MAED Showcase
Throughout my teaching career, I have desired to grow professionally by finding approaches and tools for students to become better learners and for myself to grow and become a better teacher. As I continue to inquire, question, and develop as a teacher/learner, I have also enjoyed working with other teachers in their own journey. I chose the MSU graduate program in Education so I could focus on two concentrations of School Leadership and also Learning and Technology. These concentrations provided time for development and reflection of my own path, opportunities to apply my learning in my current classroom and institution and perhaps new career trajectories. Below are samples of my work and application of my learning in both technology and leadership. I have also provided a showcase of student work in My Classroom. The images provide links to the projects and artifacts.
Technology Showcase
Course Modules
As schools investigate online of blended learning as options for providing education, technology can provide advantages of flexibility, multiple learning channels and media formats, and a different interaction between teachers and students. For CEP 820, I explored online learning by setting up a Learning Management System for early units of my Western Civilization course using Haiku. I used this experience as practice for online elements in my own face-to-face course. I chose Haiku because it was less linear and had an organic aspect which could grow as I added content. Online education still needs good teachers who can design with the end in mind, create inviting interfaces to meet the students where they are and bring them to where they need to go. This opportunity of online course development allowed me to focus on communication and clarity in my own teaching whether face to face or online.
To access, click on the image, Username: CEP820, Password CEP820
To access, click on the image, Username: CEP820, Password CEP820
Google Apps for Education provide tools for collaboration, productivity, and publication. I have used Google Sites for a few years and decided that I would apply my learning from CEP 820 to my own classroom site. This course is 10th grade Western Civilization. We are a 1:1 laptop school using Google Apps, and I felt that it would be easier to continue with a Google Site. Students appreciate the integration with Google account and other Google Apps. I do find Google a little stiff and may experiment with another CMS in the future.
Access is open.
Access is open.
This Google Site is an extended lesson plan 9/11: Exploring Historical, Cultural and International Contexts. This was a project I had been adding to for a while with exploration into religious causes and historical causes, a project on the Crusades with primary sources from multiple viewpoints, and a concluding component with an understanding on The War on Terror. These different lessons were compiled as a project for CEP 817 Learning Technology through Design where I had to focus on the interface and clarity of instruction.
Engagement and usability are crucial as teachers design learning opportunities for students. I've come to see teachers as architects combining art and purpose. This site was my final essay chronicling my journey of designing a website with comparisons to the modernist architect
Antonio Gaudí and the construction of the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) in Barcelona, still under construction after 130 years. I enjoyed this attempt of telling parallel stories.
Antonio Gaudí and the construction of the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) in Barcelona, still under construction after 130 years. I enjoyed this attempt of telling parallel stories.
Videos
Although most of my graduate work was writing intensive, I appreciated opportunities to present my learning in different formats. This video was made to share my progress on my own exploration project and personal experience with adaptive change in school leadership. I applied my knowledge in iMovie combining music, text, film clips, personal video, and dynamic presentation software in this video.
Presentations
It is important that leaders and teacher present content that is engaging. In my classes, I've used presentation software to add images and multimedia for our discussions and explorations. This presentation was for CEP 815 Technology and Leadership looking at components of managing change. I chose to take advantages of elements Prezi to emphasize metaphor and flow of information.
This Prezi for EAD 860 Concept of a Learning Society is another use of presentation software. This presentation was a collaborative multimedia essay with two other students in the class. The process of creating this project shows the importance of developing collaborative skills and how digital tools can facilitate development of that skill whether it is using Skype and Google Hangout for discussion or Prezi as a final product.
Writing Showcase
Graduate programs are writing intensive, and I had the opportunity for research, analysis, and creative expression in a variety of formats. For this project, I investigated the transition of one school in to a 1:1 laptop usage as a case study in leadership and values. This was an opportunity to synthesize recent literature on leadership and change as well as personal interviews from a Head of School to leaders from elementary and secondary levels. I thoroughly enjoyed this research and believe it provided a good experience and preparation for future graduate work.
Schools are working to meet the diverse needs of students in rapidly changing world, and it is become more important to find ways to sustain growth and change in faculty and leadership. I am working at my school to create a shared vision where we are all involved in the collected responsibility of practice and reflection for professional growth. During this project I researched and collected resources for developing Critical Friends Groups and a more established mentoring program. I believe the resources would be helpful in changing school culture finding ways to model and create structures for reflective inquiry and dialogue.