Growth as an Educator in a Digital Age

Corey Meram
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Professor: Matthe !ixson
"PU camp#s primarily attended: M#rrieta $egional Center
Li%e&inder:
http:''(li%e&inders(com'play'play)id*++6,6,-
May +5. 2/+,
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page +
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
Growth as an Educator in a Digital Age
Section 1
Introduction
2riginally. hen 3 decided to o&tain my single s#&4ect credential 3 had not
considered o&taining a Master5s of "rt( 3 had spent fi%e years st#dying as an
#ndergrad#ate directly after high school. and as &eginning to &#rn o#t on high
ed#cation( D#ring my or6 on my 7("( for history 3 had eighed my options on hich
profession 3 ished to enter( 3 6ne the #ses of a history degree hen co#pled ith a
minor. &#t decided to do hat 3 as most passionate a&o#t 8 or6ing ith yo#th( The
decision to enter the Digital Teaching and Learning program occ#rred d#ring my
inter%ie for the credentialing program( Doctor 9reeman s#ggested that 3 add a Master5s
program to my ed#cation at ":#sa Pacific Uni%ersity( "fter re%ieing the list of options 3
chose to 4oin the Digital Teaching and Learning program. as 3 sa it as &eing most
mar6eta&le( 3 also #nderstood that st#dents in the modern age are hea%ily infl#enced &y
technology and &eing a&le to em&ed it into their ed#cation o#ld impro%e the ;#ality of
my classroom(
<hen 3 first entered into the "PU grad#ate program for ed#cation. 3 as
#nemployed( My mother had seen ho my co#sins str#ggled ith or6ing f#ll time
hile attending college. and insisted that 3 foc#s solely on my ed#cation( 3 s#r%i%ed
mostly on st#dent loans and the s#pport of my mother as 3 attended a local Uni%ersity(
Upon entering "PU. 3 applied for a s#&stit#te teaching permit hich 3 #sed #ntil my
st#dent teaching( !a%ing finished my clinical practice in the fall of 2/+=. 3 am again
or6ing as a s#&stit#te teacher hile finishing my M("( "t home 3 am responsi&le for
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page 2
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
general #p6eep of the ho#se and generally prepare most meals for my family( My mother
has m#ch longer or6 ho#rs than 3 so 3 do hat 3 can to help o#t(
Upon entering the Digital Teaching and Learning program 3 had clear
expectations of hat 3 ished to gain from it( 9irstly. 3 anted something to my name
that differenced me from other ed#cators( <ith the groing trend for technology in the
classroom. 3 felt this o#ld &e most appropriate to o&tain( 1econdly. 3 anted to
#nderstand ho to #se modern technology( 3 as informed form the o#tset that the iPad
as the primary tool for the program( 3 had ne%er e%en held an iPad prior to this class and
rarely #sed "pple comp#ters( 3 had alays #sed <indos comp#ters. &#t 6ne that
many schools #sed "pple. so 3 ished to &roaden my comp#ter capa&ilities to ens#re 3
co#ld or6 in any classroom( 9inally. 3 anted to learn a&o#t hardare and softare that
3 co#ld #se to assist my st#dents( This incl#des ays to impro%e o%erall lesson
presentation and acti%ities. and also to help my st#dents ith special needs(
Personal Growth
3 ha%e noticed a great deal of personal groth. d#ring my time in the program(
Classes are m#ch more fast>paced in comparison ith my #ndergrad#ate st#dies 8 nine
ee6s instead of sixteen per class( This has led me to de%elop my a&ility to or6 ell
#nder press#re( <ith ee6ly assignments and m#ltiple large assignments &eing presented
per class 3 ha%e had to learn to pace myself &etter( 3 ha%e fo#nd that 3 dedicate m#ch
more time to my ed#cation than 3 did in the past( My memory retention alloed me to
glide thro#gh my #ndergrad#ate. &#t the Digital Teaching and Learning program is
helping me apply hat 3 6no so 3 am dedicating more time to my st#dies( 3 &elie%e that
&eteen the credentialing program and the master5s program 3 ha%e done a great deal of
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page =
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
spirit#al groth( The programs ha%e alloed me to see ho 3 can &ring my spirit#al
&eliefs into the classroom itho#t forcing them #pon the st#dents( 2n a tr#ly personal
le%el this degree means a great deal to me( 3t is the final ma4or h#rdle 3 am #nderta6ing in
my ;#est for higher ed#cation( 3t shos me that 3 can complete anything 3 set my mind to
