Teaching For Understanding with technologyInstructor: Kyle Shack
CEP 810 is the first course in the MAET program. It was one of three classes taken in line with the Michigan State MAET summer hybrid program. It created a foundation for my master's journey by introducing and exploring five topics: theories of learning and understanding, mindsets for teaching with technology, professional learning networks, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and creative uses of technologies for learning.
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Adapting innovative technologies in educationInstructor: Kyle Shack
In this course, I dove deeper into understanding the TPACK framework. TPACK is explained as the "sweet spot" of where technology, pedagogical knowledge, and content knowledge meet in creating and designing effective learning experiences. This course also delves into the "Makerspace" culture and the skill of repurposing materials to create experiences that are effective and applicable to problem solving. This course reignited my sense of creativity when designing lesson plans.
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applying educational technology to issues of practiceInstructor: Kyle Shack
This course focuses on problem solving in an intelligent and purposeful manner with the support of carefully chosen technologies. First, I learned about different types of problems; well-structured, ill-structured, and wicked problems. Then, I read into human social and cognitive nature in regards to problem solving. I now apply what I have learned through this course in my everyday life. Specifically, how to use a wide variety of digital technologies to manage and contend with limitations in a school setting.
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Creativity in teaching and learningInstructors: Dr. Missy Cosby, Swati Mehta
On a personal note, this was one of my favorite classes in my entire master’s program! This course focused on creativity and how I as an individual (and as an educator, a group, across cultures, the entire world) define and use it. I also explored technology’s role within being creative. The course focused on seven parts of the creative process: Perceive, Pattern, Abstraction, Embodied Thinking, Modeling and Dimensional Thinking, Play and Synthesize.
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Learning technology by designInstructors: K. Bret Staudt Willet, William Bork
To put it simply, CEP 817 is a course about design. This course taught me how I am a designer in education and how to use the process of design to teach and create more preferred situations. The core focus of this class was the five phases of design thinking. Based off of the Stanford Model of Design Thinking, the phases are 1. Empathize 2. Define 3. Ideate 4. Prototype 5. Test.
I figured out a problem of practice by identifying my user group and sending out a survey to them. Problem: 5 min between classes, material management. Users: Elementary art teachers. Incubate. Collaborate with coworkers. Prototype: Educational video I made on self-portraits meant to “buy” more time as a practical way to solve my problem. |
Learning in school and other settingsInstructors: Dr. Ron Houtman, Kyle Shack, Dr. Chris Sloan
This course was specifically designed to provide a deep understanding of learning and behavior. I read about different learning theories, discussed which tools and methods are important for schools, and what factors can help or hinder learning.
I studied how learning happens directly (classical conditioning and operant conditioning) and indirectly (observational learning and social learning theory). Cognitive development and situated cognition were big ideas, as well, especially as the understanding that culture and environment have a large impact on learning becomes more prominent in the 21st century. I also examined the similarities and differences between learning in-school and out-of-school settings. |
Technology and leadershipInstructors: Candace Robertson, Kyle Shack
For me, this course was the core of the entire program. It brings together the worlds of technology, leadership, and teaching and learning. I looked at the uses of different technologies from various points of view to evaluate the affordances and constraints for different stakeholders within education. Furthermore, I gained an understanding of what it means to be a leader, transformations of leadership, creating a shared vision, and much more. The assignments throughout this course were authentic and challenged me truly grow and think like a leader.
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Approaches to educational researchInstructors: Dr. E. David Wong, Ming Lei
In my opinion, this was one of the most challenging courses throughout my program. This course required that I thoroughly investigate a topic of interest/problem within the field of education. In order to continue to develop as a professional in my field, I was required to learn from others and conduct research on an important topic to me; to identify the ways that a fine arts education affects an at-risk student's academic achievement. Additionally, this course advanced my knowledge of the program Excel and how to use data and statistics to inform decision making and draw important conclusions.
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Capstone in educational technologyInstructors: Dr. Matthew Koehler, Aric Gaunt
CEP 807 is the last course in the MAET program. The biggest accomplishment of this course is a personal and professional online portfolio that exhibits the large breadth of work that has been created not only through my master's program but work I've done as an art educator, an individual, a leader, and as a collaborator. This portfolio highlights my abilities to incorporate technology into my classroom safely, responsibly, and diligently.
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