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Aubrey McClain's Annotated Transcipt:

 

Master of Arts in Educational Technology 

Michigan State University

2011 - 2014

My journey in the pursuit of a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from Michigan State University began as the need to take a few courses including the newly required Reading course to obtain my professional teaching certificate and blossomed into a new-found passion for technology.  Along the way I was also accepted into the Red Cedar Writing Project - Michigan State's chapter of the National Writing Project.  My experience at MSU has been amazing, and I look forward to continuing my educational at MSU in a doctoral program. Below is a compliation of the courses I have taken for my MAET along with a description of each course.  

Fall 2011

CEP 810: Teaching for Understanding with Technology

Professor: Melissa White 

GPA: 4.0

 

Teaching for Understanding with Technology focused on the five essential foundational topics which include theories of learning and understanding, mindsets for teaching with technology, professional learning networks, creative uses of technology for learning, and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowlege (TPACK). This course introduced me to new Web 2.0 tools for classroom use such as Google Docs, Glogster, and Prezi. I also created my first blog where I catalogued my experiences through this course.  My blog can be found at http://mcclainsmenagerie.blogspot.com/.

CEP 811: Adapting Innovative Technologies in Education

Professor: Nancy Ayers 

GPA: 4.0

 

Adapting Innovative Technologies in Education helped me delve further into TPACK and professional learning networks but also introduced me to the idea of Universal Design for Learning.  This course challenged me to find new ways to adapt technologies for classroom use.  It also made me reconsider how I developed lessons to make sure that all of my students are reached during a presented lesson.  I was also introduced to MERLOT and the benefits of using MERLOT as just one of my professional networks.  My work for this course can also be located on my blog, McClain's Menagerie.  

Summer 2012

CEP 812: Applying Educational Technology to Issues of 

               Practice 

Professor: Nancy Ayers  

GPA: 4.0

 

Applying Educational Technology to Issues of Practice is the third course to earn the Educational Technology certificate.  The course primary focus was the identification of educational issues and how technology tools can assist in a solution to those problems.  My favorite aspect of this class was our Wicked Problem project.  I focused on my school's truancy issue.  This project can be found at WWP

CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research 

Professor: Danah Henriksen  

GPA: 4.0

 

This course led me on a research journey that involved numerous different research methods.  Being able to identify problems that can be researched was one of the main focuses which led to my research proposal.  The course also provided opportunities to read, analyze, and critique current (and past) research of educational problems.  I was able to focus on my new position as an instructional coach to see what the research said about the effectiveness of coaches on student achievement.  My final proposal can be accessed at Final Proposal.

Fall 2012

CEP 800: Psychology of Learning in School and Other 

                    Settings 

Professor: Danah Henriksen  

GPA: 4.0

 

In this course I delved a little deeper into the psychology of learning which included people in general, my students, and myself!  It was interesting to see how the mind works.  A point that was well made for this course actually took place during work on my first masters degree.  My father and I were in the same cohort, and my mother always came to campus for the weekends as well.  After taking a personality/learning styles test, my father was far right, heavy in the creative area of the mind.  I was dead center.  For fun, the professor had my mother take the test, and she was far left, very logical.  It was interesting to see the genetics of learning as well.  

CEP 820: Teaching K-12 Students Online 

Professor: Anne Heintz  

GPA: 4.0

 

Teaching K-12 Students Online allowed me to keep an online developer's notebook where I prepared to create an online unit for students.  I chose to develop a Science Fiction unit that I or other teachers could use as a flipped-classroom approach or as an independent study course for students to take on their own time.  My developer's notebook can be found at Notebook.  The online Science Fiction unit can be found at http://mcclainssciencefiction.weebly.com/.

Spring 2013

TE 846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy  

                 Learners 

Professor: E. Wibbens  

GPA: 4.0

 

This course investigated best practices for meeting the needs of all students when teaching reading.  Student populations are diverse in their backgrounds, homes, background knowledge, and experiences which in turn present them with different challenges in their reading education and progression.  Teachers must be aware of the diversities among their students and reach each to become the best reader they can be. 

CEP 813: Electronic Portfolios for Teaching & Learning  

Professor: W. Dickson 

GPA: 4.0

 

Electronic Portfolios for Teaching & Learning introduced me to using online portfolios with students as well as creating my own online presence.  This class challenged me to think about how I wanted to present myself online and the importance of how my online presence looks. My original website can be found at http://aubreymcclain.weebly.com/.  This class also inspired me to begin working with my students to create their own online presence.  Examples of these sites can be found in my Showcase. 

Summer 2013

AL 842: Writing Workshop for Teachers (Red Cedar 

                Writing Project) 

Professor: Dr. Janet Swenson 

GPA: 4.0

 

Although this course is considered an elective for the MAET, being with a group of fellow writers for an entire month on the campus of MSU was one of my best experiences thus far as I work toward my degree.  The group of teachers accepted into the Red Cedar Writing Project were all interested in technology; therefore, much of our focus was on how to incorporate technology into the writing classroom.  I created a website to showcase my experiences and writings from this summer institute and can be found at http://mcclainrcwp.weebly.com/.

Fall 2013

fertheloveofwriting.blogspot.com

CEP 816: Technology, Teaching, & Learning Across the 

                   Curriculum 

Professor: Dr. Rand Spiro 

GPA: 4.0

 

Technology, Teaching, & Learning Across the Curriculum expanded my view on how to use the Internet to guide learning and education. One of the main focuses of this course was the examination and deep research into open educational resources.  The final project required for this course asked me to explore my educational dream.  It led into an Internet frenzie of exploration and resulted in how I could use Google Docs to instill a love of writing into the life of every student with whom I work.  

CEP 815: Technology & Learning Through Design/Leadership 

Professor: Luke Rapa & Josh Rosenberg 

GPA: 4.0

 

This course really expanded my thoughts on how technology can really alter not only how people learn but how that technology can change teaching.  For my final project in the class, I examined how the use of hand held devices such as a smart phone can possibly have positive effects on school-home communication.  This course challenged me to think about the implications of the implementation of technology and how it can effect a school.  

schools.nyc.gov

Spring 2014

CEP 807: Capstone in Educational Technology 

Professor: Matt Koehler  

GPA: 

 

The Capstone in Educational Technology has allowed me to focus on the creation of a professional website that showcases not only who I am as a person, but who I am as an educator as well as the work I have done as a student at Michigan State University.  

CEP 882: The Nature & Design of Compelling 

                Experiences 

Professor: Dr. David Wong 

GPA: 

 

The main purpose of The Nature & Design of Compelling Experiences is to challenge educators to bring the compelling experiences we all have in our daily lives into the classroom and build authentic experiences for our students.  We all experience compelling experiences through books, film, radio, television, commercials, and more!  Why haven't we really tried to bring these experiences to the classroom?  Click on the YouTube video to see my final project to summarize this class!   

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