e%en if it ta6es many years to complete(
Professional Growth
D#ring my time at ":#sa Pacific Uni%ersity 3 ha%e learned e%erything 3 6no
a&o#t &eing a teacher from it( 7eteen the to programs 3 ha%e enrolled in. 3 ha%e come
to #nderstand hat it means to &e an ed#cator( 3 no 6no the responsi&ilities yo# ha%e
to yo#r st#dents. parents. administration. and comm#nity( 3 also &etter #nderstand the
need to integrate technology into my professional life( <hen 3 first entered into the
program 3 as as6ed to rite a&o#t my %ies on ed#cation and technology( 3 still &elie%e
that technology is to &e #sed to &etter impro%e the ;#ality of a classroom( !oe%er. the
time spent in the program has shon me that 3 can go far &eyond my initial ass#mption
that it as for s#pplementary p#rposes( Technology can &e the dri%ing force in the
classroom if #sed correctly to enco#rage in%ol%ement from the st#dents( EDUC 522 had
me de%ise an entire #nit dedicate do to #sing technology to reach all my st#dents no
matter their different learning styles(
1ome things ha%e changed in my life since &eginning the Digital Teaching and
Learning program( The most life changing of hich is the completion of my single>
s#&4ect teaching credential thro#gh ":#sa Pacific( 3 had ne%er had a class of my on to
or6 ith for an extended period of time hile s#&stit#ting so did not 6no hat it as
tr#ly li6e to &e a f#ll>time ed#cator( <hile ta6ing part in my clinical practice 3 attempted
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page ,
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
to implement some of the technology &eing disc#ssed in the program into the classroom
setting( This helped me de%elop my on method to teaching and siphon thro#gh hich
ones or6 for me and hich did not( 3 ha%e fo#nd that ma6ing ;#ic6 %ideos for the
st#dents are &oth engaging and entertaining( This as the foc#s of EDUC 5+,( They
en4oy la#ghing at my poor acting s6ills &#t ta6e a great deal aay from the lessons in
them( 3 also too6 to maintaining a e&site for the st#dents to #se for information( 3t as
similar in design to the one de%eloped in EDUC 5+5( 3 incl#ded acti%ities s#ch as games.
%ideos. and missed homeor6 assignments( 3 fo#nd this to &e &eneficial ith the games
posted( 1t#dents &ragged a&o#t their high scores not reali:ing that these ?games@ ere
preparing them for their geography ;#i::es( These are 4#st some of the ama:ing tools 3
ha%e learned a&o#t hile in the program. and ill contin#e to try to implement more once
3 o&tain my on classroom(
Technical Growth
Prior to &eginning the Digital Teaching and Learning program. 3 had firm grasp
on ho comp#ters and the <indos operating system f#nctioned( 3 also &enefited from
ha%ing friends ho &#ilt comp#ters professionally to assist me hen 3 ran into pro&lems 3
co#ldn5t fix ith my on 6no>ho( !oe%er. 3 as not too familiar ith the hand>held
de%ices or "pple prod#cts( 3 am a lo>end tech person ho only at the start of this
program #sed an iPad and still does not on a smart phoneA so many of the programs
a%aila&le to ed#cators here a mystery to me(
"fter entering the program 3 learned a&o#t a plethora of tools that 3 co#ld #se to
impro%e my f#t#re classroom( EDUC 5+2 introd#ced me to iPad( !ad 3 not ta6en this
co#rse 3 &elie%e 3 o#ld ha%e str#ggled greatly to complete this program( 3 as
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page 5
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
introd#ced to the inn#mero#s reso#rces a%aila&le to it that can &e #sed in the classroom(
This incl#des &oth organi:ational tools and learning tools( EDUC 5+, helped me
#nderstand ho %ideo can &e &ro#ght into the classroom( 3 had ne%er considered ma6ing
my on %ideos. &#t iMo%ie has shon me ho easy and ;#ic6 it can &e to prod#ce a
;#ality %ideo for a lesson(
Life Long Learning Plan
M#ch li6e ith technology. ed#cation ne%er stops changing( Teaching as a
profession has transformed so m#ch o%er the co#rse of h#man history. and 3 ill contin#e
to see these changes d#ring my time as an ed#cator( 7eca#se of this. 3 ill ne%er stop
&eing a st#dent( 3 ill contin#e to monitor and implement ne technology as they come
onto the mar6et( Thro#gh the master5s program 3 ha%e fo#nd a m#ltit#de of o#tlets for
information( This incl#des traditional classroom settings. profession &ased e&sites.
