1 Natalee Boggs

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014







Empowered
Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Growth Assessment
Matt Hixson



















2 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


The APU campus that I primarily attended was the Murrieta Regional Center.

Weebly URL: http://natboggs.weebly.com/

Date Submitted: June 5
th
, 2014

Introduction

My name is Natalee Boggs. I attended Murrieta Valley Unified School District my entire
K-12 education and have been employed by my district since the day that I graduated high
school, which has been 12 years now. I love my district and cant imagine working anywhere
else. I am married to the love of my life for the last 7 years and we have a 1 year old son. I
enjoy spending time with friends and family, shopping (what girl doesnt love that) and also
enjoy golfing. I started the Credential/Masters program when I was 6 months pregnant and
although this seems to have been one of the most challenging goals I have ever had (considering
I was starting a family) I have loved every moment of it and the time really did fly by the last
year and a half.
I enrolled in this program because I wanted to better myself and I truly love learning.
Classrooms are really now more than ever leaning towards technology to help educate students. I
already contribute to my household, but I wanted to be able to contribute more and earn my
Masters Degree.
When I began the Masters Program at APU I was working more than full time as an
ASB Secretary at a high school, was six months pregnant and was a full time student. It was very
scary going into this program knowing that my family was growing, but I decided to make this
commitment to further contribute to my household.
3 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


My goals for pursuing my Masters Degree in Digital Technology and Learning was to
literally learn about technology. Before this program, I am embarrassed to say that I have never
made a PowerPoint and technology petrified me. Technology is where our students future is
headed. They are working on computers with System 44, Read 180, etc and for the first time this
year, the students are state testing with the SBAC on computers now rather than bubble in
answers on an answer sheet. I needed to be in this program to try and keep up and gain an
understanding if the ever evolving technological advances that are happening in the classroom
today.
Personal Growth

In my time in this program I have learned, especially after taking EDUC 522, that I am a
visual and kinesthetic learner. I have loved taking classes where I am able to see visuals and do
actions for activities. I am a hands on learner. I work well under pressure and deadlines. I try to
not look at the entire picture of the semester and do not let all the assignments on the syllabus
overwhelm me, but I chunk them into smaller pieces and accomplish one by one over the period
of the semester. I find that I do this in my work as well at my job. Whenever there are deadlines
to be made, I chunk out what needs to be done and in the end, it doesnt turn out to be as bad as
the task may have looked from the beginning.
In my time in this program I have gained so many wonderful friends whom I look
forward to working side by side with in the future. We have all been each others support system
in the program and have always been there to assist one another when we have had questions. I
never imagined that I would make such wonderful friends while enrolled in this program. I find
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EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


myself even texting them when I have questions about a certain IEP or a certain scenario that I
may be involved in with a troubled student. I am forever grateful for this program because of the
personal connections that I have made here at APU.

I feel that faith can impact my approach to students by modeling it to them. Working in a
public school setting I am not able to teach them about God, but I can model his ways for them
and hope that they will follow through my practices. I model grace, humility, compassion, love,
respect for them and also self-respect every day. I try to show them his ways without
mentioning him since I am not able to and only hope that they take what I model for them
outside of the classroom and pass it along to others.
On a personal level, this degree is very sentimental. I am the first one in my family to
receive a masters degree. I never thought that I would make it this far. I started the
credential/masters program at APU when I was six months pregnant and although I have had
my challenges, I made it! I made it with my families love and support and they are ecstatic for
me. Seeing them excited, makes me excited. I have enjoyed this program so much that I am
looking in to signing up for a doctorateat a later date of course . I am going to take a little bit
of time off to enjoy time with my family. This degree was a personal goal that I thought could
never be accomplished and here I am at the end of the road and I can proudly say I did it! and
that feels great. It is the biggest accomplishment of my lifetime and I am proud of myself
because of this.
Professional Growth

5 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


I have grown tremendously as an educator in my time in this program. I am not afraid of
technology anymore. It doesnt intimidate me. I am not afraid to try new activities with my
students in regards to technology. I have learned to utilize technology in a manner to reach out to
all my students and get them involved and get them excited about learning. I have had a
Smartboard in my room for two years that I havent touched because I was intimidated by it, but
after this program, I have learned to use it and have fallen in love. The Smart Board has
completely changed my learning. This alone has made me grow as an educator and just blossom.
I use apps with my students now when before this program I would have never incorporated apps
in my learning. I truly feel that with the amount of knowledge I have gained while in this
program and how much I have grown as an educator as a program makes me forever indebted to
APU.
Technology is important to teaching and learning because this is where many aspects of
life is shifting to. I went to the doctor the other day and there was a television in the waiting
room and I had to use an iPad to sign in on!!! Many companies now have computers in their
stores for people to apply for positions online. Technology in a classroom is essential to our
students success since it is now something that they can use in their every day, real lives. As
teachers, we also need to keep up with this generation who is very technology based. This
generation of students have their smart phones, iPads, tablets, computers, etc and they are now
used to instant gratification. It is how they are learning and we as educators, need to keep up with
the demand of it all. Technology is something they love and crave and we are able to utilize it in
the classroom and make learning fun and interactive for them.
6 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


