SHOWCASE of GRADUATE WORK
On this page you will find a compilation of different artifacts demonstrating the variety of skills I have learned while earning my Masters in Education Technology at Michigan State University. I have chosen to categorize this work in to 3 categories to hopefully help you gain a better understanding of how I have evolved as an educator and learner using technology:
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Research Projects
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I chose this category because I believe as an educator it is important to also be a researcher. Learning from others and being able to do effective research is vital in the growth of any educator. These research projects help demonstrate the research skills I have gained while earning my Masters.
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Using Coding in Math!
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I chose this as my second category because it is really important to me that when I integrate technology as a math teacher I am doing so in a way that truly enhances the students learning experience. These projects that incorporate coding specifically to increase student understanding of working with positive and negative integers.
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Lesson and Unit Planning:
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I chose this as my third category because effective lesson and unit planning is necessary for any educator. I have gathered these artifacts to help demonstrate my ability to do so while also integrating technology.
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Image taken by MAET instructor Chris Sloan.
SIP Project - You Are A Math Person!
The focus of my Special Interest Project (SIP) was to research about why as students get older do so many begin to hate math and what role can technology play in fixing that. I narrowed down my research in to three main categories. This project demonstrates my skills to effectively research education issues and use graphic design to display the information gathered.
Image is from our Keynote Presentation
Wicked Problem Project - Achievement Gap
This presentation was created in collaboration with another MAET student, Emily Pearce. Together we explored the achievement gap between students in lower socioeconomic areas compared to students in higher socio-economic areas. This is an issue we are both impacted by as educators in our current teaching roles. This project gave us the opportunity to improve our collaborative skills as well as research and presentation skills!
Image is from our Wix Media Library
Research Review Paper - Effects of PBL on Student Achievement
In this research review paper I got the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the causes of the achievement gap. Specifically I was able to explore a possible solution that I as an educator can implement in my own classroom. While completing this assignment I had the opportunity to gain skills regarding the research process and how to make sure sources are providing valid and unbiased information.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
USING CODING IN MATH!
Trinket
For this assignment I got explore using Python's Trinket coding program. With this code students can review adding with positive and negative integers. Using the Use-Modify-Create model for learning students would eventually be expected to create reviews for their classmates. This artifact demonstrates my skills in regards to creating innovative assignments that help students review content using coding.
Scratch
A personal teaching goal I have had over the past few years is to improve my ability to teach students how to explain in math. This activity gave me the opportunity to gain those skills while also exploring and learning how to use Scratch programming myself. Ultimately increasing my fluency around different ways of integrating coding into my math class. I would use this activity towards the end of our integers unit. Students would be expected to create their own scratch programs where they explain the integer rule of their choice.
Maker Project - Root the Robot
When I plan lessons I am always trying to think of different ways I can make it possible for my students to see why something works. One concept that has always been an obstacle for me is making sense of multiplying two negatives and getting a positive. So, I figured what better time than my Maker Project to explore this question. I am hoping that through my Maker Project students will be able to visualize and make sense of this concept rather than just memorize the rule.
This artifact demonstrates my skills in regards to creating activities where student are learning new content in math through the use of robotics. Here is a video prototype of the assignment where I model multiplying (-15) x (3).
LESSON & UNIT PLANNING
Online Module - Introduction to Percentages
This artifact is an online learning module that I created to use within my percentages unit. This experience enabled me to learn about efficient ways to teach remotely. I had ensure that all students were able to access the material without the typical support they may receive in the classroom when in person. Beyond gaining skills to help me teach effectively in a remote setting I was also able to improve my website making skills on Weebly!
Assessment Redesign - Scale Factor
In this creation I did an assessment redesign that would take the place of our assessment on scale drawings. Through this I was able to strengthen my skills of creating culturally responsive activities as well as making use of a common tool that my students are familiar to enhance their learning.
This is the assessment that I typically give at the end of our unit on scale factor. I hope that through completing this form of assessment my students will dive deeper into understanding ratios and proportionality.
(Original assessment is modified from the middle school Illustrative Math curriculum)
Please click here for an example student artifact that I made.
If you are interested in learning more about the classes I have taken while getting my Master's in Educational Technology please click on Graduate Transcript above!