&logs. and ed#cation specific social organi:ations( D#ring research. 3 fo#nd the
organi:ation 31TE hich is dedicated to the integration of technology and ed#cation. and
ha%e since &ecome a mem&er( "s 3 &egin to de%elop my on teaching style. 3 plan to
integrate more technology than most teachers do into the classroom( 3 ant a space here
st#dents can #se the de%ices that they lo%e to &etter their #nderstanding of ho the orld
or6s thro#gh the st#dy of history( Tho#gh 3 do not plan on o&taining a Ph(D(. 3 ill
ne%er stop my ed#cation( 3 ant to contin#e to ta6e co#rses to learn a&o#t the ne
technology and techni;#es to implement them into the classroom(
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page 6
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
Section 2
History of Coursewor and Course E!aluation
EDUC 5++ 0il&reath 9all 2/+=
This co#rse foc#ses on introd#cing and de%eloping proficiency ith the essential s6ills necessary for the
Master of "rts in Ed#cational Technology and Learning( <or6ing in face>to>face. synchrono#s. and
asynchrono#s en%ironments. st#dents #tili:e a %ariety of applications and s6ills necessary for competency
in the program( The research process is introd#ced and &eg#n in this class along ith each st#dent5s
&aseline assessment of his'her on technology s6ills and experiences( 1t#dents explore philosophy of
ed#cation fo#ndations in order to artic#late their on ed#cational philosophy and %ision statements( This
co#rse m#st &e ta6en in the first term of the program(
The 6ey s6ill 3 o&tained from this co#rse as an #nderstanding the #se of
Li%e&inder as a digital archi%ing tool( This co#rse pro%ided a play to acc#m#late and
display artifacts from all my classes for the M("( 3 fo#nd the instr#ctor to &e %ery
informati%e and helpf#l in determining ho 3 sho#ld ta6e co#rses thro#gho#t my time at
"PU( The assignments for this co#rse introd#ced me to ho technology can &e &ro#ght
into the classroom as an effecti%e ed#cational tool(
EDUC 5+2 1#lli%an 1pring 2/+=
1t#dents ta6e the f#nctional 6noledge of prod#cti%ity softare and learn ho to implement its #se in
instr#ction and pro4ects incl#ding a final thematic pro4ect into their on classroom( The pro4ects are
designed to match the California 1tate Content 1tandards and 31TE BET1 standards of their on grade.
