned to use another web 2.0 presentation tool called Prezi. I then created a recording of the Prezi presentation with Jing and uploaded it to my blog. Through this project, I not only learned to use two new technologies, I was also able to reflect on my goals for the future and think critically how to use technology to improve my teaching, help my students, and expand my colleagues' understanding of the use of technology in the classroom.
During this class, I also worked on a group project in which we researched a new Web 2.0 technology and presented on the technology's use and benefits. My group focused on a website called Vyew. Vyew is a free meeting and collaboration website that can be used in an educational setting to meet with students outside of class or have students meet in groups outside of class.
Finally, I also created a Professional Learning Plan in which I outlined my learning goals as a professional educator. For this project I learned to use another web 2.0 presentation tool called Prezi. I then created a recording of the Prezi presentation with Jing and uploaded it to my blog. Through this project, I not only learned to use two new technologies, I was also able to reflect on my goals for the future and think critically how to use technology to improve my teaching, help my students, and expand my colleagues' understanding of the use of technology in the classroom.
Wicked Project Blog and Presentation:
Group Leadership Project on Vyew
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Professional Learning Plan on Prezi
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CEP800: Learning in School and Other Settings
Summer 2011
Instructor: Dr. Cary Roseth
This course focused on reviewing major perspectives and theories on learning. Many of the projects focused on the analysis and application of these theories in lessons we taught to learners during the course and in the past. This course also asked us to look at common misconceptions that students have and how those misconceptions can influence their future learning. In this course, I interviewed participants about the seasons to see what misconceptions they already had, even at the college level. I then created a podcast of this interview using the recordings. I also learned to add background music to the podcast to make it sound more interesting and professional.
Another important project that I worked on in this class was my Digital Storytelling Project. In my Digital Storytelling video, I described the experience my students and I had when we visited the Henry Ford Museum and my students were able to construct a true understanding of Rosa Parks and her involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. I described the field trip, how being on the actual bus made them feel, and their reactions when they had to move to the back to accommodate more students getting on the bus. To help emphasize the impact the field trip had on both my students and on me as a teacher, I chose dramatic music for the background. I enjoyed this project because I can see just how powerful digital storytelling can be. It is a wonderful tool that I hope to teach my students to use in the future to look at history in a different light.
Another important project that I worked on in this class was my Digital Storytelling Project. In my Digital Storytelling video, I described the experience my students and I had when we visited the Henry Ford Museum and my students were able to construct a true understanding of Rosa Parks and her involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. I described the field trip, how being on the actual bus made them feel, and their reactions when they had to move to the back to accommodate more students getting on the bus. To help emphasize the impact the field trip had on both my students and on me as a teacher, I chose dramatic music for the background. I enjoyed this project because I can see just how powerful digital storytelling can be. It is a wonderful tool that I hope to teach my students to use in the future to look at history in a different light.
Podcast on Misconceptions about the Seasons
Digital Storytelling Video (posted on my blog):
CEP822: Approaches to Educational Research
Summer 2011
Instructor: Dr. David Wong
This course focused on educational research and how to conduct educational research. Over the duration of the semester I worked on a research project proposal in which I focused on the effectiveness of online classes with at-risk students. As part of this project, I conducted a Literature Review and found that there is very little research on the use of online classes with at-risk students though many Alternative Education programs in Michigan use online classes with at-risk students for a low cost way to offer credit recovery.
In this course I also conducted mini research projects using surveys. In these series of projects, we focused on understanding the concept of the seasons and later on grocery shopping. In the first project, group members collaborated on questions to ask volunteers concerning the seasons. After each group member conducted their interviews and reported on their results, the data was combined and analyzed in a report using both Microsoft Word and Excel. In the second project, we followed volunteers through grocery stores making observations. These observations helped us to later create surveys on things that influence shoppers in grocery markets. The data was again shared and analyzed for reporting. In both of these projects, it became clear how much individuals can influence research results and the efforts needed to minimize this influence.
In this course I also conducted mini research projects using surveys. In these series of projects, we focused on understanding the concept of the seasons and later on grocery shopping. In the first project, group members collaborated on questions to ask volunteers concerning the seasons. After each group member conducted their interviews and reported on their results, the data was combined and analyzed in a report using both Microsoft Word and Excel. In the second project, we followed volunteers through grocery stores making observations. These observations helped us to later create surveys on things that influence shoppers in grocery markets. The data was again shared and analyzed for reporting. In both of these projects, it became clear how much individuals can influence research results and the efforts needed to minimize this influence.
Literature Review
Research Proposal Project
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Mini Research Project #1
Mini Research Project #2
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CEP815: Technology and Leadership
Fall 2011
Instructor: Nick Sheltrown
This course focused on the skills and principles needed to be an effective leader in technology. We explored the benefits and drawbacks from multiple angles and thought about the true cost behind adopting new technologies. As part of the course requirements, I created a mock inspirational poster, pictured left. To learn more about the project and read the thoughts behind the poster, see the Representing Ideas in Leadership file below.
