Showcase Introduction
Welcome to my showcase of work from my time as a graduate student at Michigan State. Since beginning the Master of Arts in Educational Technology in 2015, this journey has taken me in directions that I had not anticipated (see more about this in my Goal Reflection). While it is impossible to share an entire body of work and experience, this small showcase is meant to share the highlights of this meaningful education and the things I have learned and created throughout the program.
Showcase Organization
I have separated my work into three categories: past, present, and future. Past refers to experiences and creations that are important to my love of history. As a history teacher, I am always looking for ways to share my love of my subject and bring it to life for my students. Present relates to creations that have affected my overall teaching in this moment by pushing me to consider practices in new and exciting ways. Finally, future refers to my desire to be more of a leader in technology education and to be a source of information for my students, colleagues, and others in my community. All of these creations have profoundly changed who I am not only as an educator, but an overall person as well. I hope you enjoy experiencing them as much as I did creating them. Click on the images to take you to the original creation or (if applicable) to a blog post introducing and including the creation.
PAST
Formative Assessment Design: The Emancipation Proclamation & Modern Day Slavery
Here, I have created a formative assessment design about the Emancipation Proclamation connected to the concept of modern-day slavery. The purpose of the assignment is for the students to experience many different types of assessment in a meaningful way that will shape their learning. Additionally, students will explore the difficult concept of not only slavery as it existed in the United States before its abolition in 1865 but also the ways in which slavery still very much exists all over the world to this day.
Here, I have created a formative assessment design about the Emancipation Proclamation connected to the concept of modern-day slavery. The purpose of the assignment is for the students to experience many different types of assessment in a meaningful way that will shape their learning. Additionally, students will explore the difficult concept of not only slavery as it existed in the United States before its abolition in 1865 but also the ways in which slavery still very much exists all over the world to this day.
Maker Movement Inspired Lesson: Benjamin Franklin's Music
As I learned about the Maker Movement, something I had not been very familiar with, I pushed myself to create in new ways and with materials I was not familiar with, such as the Makey Makey. This is a lesson plan I created to use this technology, fused with my love of history is an important creation that took me out of my comfort zone but pushed me to consider my subject in a new way.
As I learned about the Maker Movement, something I had not been very familiar with, I pushed myself to create in new ways and with materials I was not familiar with, such as the Makey Makey. This is a lesson plan I created to use this technology, fused with my love of history is an important creation that took me out of my comfort zone but pushed me to consider my subject in a new way.
Teaching the Battle of Gettysburg: Two Creative (but different!) Approaches
This is actually two creations fused together. The Battle of Gettysburg was the inspiration for both, however the approach is completely different. One creation is the Battle of Gettysburg in the world of Minecraft and how my students could potentially benefit from a similar creation in their own learning environment. The second example is the Battle of Gettysburg, but modeled using ordinary items found around my house. In addition, each of these is accompanied by a synthesis and reflection to explain the thought process.
This is actually two creations fused together. The Battle of Gettysburg was the inspiration for both, however the approach is completely different. One creation is the Battle of Gettysburg in the world of Minecraft and how my students could potentially benefit from a similar creation in their own learning environment. The second example is the Battle of Gettysburg, but modeled using ordinary items found around my house. In addition, each of these is accompanied by a synthesis and reflection to explain the thought process.
PRESENT
Assessment Rubric
This rubric was designed over the course of many months and refined based on peer and instructor feedback and readings and research from a variety of sources. It pushed me to think about the way I assess students in a way that nothing else has done and it changed the face of the way I approach assessment in the classroom. There are 10 standards explained with examples and I am proud of the detail found within these pages.
This rubric was designed over the course of many months and refined based on peer and instructor feedback and readings and research from a variety of sources. It pushed me to think about the way I assess students in a way that nothing else has done and it changed the face of the way I approach assessment in the classroom. There are 10 standards explained with examples and I am proud of the detail found within these pages.
Wicked Problems In Education
This infographic describing wicked problems in education in this day in age is an important reminder of what we face today in our school buildings. Creating this infographic helped me research, more closely, some of the bigger challenges we face as teachers and it informed me, in the moment, not just about the ‘wicked problems’ but potential solutions I could begin implementing and working towards today.
