Annotated Transcript
This Page outlines full details of each class taken at Michigan State University as part of my Masters in Education (MAED). As outlined in my Resume I chosen to focus on the concentrations of Technology and Learning and P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership.
Learning technology through design was the first class of my Master’s Degree. The course led me to investigate design principles, aesthetics of design and design evaluation. The class prompted me to evaluate and question design choices all around me, and appreciate how every conscious design from seating arrangements to wall colour can make classroom life demonstrably better or worse. In essence the course showed me that me that all design has pros and cons, and a simple choice can have a wider impact. This class has therefore informed my daily teaching choices and creation of each resource I have created since. Assessment in this class included design based assessments, a final synthesis paper and the creation of a large scale product, for which I created a musical elements website.
Summer 2014
EAD 824- Leading Teacher Learning- GPA 4.0
Nancy Colflesh
P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership Concentration
Nancy Colflesh
P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership Concentration
Leading teacher learning was the most challenging and rewarding class I have taken over the course of my Master’s. This course was taken over a condensed intensive 6 week period and involved a full review and evaluation of my current learning environment. The class led me through the process needed to address professional development, from review to full developed improvement plan. Whilst critically analysing my current school I was able to apply best practice in educational research to create a thorough improvement plan, including budgets, resource requirements and the implementation of teacher learning communities.
This class has been instrumental in my realization of the importance of ongoing professional development and has inspired me to take further classes to develop my pedagogy and career.
This class has been instrumental in my realization of the importance of ongoing professional development and has inspired me to take further classes to develop my pedagogy and career.
ED 800- Concepts Educational Inquiry- GPA 4.0
Steven Weiland
Required Course
Steven Weiland
Required Course
Concepts of educational inquiry introduced me to the work of Dewey, Gardner and Paley and gave me a framework of concepts which guide the MAED: the role of the learner, the role of the teacher, the process of inquiry, research, participant observation and overall current debates in education (the role of technology in education). ED800 involved the composition of 6 essays and was the first class to introduce me to the resources ‘digital nation’ and ‘Hamlet's Blackberry’, two resources which would stay with me over the next two years. Both challenged the role of technology in my classroom and wider life, and led me to think more carefully about the role of connectivity. In addition, the class was my first course taught at "my own pace", which is my preferred method of learning due to my unpredictable school schedule.
Fall 2014
CEP 816- Teaching & Learning and Literacy Across Curriculum- GPA 4.0
Paul Morsink
Technology and Learning Concentration
Paul Morsink
Technology and Learning Concentration
This class focused on the use and development of new literacy tools for 21st century education, exploring ways in which technology could be used to enrich curriculum. Teaching and learning and literacy across the curriculum also challenged my understanding of literacy and wider "key" or "core" skills. The class required a number of screencasts which I found both challenging and awkward on the first few attempts, however I have since embraced the technique as a simple method for flipping the classroom. Assessment for this class involved weekly assignments and the creation of a large scale project, for which I chose to expand my earlier elements of music site to be a full revision website for my external examination years.
Spring 2015
EAD 860- Concept of Learning Society- GPA 4.0
Steven Weiland and Graham McKeague
P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership Concentration
Steven Weiland and Graham McKeague
P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership Concentration
"Concept of a Learning Society" was my second "work at your own pace" class, culminating, as before, in the submission of 6 written essays. The class explored formal and informal learning and the notion of life-long learners from the perspective of theoretical research and case studies. Case studies featured individuals from a wide range of professions and backgrounds and covered learning in a broad sense across multiple scenarios and disciplines.
Summer 2015
CEP 813- Electronic Assessment- GPA 4.0
Paul Morsink and Spencer Greenhalgh
Elective Course
Paul Morsink and Spencer Greenhalgh
Elective Course
"Electronic assessment" explored foundational theories of assessment in general before investigating various methods of assessment including portfolios, surveys and multimedia assessments. The class also focused on critical evaluation of tools and methods in order to support teaching and learning. This opportunity to evaluate resources, particularly content management systems, was one that I appreciated having the time to explore. Assessment for the class involved the creation of a portfolio of work featuring infographics, blog posts, screencasts and the design of assessment material. Electronic assessment also gave me the opportunity to explore gaming as an assessment tool, particularly Minecraft- a game I had little interaction with before this class.
EAD 864- Adult Career Development- GPA 4.0
Steven Weiland
P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership Concentration
Steven Weiland
P-12 School and Post-Secondary Leadership Concentration
"Adult career development" was my third "work at your own pace" class, culminating, as before, in the submission of 6 written essays. The class focused on case studies of various professionals, from doctors to fishermen, the unknown to the famous, aiming to show the individual nature of career development and life-long learning. I found this class fascinating, and enjoyed reading their differing paths to success. The course introduced a number of research methods, key terms and history of the idea and practice of career development, theories of career stages, and the uses of life stories in inquiry.
Fall 2015
EAD 878- Education in the Digital Age- GPA 4.0
Steven Weiland
Required Course- Core Issues
Steven Weiland
Required Course- Core Issues
"Education in the Digital Age" was my fourth and final "work at your own pace" class, culminating, as before, in the submission of 6 written essays. The class expanded upon the theories explored in CEP816, ED800, and CEP813 exploring new literacies, online teaching and learning, and the future development of technology in education. The course was the second to look in depth at Digital Nation and Hamlet's Blackberry among other resources and was the first class in which I was asked to evaluate online materials. Through this assessment I evaluated various resources and articles found on the internet including the vast resource of Edutopia.
Spring 2016
CEP 815- Technology and Leadership- GPA 4.0
Missy Cosby & Ben Gleason
Technology and Learning Concentration
Missy Cosby & Ben Gleason
Technology and Learning Concentration
"Technology and Leadership" explored concepts of leadership including leadership styles and strategies, and the difficult task of leading and developing teams, including difficult conversations, leading and development of training and "thorny issues". Assessment included case analyses, short written assessments, strategic planning, professional development planning and modeled memo writing for communicating with the leadership team. The class final assessment involved the development and refinement of a vision for education.
Summer 2016
ED 870- Capstone- GPA 4.0
Matthew Koehler, Sarah Keenan, Spencer Greenhalgh, Brittany Dillman
Required Course
Matthew Koehler, Sarah Keenan, Spencer Greenhalgh, Brittany Dillman
Required Course
The final class in the MAED, and focuses on the creation of this professional portfolio. The class is heavily based on peer feedback and review and aim to showcase and synthesise knowledge gained over the programme. All of the content on these pages has been specifically created in order to show the learning process I have taken over the last two and a half years. I have chosen to focus my portfolio towards a professional showcase of my work, teaching and me personally and feel this will be of great benefit to share with potential employers on the international field so they may have a better understanding of me, my work ethic and professional capabilities.