and are appropriate for the technology en%ironment in hich the pro4ect ill &e implemented(
The 6ey s6ills 3 de%eloped d#ring this co#rse ere those related to general
operations of the iPad. the primary tool for the M("( Prior to the start of this program 3
had ne%er held an iPad and had %ery little #nderstanding of ho it or6ed( 1#lli%an too6
the time to direct me in &asic f#nctions and applications that co#ld &e #sed to complete
the M("( re;#ired co#rses. as ell as those 3 co#ld potentially &ring to the classroom(
M#ch li6e ith EDUC 5++. the assignments helped in my #nderstanding of the program
and here it ill ta6e me as an ed#cator(
EDUC 5+, Temple 1pring 2/+,
1t#dents are exposed to &asics in %ideo pro4ect composition( "cti%ities incl#de learning ho to &#ild
%is#ally effecti%e shots. ho to #se m#sic to enhance the feel of the presentation. and ho to create a mo%ie
pro4ect that is designed to 6eep a st#dentCs attention in the context of teaching standards>&ased material(
The s6ills that 3 learned in this class related to film prod#ction on the iPad( Prior
to this co#rse 3 had only #sed <indos Mo%ie Ma6er hich is c#m&ersome and poor
;#ality prod#ction softare( 7eca#se of this. 3 had stayed aay from anting to &ring
film prod#ction into the classroom( This co#rse helped me #nderstand that film ma6ing
can &e a f#n. rearding. and ed#cational especially in the classroom( The general
approach the instr#ctor too6 to this co#rse as to gi%e an o%er%ie of an assignment. and
then let #s try to complete it on o#r on( 3f e needed assistance e ere a&le to contact
him at a time. &#t he promoted experimentation and self learning( This helped in the
de%elopment of creati%e thin6ing and time management s6ills to prod#ce ;#ality %ideos
in a short amo#nt of time(
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page -
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
EDUC 5+5 Martin 1pring 2/+=
This co#rse loo6s at the e%ol#tion of ed#cational technologies in their present and historical contexts(
1t#dents explore ho and hy some technologies end#re hile others do not( "ttention is gi%en to c#rrent
technologies and ho they can &e s#ccessf#lly implemented into the classrooms in order to enhance &oth
teaching and learning strategies(
This co#rse foc#sed on e& design. &logging. and different softare that can &e
&ro#ght into the classroom( This co#rse alloed me to experiment ith a m#ltit#de of
softare s#ch as 7logspot. <ee&ly. iMo%ie. 0arage&and and m#ch more( 7y #sing
different tools 3 as a&le to decide hich 3 personally preferred for my teaching style.
and hich 3 co#ld also &ring in for my st#dents to en4oy #sing as indi%id#als or as a
gro#p( Professor Martin as ;#iet helpf#l hen it came to or6ing ith the softare( 3f
st#dents ere str#ggling to complete an assignment he alloed for extensions so st#dents
to complete hat they had in mind( !e also introd#ced softare for <indos prod#cts
that had the same p#rpose as those fo#nd on the iPad( This as especially &eneficial to
me as 3 as ha%ing tro#&le ith my iPad at the time. and &eing a&le to #se alternati%e
tools alloed me to complete the co#rse( These same programs co#ld also &e &ro#ght
into a classroom setting for teachers that do not ha%e access to "pple prod#cts for their
classroom. so 6noing a&o#t them as of great &enefit(
EDUC 522 $odrig#e: 9all 2/+=
<or6ing ith digital nati%es re;#ires an #nderstanding of ho they ac;#ire and process information( This
co#rse assists ed#cators in &ridging the gap &eteen static c#rric#l#m and m#lti>model instr#ction( " 6ey
component of this co#rse is designing #nit plans that em&ed technology and differentiated instr#ction ith
a foc#s on m#ltiple intelligences and learning styles to meet the needs of today5s learners(
This co#rse foc#sed on the de%elopment of #nit plans that incorporate the
different digital tools a%aila&le to an ed#cator( This co#rse &#ilt #pon the techni;#es
de%eloped in pre%io#s classes in the M("( program( The s6ills de%eloped in this class
ere those related to the implementation of technology in regards to 0ardner5s Theory of
M#ltiple 3ntelligences and 7loom5s Taxonomy( The co#rse led me to reali:e that all types
of learners can &e ta#ght #sing different hardare and softare( <ith this co#rse 3 as
finally a&le to f#lly en%ision hat a technologically enriched classroom co#ld loo6 li6e(
E%en tho#gh the professor for this co#rse as o#t of state. she as easy to contact and
