Running head: ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

The Assessment of My Growth While in the Masters of Arts in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning Program Kimberly Kocaya Azusa Pacific University EDUC526

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

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Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

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Abstract This paper serves as an assessment of my growth while in the Master of Arts in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning program at Azusa Pacific University. In this paper I will reflect on my personal, professional, and technical growth as well as review my coursework and evaluate myself and the program as a whole.

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

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The Assessment of My Growth While in the Masters of Arts in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning Program

Introduction My name is Kim Kocaya I am currently completing my Master of Arts in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning. I received my bachelors degree in Human Development from Azusa Pacific University in 2011. My forth child was born in the spring of 2012, so I took a short break from school before entering the Teaching Credential Program in the fall of that same year. I completed the first two modules of the program but could not go into student teaching until I passed the CSET exam. I decided to pursue my masters degree in the meantime. I guess I put the cart before the horse, but I did not want to feel stagnant. I wanted to keep moving forward with my education. I will be student teaching middle school science in the upcoming spring. I am very happy to say that by summer of next year I will be a credentialed teacher and have my Master of Arts in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning. When I first entered the Digital Teaching and Learning program at Azusa Pacific University I would have described myself as someone who was computer literate, but who would have trouble integrating technology into my lessons. Anticipating my need for better technology I purchased a new Toshiba laptop and an iPad. I had all of the tools I would need to succeed in the program, I just needed to learn how to utilize them in the classroom.

Personal Growth While in this program I have learned to be more patient, especially when dealing with technology and its ever-changing ability and constant glitches. In the beginning of this program I Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I Page4 November/2013

found that my frustration with technology led me to easily give up on what I was trying to accomplish. I found that by exercising self-control over my frustration, I would be more likely to have a positive outcome as seen in 2 Peter 1:6, And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness. With technology that is constantly changing there will be times that a link does not work or a video will not play, but this program has helped me learn how to deal with these types of situations when they arise and have a back-up plan. I have learned to be patient and not let my frustration get the best of me. In EDUC 511, we were asked to list the learning goals we hoped to achieve through the Masters in Education: Digital Teaching and learning program at Azusa Pacific University, mine were as follows: easily apply technology to instruction create learning experiences using multiple technologies generate educational software applicable to the standards I am teaching produce a portfolio that effectively demonstrates my abilities in digital teaching and learning as it applies to the science curriculum I believe all of these learning goals are going to be accomplished with the exception of generating educational software. However, I believe that this goal was my own expectation, not one offered by the program, and I do hope to still accomplish this goal outside of the program. On a personal level this degree represents many years of sacrifice and hard work for an occupation that I truly believe in. Teaching is not where the money is, but it is where my heart is. It will be one of those jobs where I can say that, I get paid to do something I truly love. To my family this degree has come at a price. I have spent countless hours away from my family going to school and doing homework. When I finally complete my schooling it will still be bitter sweet, because it will mean mom is going back to work and will no longer be there for the kids when they get home from school. The great thing is that I will be doing a job that is personally fulfilling and I will pretty much have the same schedule as my children do with summers off.

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

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Professional Growth Azusa Pacific University is where I have grown into an Educator. I received my bachelors degree in Human Development from APU, as well as having taken my teaching credential and masters classes here. Everything I know about being an educator I learned from APU. Recently, I accomplished passing the General Science CSET which will allow me to begin my student teaching in the spring. This felt like quite an accomplishment since I did not major in science and it was a test that proved my ability to teach the subject. Having a masters degree in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning will allow me to have a deeper understanding of my students needs and provide me with the unique ability to develop instruction using technology to meet those needs.

Technical Growth I had no idea how far behind the technological curve I was until I took my first class in the Digital Teaching and Learning Program. I had just purchased a new laptop at the beginning of the program which was necessary especially since several of my classes required web conferencing, something I had never done before. I made this purchase at the perfect time because in the EDUC512 Instructional Applications of Productivity Software class, Jim Sullivan helped me to work out any kinks I might have been having with my new product. I thought I knew a lot about my iPad before this program, it turns out that I did not have an inkling as to its capabilities. The entire EDUC514 Digital Video in the classroom course was completed with only the use of the iPad. In every class of this program I was introduced to apps for the iPad that I had never heard of before. I also appreciated learning about the Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS) that can be used as a guideline for incorporating technology into teaching and learning. In this program I learned about productivity software such as Google Docs and how it can be used in the classroom as a collaboration tool in which teachers can comment on. Before this class I had not had the opportunity or knowledge of Dropbox, Livebinder, or used screen casting tools in order to make a video tutorial. Recently in EDUC 513 we designed a lesson plan using Sophia an online service that provides tutorials as well as student and teacher resources.

