CEP 807 Capstone Portfolio Coursework

Instructors:  Dr. Matthew J. Koehler, Sarah F. Keenan, and Spencer P. Greenhalgh

CEP 807 is the final course in my MAET degree program.  In this course classmates discussed improvements to our portfolios ranging from text size to color scheme. This peer to peer feedback was helpful. The portfolio that you are reading right now demonstrates the expectations and rigor of the MAET program. This is my online digital summary of everything I have learned throughout my time in the MAET program.

Spring 2016

TE831 Teaching School Subject Matter with Technology

Instructor: Dr. Douglas K. Hartman

This course explored the International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE, standards and using technology in the classroom. We explored many different websites in relation to learning. We examined and became familiar with issues and terminology related to the field of educational technology. We created digital media for our own teaching. We listened and collaborated with classmates. This created an interactive online community. We explored the use of technologies to teach subject matter to diverse learners. 

Spring 2016

CEP 818 Creativity in Teaching and Learning

Instructors: Dr. Punya Mishra, Carmen Richardson, Jonathon A. Good

This was one of my favorite classes. We read a book entitled "Sparks of Genius - The 13 Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People". Each week we created something to show we understood each of the 13 thinking tools. I enjoyed learning how these 13 tools could be used in the classroom and creating lessons, songs, and videos. I have always encouraged my children to be creative problem solvers. This is a very important skill you can practice in school and use later in life. 

Fall 2015

EDC-X7381 Teaching for Understanding and Fluency

Instructors: Dianne Fife and Erica Finlay

This course focused on the reading process and on ways teachers can help children process texts effectively. We used the text “Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency: Thinking, Talking, and Writing About Reading, K–8”, by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2006. We studied the importance that talking, reading, and writing behavior serve as evidence of processing. We learned how to develop comprehending strategies through interactive read-aloud and through shared and performance reading. We focused on the development of fluency in reading, expanding vocabulary, and learning to talk and write about reading.

Spring 2015

CEP800 Learning in School and Other Settings 

CEP815 Technology and Leadership

CEP822 Approaches to Educational Research

Instructors: Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf, Dr. Emily C. Bouck, and Sean M. Sweeney

The summer of 2014 was intense. I spent one more summer in the overseas MAET program in Galway, Ireland at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The major task of all second year students in the overseas program was the Exhibition Conference that was put together by all MAET students and local educators from our host country. My partner and I presented a 45-minute conference session entitled "Using Google Docs and Forms for Student Exit Surveys and Student Journaling".

In Approaches to Ed Research we did a group project called Understanding Understanding. I really enjoyed doing this project. We got out of the classroom and interviewed local Irishmen. We researched the misconception "What Makes Waves". We had our subjects create a visual of their understanding on our iPads. I learned a lot from my classmates as we filmed the interviews and produced a Weebly website together.

In Learning in School and Other Settings we were tasked to choose a problem of practice and create a solution to the problem. My DreamIT project topic was "What is the Best Way to Teach the Soprano Recorder". I compared three methods of teaching the soprano recorder and decided the best method was a website called SmartMusic.

Summer 2014

CEP810 Teaching for Understanding with Technology

CEP811 Adapting Innovative Technology to Education

CEP812 Applying Educational Technology to Practice

Instructors: Dr. Leigh Graves Wolf, Alison L. Keller, and Chris Sloan

The summer of 2013 was my first summer in the overseas Summer Cohort program. I enjoyed spending time in Galway, Ireland at the National University of Ireland, Galway. I am thankful I was able to complete my first year of the MAET program working and learning with my classmates. In my free time we had a great time exploring Ireland and becoming friends. Our instructors exposed us to many cool tool apps. One of my favorites was Glogster. I created a movie entitled “Why I Am A Music Teacher”. I shared it with the class. We collaborated with classmates and formed a SIG (Special Interest Group). Each group made a poster and promoted it within the MAET community.

Teaching for understanding with technology is the first time I was introduced to the TPACK (Technology, Pedagogy, Content and Knowledge) model of learning. We were also introduced to ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). During this first year I created my first music website for my classroom using Wordpress. This website is still being used today. We looked at the Maker Movement, being creative and innovative in learning, and spent an afternoon visiting a Maker Club in downtown Galway. We also learned about "Wicked Problems". "Wicked Problems" are messy and do not have an easy solution. This does not mean that they are impossible to solve. They are just difficult, thus wicked.

Summer 2013