s#pporti%e of or6 in progress( 1he o#ld reg#larly meet ith the st#dents %ia an online
program s#ch as 0oogle !ango#ts. and as illing to sched#le more meetings if st#dents
needed it( 1he as also illing to re%ie and pro%ide feed&ac6 on assignments in
progress to help g#ide st#dents to hat a digital #nit co#ld &e(
EDUC 526 !ixon 1pring 2/+,
The primary foc#s of this capstone experience is a research>designed interacti%e portfolio that shocases
s6ills and concepts the st#dent has ac;#ired in the Ed#cational Technology and Learning program( This
program>c#lminating co#rse incorporates each st#dentCs research. #se of applied softare and ed#cational
technology. a groth assessment. comprehensi%e portfolio. and an oral defense( This co#rse m#st &e ta6en
at the end of the program. and passed in order to meet the final re;#irements for the masterCs degree(
This co#rse foc#sed on professional de%elopment thro#gh the creation of an
electronic portfolio( The co#rse re;#ired the implementation of s6ills de%eloped in all
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page D
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
co#rses in the program to sho de%elopment as an ed#cator #sing technology( Professor
!ixon reg#larly chec6ed in on st#dent progress toards completing the assignments for
the co#rse. and as illing to pro%ide feed&ac6 on all assignments prior to s#&mission to
ens#re they ere completed to the &est of the st#dent5s a&ilities(
E!aluation of i"#act of the Digital Teaching and Learning Progra"
The tools #sed thro#gho#t my st#dies for the Digital Teaching and Learning
program greatly impact ho 3 consider lesson design for my classroom( 2ne example of
an instr#ctional tool 3 #tili:ed in the classroom as <e&E#est( This application as
introd#ced in EDUC 5+2 and reinforced in EDUC 5+5( The main p#rpose of a <e&E#est
is to ha%e an interacti%e learning experience that is digital in nat#re( 3t has clear
g#idelines of hat st#dents and the teacher to accomplish d#ring the lesson( 3
implemented a <e&E#est into my classroom d#ring a #nit on "frica d#ring the middle
ages( The st#dents ere to analy:e "frican c#lt#re ith special attention gi%en to the arts(
The <e&E#est alloed the st#dents to role>play as researchers for a m#se#m. st#dy
different forms of art s#ch as sc#lpt#res. paintings. m#sic and dance( They ere also a&le
to compare it to E#ropean art forms( 3 fo#nd this application of this instr#ctional tool to
&e of great &enefit to the st#dents as they readily en4oyed or6ing together to complete a
tas6 that they normally did not do a classroom(
Progra" E!aluation
My o%erall experience d#ring the Master5s program at ":#sa Pacific Uni%ersity
as ;#iet en4oya&le( The classes ere ell designed to allo people a steady progression
in s6ill de%elopment( 9or someone s#ch as me ho had ne%er #sed an iPad &efore starting
this program. the directions and s#pport from the professors ere greatly appreciated(
They ere alays illing to assist hen 3 ran into tro#&le. &#t also pro%ided the freedom
to learn from experience( The front des6 at the regional center as also helpf#l(
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page F
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge
<hene%er. 3 needed paperor6 sent to the main camp#s they ere alays illing to send
a copy for me( The administration as also a pleas#re to or6 ith( D#e to EDUC 5++
&eing created hen 3 started my time in the program. the co#rse as not listed as a
re;#ired co#rse on the paperor6 3 as gi%en( The person 3 spo6e to as helpf#l in
fig#ring o#t ho 3 sho#ld ad4#st my co#rses to complete this co#rse so 3 o#ld ha%e
eno#gh credits to o&tain the M("(
The only real ea6ness 3 fo#nd d#ring my time at ":#sa Pacific as here
assignments ill &e s#&mitted for a class( 1ome classes #sed 1a6ai hile others #sed
programs s#ch as drop&ox and li%e&inder( There as also Tas6stream hich as #sed to
s#&mit signat#re assignments for some classes &#t not for others( 3 do appreciate #sing
different programs and e&sites to demonstrate the options that are a%aila&le. &#t it does
&ecome c#m&ersome hen trying to organi:e e%erything for the capstone( 9or the s6ills
ta#ght. and the direction the program is ta6ing to em&race digital teaching. there is little
else 3 o#ld consider a ea6ness(
Corey Meram EDUC 526 0roth "ssessment Page +/
M#rrieta $egional Center 1pring 2. 2/+, May 2/+,
0roth as an Ed#cator in a Digital "ge