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

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Most importantly in this program I have learned that technological educational resources are available and that I need to stay current on what is out there. Life Long Learning Plan Technology is ever-changing so I know it is necessary to continue keeping myself up-todate with new developments. One way I plan to remain committed to teaching in the 21st century is by subscribing to services such as The Committed Sardine, which develops educational resources for teachers in the digital age. Recently, I began the process of becoming Chrome Classroom Certified through Sophia. This certification is endorsed by Capella University and demonstrates my ability to implement Google Chrome into classroom instruction. I am also a member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) which includes a subscription of Learning and Leading with Technology magazine. Another way in which I will keep up with new technological developments is by attending technology seminars and classes as they are offered. It is my intention to integrate technology in the development and teaching of my lessons as much as possible. My education will give me with the knowledge and skills needed to develop my own videos specific to my lesson plan or create such activities as a webquest for the students that provides them with a fun and interactive challenge while learning the content material. It is important to me as an educator to stimulate my students. To make them want to learn and not let any of them fall behind. I feel that technology is a way to reach every student. If they fall behind they can catch up with interactive tutorials on my website, or review the in-class notes that I have posted. In five years I see myself being an effective science teacher who my peers and students admire. In ten years I hope to still be an admired teacher who is on the cutting-edge of technology. History of Coursework and Course Evaluation Course Title & Course Instructor Name Foundations of Educational Technology INSTRUCTOR: Doyle Potter Term Key Skills Acquired Completed Cyber Safety, Digital Citizenship, LiveBinder, Wordle, Prezi, online conferencing Comments/Suggestions I think this class should meet in person the first time to make sure everyone is capable and ready for online video conferencing. The cyber safety Page7 November/2013

EDUC 511

Spring1 2013

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

information at the beginning of this program was very useful. Instructional Applications Productivity Software INSTRUCTOR: Jim Sullivan Canvas, Webquest, copyright, ISTE NETS, Computer hardware knowledge, iTunes/iPad Introduction Animoto, Google Forms, Sophia, Livebinder, Collaborative Tools, Technology Implementation and Management, Evaluation of ICT, Interview District IT, Digital Portfolio, Google docs, Canvas Conferences Gardners Multiple Intelligences, Instructional Technology, Apps for Blooms taxonomy, Fodey, Tom and Ben news app, unit plans with technology, ISTE NETS, Rubrics Video editing and production, Lighting, storyboarding, rules of composition, movie trailer, commercial, creating a YouTube channel, uploading to YouTube, Pinnacle Studio Weebly, blog creation, YouTube post, Flipped Classroom, Google docs, scribd, audio podcast, video podcast, Loved going on the field trip to Apple. Jim brought in old computer hardware, I really appreciated getting a visual. This class proved to be very time consuming with a heavy work load; however I learned a great deal about using multiple sources to create lessons plans that incorporate technology.

EDUC 512

Spring1 2013

EDUC 513

Digital-Age Literacies INSTRUCTOR: Linda Muhlhauser

Fall 1 2013

Learning in the 21st Century EDUC 522 INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Courduff Spring2 2013

EDUC 514

Digital Video in the Classroom INSTRUCTOR: Tim Holder

Spring1 2013

Should suggest students do not take another class with this one. This is one of the core classes in the program that is essential in learning to develop lessons using the most current software/apps in order to engage all types of learners. Seems like a lot of the students had difficulty creating their YouTube channel, maybe do that in class together.

EDUC 515

Evolving Educational Technologies INSTRUCTOR:

Spring2 2013

I like the way Lance ran this class. We created projects in class with his assistance. We were then able to easily use the new Page8 November/2013

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

Lance Martin

EDUC 526

Capstone Experience/ Digital Teaching and Learning INSTRUCTOR: Joanne Gilbreath

Fall 1 2013

prezi meet the software or apps we learned teacher, screen capture about in class at home to complete our projects. Growth Assessment, Capstone of the program. Google Hangout, We use everything we have Wesleyan learned up to this point in Quadrilateral, Action order to demonstrate our Research, Curricular knowledge for digital Vita, Video Production teaching and learning. and Presentation

Evaluation of the impact of the Digital Teaching and Learning Program There is no doubt that the Digital Teaching and Learning program has impacted me both personally and professionally in many ways. As a result of my time spent in the program I have learned many strategies for integrating technology into my instruction. One of my favorites is the use of Googledocs in the classroom. I will implement the use of Googledocs in my classroom by creating projects that allow small groups to collaborate using shared documents. Small groups will create a Googledoc based on a task that I have asked them to complete. Once they have completed the task they will share the document with me, the instructor. I will have the ability to assess their learning based on the information they have shared and make comments and share information with them in their document. Technology most effectively impacts student learning when students are motivated and engaged in instruction and learning, by working collaboratively and interactively I think students will enjoy using Googledocs.

Program Evaluation My overall experience with the Master in Arts: Digital Teaching and Learning program has been a very positive experience. Benefits in the program include highly qualified teachers, spiritual support, and a quality program that is at the top of their game in education and technology. A weakness might be that most instructors also hold full-time jobs outside of Azusa Pacific and are extremely busy. However, the upside of this is that they are usually educators so they bring to the program current knowledge of real classroom practices in place today. If I had to name another weakness it is that it feels as though sometimes instructors do not understand the amount of work they are giving out beyond what the syllabus states. One suggestion that I have Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I Page9 November/2013

for the program is for instructors to limit communication and assignment submittal to one location. By no means is this the end of my learning journey with technology. I now understand that I need a lifelong learning plan if I am going to continue being the type of teacher I want to be for my students. The thing I have learned most in the Master of Arts in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning program at Azusa Pacific is that technology is constantly changing and educators need to embrace it in order to better serve the needs of their students.

Kim Kocaya Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Fall I

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