I also created a sustainable technology project for my building. My project focused on making missed work available for students online through the use of a wiki. The wiki was a free alternative that was not blocked by the current technology settings in my building. The use of the wiki has also helped me to introduce my fellow staff members into sharing documents on Google docs and on the district's shared drive as cheaper alternatives to printing reports and documents. These steps are bringing me closer to having a paperless classroom, a goal I have been working towards since I first enrolled in CEP810.
Finally, I also worked on policy briefs and a TPACK assignment as part of this course. The policy briefs and the exploration of potential policy issues have helped put a new perspective on the implementation of technology. Not all technology is helpful to a district. One must consider the district's goals and vision and which technologies will help move towards those goals. That is why TPACK is also so important. It is not enough to purchase technology and put it in the hands of teachers. Teachers need to think thoughtfully about which technologies they should be using in a lesson and why.
I also created a sustainable technology project for my building. My project focused on making missed work available for students online through the use of a wiki. The wiki was a free alternative that was not blocked by the current technology settings in my building. The use of the wiki has also helped me to introduce my fellow staff members into sharing documents on Google docs and on the district's shared drive as cheaper alternatives to printing reports and documents. These steps are bringing me closer to having a paperless classroom, a goal I have been working towards since I first enrolled in CEP810.
Finally, I also worked on policy briefs and a TPACK assignment as part of this course. The policy briefs and the exploration of potential policy issues have helped put a new perspective on the implementation of technology. Not all technology is helpful to a district. One must consider the district's goals and vision and which technologies will help move towards those goals. That is why TPACK is also so important. It is not enough to purchase technology and put it in the hands of teachers. Teachers need to think thoughtfully about which technologies they should be using in a lesson and why.
Policy Brief
Representing Ideas in Leadership
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Sustainable Technology Project
TPACK Assignment
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CEP818: Creativity in Teaching and Learning
Fall 2011
Instructor: Dr. Punya Mishra
This course focused on a variety of ways to help increase creativity overall and in the classroom. Over the course of the semester we took an in depth look at perception, patterning, abstracting, embodied thinking, modeling, playing and synthesizing as ways to spark new thinking and increase creativity. To the right is a Wordle that I created as part of my Perception assignment using the Bill of Rights. Words that are used the most often are given the largest fonts in the word cloud, so you can see that the words Amendment, right, people, and law are used frequently in the Bill of Rights and are important to the document. You can find more of my creativity posts on my blog using the links below.
In addition to the posts described above, the course also required a group project to create a slideshow explaining one of the creativity tools described in Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein's book, Sparks of Genius. Thus I worked with Katie Beckett, James Rolle, and Onnalee Gibson on a presentation describing modeling and its many forms. Through the creation of the presentation I learned that learning to create a model of something requires critical thinking and a deep understanding of the material.
In addition to the posts described above, the course also required a group project to create a slideshow explaining one of the creativity tools described in Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein's book, Sparks of Genius. Thus I worked with Katie Beckett, James Rolle, and Onnalee Gibson on a presentation describing modeling and its many forms. Through the creation of the presentation I learned that learning to create a model of something requires critical thinking and a deep understanding of the material.
Blog Entries on Creativity Tools
Elevator Pitch on Using Creativity Tools
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CEP820: Teaching K12 Students Online
Spring 2012
Instructor: Michelle Schira Hagerman
This course focused on the creation of an online course. Students were given a choice of which course management system (CMS) to use. As part of the process, we created decision making grids that compared three different CMS options that we were considering. After exploring many options, I decided to create a unit for my 7th grade science class using a CMS called Schoology.
You can explore this course by visiting www.schoology.com and using the access code: F7QPS-R62VQ. I also tracked my progress in the creation of my course in a Developer Notebook.
You can explore this course by visiting www.schoology.com and using the access code: F7QPS-R62VQ. I also tracked my progress in the creation of my course in a Developer Notebook.
Reflections on Designing an Online Course
CMS Decision Grid
Survivor: One Cell Assignment
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TE846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
Spring 2012
Instructor: Kevin Holohan
This class focused on teaching educators about literacy strategies and assessments that they can use to help improve reading and writing at all grade levels. This class was particularly helpful to me while teaching in the Alternative Ed program, as it gave me the tools to more accurately assess students' current reading levels. That allowed me to adjust my instruction accordingly without having to wait for a student to be officially tested. Throughout this course I worked on a Literacy Case Study in which I taught vocabulary and reading comprehension strategies and tracked a student's progress using these strategies.
Literacy Lesson Plans
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Literacy Case Study
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