This infographic describing wicked problems in education in this day in age is an important reminder of what we face today in our school buildings. Creating this infographic helped me research, more closely, some of the bigger challenges we face as teachers and it informed me, in the moment, not just about the ‘wicked problems’ but potential solutions I could begin implementing and working towards today.
Collaborative Problem Solving Research Paper
Throughout this program I have become specifically interested in collaborative problem solving and project based learning. Thankfully, throughout the program, there have been multiple opportunities to explore and research this approach. Due to the interest and the research I have begun to rewrite small units in my classes to test and refine the approach based on my needs and it has changed my view of teaching.
Throughout this program I have become specifically interested in collaborative problem solving and project based learning. Thankfully, throughout the program, there have been multiple opportunities to explore and research this approach. Due to the interest and the research I have begun to rewrite small units in my classes to test and refine the approach based on my needs and it has changed my view of teaching.
FUTURE
Technology Survey Analysis
After constructing a survey for teachers at my school, this paper explains those results and the conclusions that I drew. Its inclusion is important, not because it is particularly earth shattering, but because it helped me better understand both the environment I teach in and the colleagues I teach with. As I work towards stepping into a role of leadership in technology, this was important to my blossoming understanding of the perceptions of my community.
After constructing a survey for teachers at my school, this paper explains those results and the conclusions that I drew. Its inclusion is important, not because it is particularly earth shattering, but because it helped me better understand both the environment I teach in and the colleagues I teach with. As I work towards stepping into a role of leadership in technology, this was important to my blossoming understanding of the perceptions of my community.
Creativity in Education Professional Development Plan
This professional development plan is important because I was able to take a semester of learning and create a way to share it with my colleagues in a meaningful way, thus taking my experience and paying it forward. Creativity in education is more vast than I could have realized and the lessons learned pushed me to be more creative in my own classroom. This is an important aspect of taking more initiative in the workplace and becoming a leader.
This professional development plan is important because I was able to take a semester of learning and create a way to share it with my colleagues in a meaningful way, thus taking my experience and paying it forward. Creativity in education is more vast than I could have realized and the lessons learned pushed me to be more creative in my own classroom. This is an important aspect of taking more initiative in the workplace and becoming a leader.
Leadership Style Tweets and Explanations
Exploring different leadership styles was eye opening as I began to understand the types of leaders I have worked for and the type of leader I would like to be. This creation is a composition of different tweets that various leadership styles might send in response to different educational issues. I really enjoyed getting into the mindset of the different styles and trying to capture them in 40 characters or less.
Exploring different leadership styles was eye opening as I began to understand the types of leaders I have worked for and the type of leader I would like to be. This creation is a composition of different tweets that various leadership styles might send in response to different educational issues. I really enjoyed getting into the mindset of the different styles and trying to capture them in 40 characters or less.
Emancipation Proclamation: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emancipation_Proclamation.jpg
Benjamin Franklin Painting: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Duplessis_-_Portrait_of_Benjamin_Franklin_-_WGA06871.jpg
Battle of Gettysburg Troop Map: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gettysburg_Battle_Map_Day3.png
Rubric: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubric.jpg
Collaboration Image: https://www.tohatoha.org.nz/2015/03/join-the-creative-commons-advisory-panel/
Survey Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Online_Survey_Icon.svg
Professional Development Image: http://www.creative-commons-images.com/highway-signs/p/professional-development.html
Twitter Logo: http://www.stickpng.com/img/icons-logos-emojis/tech-companies/twitter-logo
All other images are my own.
Benjamin Franklin Painting: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Duplessis_-_Portrait_of_Benjamin_Franklin_-_WGA06871.jpg
Battle of Gettysburg Troop Map: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gettysburg_Battle_Map_Day3.png
Rubric: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubric.jpg
Collaboration Image: https://www.tohatoha.org.nz/2015/03/join-the-creative-commons-advisory-panel/
Survey Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Online_Survey_Icon.svg
Professional Development Image: http://www.creative-commons-images.com/highway-signs/p/professional-development.html
Twitter Logo: http://www.stickpng.com/img/icons-logos-emojis/tech-companies/twitter-logo
All other images are my own.