Megan Hess' Portfolio
Annotated Transcript
Below is a listing of courses that I have completed in order to earn my Master's in Education Technology (MAET) through Michigan State University. I have included the course name, instructor(s), and a short description for each.
Fall 2013
Course Name: Teaching Understanding with Technology
Instructors: K. Powell & M. Schira Hagerman
Description: The first course in the MAET program helped me to develop an understanding for how students learn, as well as allowed me to expand my professional learning network (PLN). The course introduced me to technological tools, such as Twitter and blogs that can help me to facilitate student learning in my classroom. Many readings and activities were centered on the concept of TPACK, which stands for technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge, in order to develop a foundation for how to successfully incorporate technology into my classroom. The culmination of this course was to create a video demonstration of a skill that I learned through YouTube videos and help forums. This final project taught me that there are many forms of technology, which are not necessarily labeled as education products, but if used purposefully, can increase student understanding.
Course Name: Adapting Innovative Technology to Education
Instructors: C. McMichael & M. Schira Hagerman
Description: The Maker Education is a movement that encourages students to learn through innovation and creation. Rethinking teaching and reimagining learning is necessary for educators in order to reach 21st century students. Through this course, I explored a variety of tools, such as a Makey Makey, that students could use in the classroom to learn content information, through hands-on activities, which have a practical application to their lives. I also explored new methods of teaching, such as experiential learning and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which helped me learn different types of education, beyond traditional classrooms. Communicating with fellow classmates through Google Hangout allowed me to further increase my PLN.
Spring 2014
Course Name: Appling Education Technology to Practice
Instructor: W. Marsland
Description: Problems of practice were the focus of this course. I learned about why people have difficulty in solving problems, as well as the technological tools that can help them do so. The major project for this course was to work with a team of colleagues to research and provide solutions for a major problem in schools today. We chose to focus on reimagining what in means to teach. More specifically, my group chose to research project-based learning (PBL) as a way to provide meaningful lessons and activities to our students. We created a digital storyboard to highlight the benefits and uses of PBL in the classroom.
Course Name: Teaching Students Online
Instructors: A. Heintz & S. Sawaya
Description: This course allowed me to explore the design and application of online classes in order to create my own online learning experience. I learned how to create and manage a website using an online publishing tool. Then, developed a fully functioning online class that would be appropriate for a 7th grade science student. Through the development of this course, I examined social, ethical, legal, and human issues that are important to consider when publishing information online. Readings also focused on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which present teaching standards for 21st century educators.
Summer 2014
Course Name: Approaches to Education Research
Instructors: E. Wong & T. Li
Description: Analyzing and utilizing the research of others is a necessary skill for teachers and leaders. This course helped me learn how to collect and interpret quantitative data, in order to research a current topic in education. I developed skills in deciphering and evaluating statistics while reading the published research of others. The final project for this course was to write a lengthy research paper using scholarly articles and data.
Fall 2014
Course Name: Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings
Instructor: D. Henriksen
Description: Students in this course were exposed to different theories of learning. I explored the concept of making thinking visible to students, in order to improve their metacognitive ability to learn new information. An audio podcast was created that examined student understanding and misconceptions on the topic of gravity. This allowed me to examine the information that would be most crucial to convey to my students, as well as the appropriate methods to do so. I also created a video demonstration of myself teaching a technological tool to my students and wrote a self-evaluation of how I connected learning theories to my teaching practice.
Course Name: Technology and Leadership
Instructors: Dr. L. Wolf & J. Rosenberg
Description: Examining my role as a leader in my classroom and school was the focus of this course. I learned about different leadership styles and strategies that are most effective in my current profession. This course permitted me to examine an important issue in my school and reflect on the actions that I could take to lead other teachers to improve this problem. Creating student-centered individual learning plans, as well as a personal manifesto, which outlined different areas of leadership in my classroom and school, showcased the information I learned throughout this course. Readings and online lectures from leaders in education and business also helped me develop leadership goals for the future.
Spring 2015
Course Name: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
Instructor: G. Li
Description: Throughout this course I learned how to recognize all types of literacy learners in my classroom. Making adaptations in my classroom to support all types of literacy learners, especially English Language Learners (ELLs) was a priority. I also reflected upon the diversity in my school and how I address or ignore these cultural differences. Types of services that are available to special needs students were also researched. The culminating project for this course was to interview and observe a literacy learner in my classroom. Then, to develop teaching strategies that would address the needs of this student, as well as all students in my class. Lastly, I wrote about this student in a case study of a literacy learner and the effectiveness of the techniques that I used to address his cultural and literacy needs.
Summer 2015
Course Name: Teaching and Learning with Technology
Instructors: W. Dickson & Y. Zhang
Description: This course helped me to develop a website that would be appropriate to use for my classroom. The website that I created would be conveys information to parents, students, colleagues, and principals about my teaching methods and philosophies. Within this digital portfolio I made separate pages that highlighted a review of education technology tools, local field trip opportunities, and a short research essay on fixed versus growth mindsets. Providing feedback to my peers also allowed me to develop leadership and communication skills.
Fall 2015
Course Name: Capstone in Educational Technology
Instructors: Dr. M. Koehler, J. Rosenberg, S. Greenhalgh, S. Keenan
Description: The culmination of my master’s courses was to create an online portfolio that could be presented to current or future employers. The course allowed me to reflect upon my work throughout the MAET program, while setting concrete learning and professional goals for my future. The creation of the portfolio refined my ability to use a website publishing platform and provide constructive suggestions for my peers to improve their own work. My portfolio demonstrates my aptitude for using technology and showcases the exemplary work that I created throughout the program.