When I started the Masters program I was just coming back from maternity leave from
my job and school. It was important for me to finish what I had started in this program. I was a
secretary at a high school and I wanted more for myself and for my family. While in this
program, I started a new position as an RSP teacher and have learned to balance school, work
and family well. I am fortunate that while enrolled in this program I have landed my dream job
and am about to receive a tremendous pay raise once I complete this programwhich is always
an added bonus!
A new instructional strategy that I have tried since I have been in this program is by using
my Smartboard in my classroom for my kinesthetic and visual learners. I learned about the many
multiple intelligences of students in depth when taking the EDUC 522 class. It was a great
course that was very rich with information on how to reach out to all students with different
teaching strategies and incorporating all their multiple intelligences. I have had my Smartboard
in my class for years and have always been intimidated by it. By being enrolled in this program,
especially being inspired by EDUC 522, I have learned to not be so intimidated by technology
and taught myself how to use the Smartboard by watching Youtube tutorials. I now use it every
day and it is such an amazing and powerful tool to have in the classroom.

For my Action Research Study I find it difficult being a full time student, a full time
working individual, a mother, a wife and finding time for myself. At times I have fallen behind
in my duties of trying to keep up with cleaning the house and staying on top of the chores. It is
hard to juggle everything and I often find that when the weekend hits I am overwhelmed with
cleaning duties that need to be done around the house. It only takes 28 days to make a change in
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EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


ones life that can permanently stick and become a daily habit. For my 28 day behavior change
plan, I have chosen to do one cleaning chore a day so I wouldnt become so overwhelmed once
the weekend hits and I can try and enjoy my weekends more and spend quality time with my
family.
Technical Growth

I have always been petrified of technology. By enrolling in this program it had forced me
to face my fears and have to deal with these demons that I have. Technology is important to
teaching and learning because this is where many aspects of life is shifting to and it was
important for me to learn it. I went to the doctor the other day and there was a television in the
waiting room and I had to use an iPad to sign in on!!! Many companies now have computers in
their stores for people to apply for positions online. Technology in a classroom is essential to our
students success since it is now something that they can use in their every day, real lives. As
teachers, we also need to keep up with this generation who is very technology based. This
generation of students have their smart phones, iPads, tablets, computers, etc and they are now
used to instant gratification. It is how they are learning and we as educators, need to keep up with
the demand of it all. Technology is something they love and crave and I want to be able to utilize
it in the classroom and make learning fun and interactive for them.
Apps that I now use from my time enrolled in this program are Socrative, Rap City and
Prezi. Socrative is a wonderful app and I love using this with my students. They enjoy it as well.
I learned about that particular app from EDUC 522 and I also learned about Rap City from
EDUC 522. It is a great app where kids have 45-60 seconds to read a writing sample they wrote
about a particular subject and the app creates it into a rap with music. My kids love it. Prezi is
8 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


wonderful, as many people know. I enjoy putting together my teaching material from the website
or using the app. I learned about this app from EDUC 511.

Life Long Learning Plan-Professional Growth

The personal and professional preparedness that I am taking from this program are
profound. While interacting with other students and staff while attending classes at Azusa Pacific
University has been an amazing experience. The networking and knowledge I have gained in my
time here has been immense. After hearing about different apps, websites and the many different
technologies that my cohorts use has helped me grow personally and professionally. I have been
able to incorporate many of their ideas and they have all become very effective in my classroom
and really engages my students. The different apps such as Socrative, Dojo, Mr. Rapmaker, etc
have been wonderful for my students and seeing them excited, makes me excited. My plans for
continued development are to attend as many staff development trainings that I can in my district
towards my technology growth. I am fortunate to be employed for a district that promotes
technology and believes in incorporating technology as much as possible in a childs education,
within staff development and personal use.
The personal and professional needs that I have become conscious of during my time in
the Masters Program at APU are that I am not afraid of technology anymore. I am learning to
embrace it. I am no longer afraid of incorporating technology in my lessons. I have even gone as
far as starting a Donorschoose.com page to raise funds for ipads for my students. I find that
personally I use my calendar more often, turn to different apps for assistance with different
9 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


subjects and even bought an Apple TV during my time at APU so I can stream videos from my
ipad to my own television.

The plans I have for staying abreast of new developments in the field are to attend as
many technology workshops and trainings as possible in my district. I also plan on asking my
own students what new apps or have they learned anything cool lately online. Students
actually have a lot to teach us, we just need to be open to listen. I also plan on taking my
administrative credential here at Azusa Pacific University. APU loves incorporating technology
within their courses so I am sure I will continue to learn and grow during my attendance here.

I want to continue to develop my curriculum and teaching methods utilizing the multiple
intelligence strategies. Taking EDUC 522 was very eye opening on ways that I wasnt teaching
to my best potential and also taught me how to reach out to my students in different ways that are
more effective for their learning strategies. I want to continue to reach out to my past professor,
colleagues and searching the internet for new strategies that I can use in the classroom that will
benefit my students learning and help me grow as an educator.
In five years I hope to see myself continuing my education at APU and working towards
my administrative credential. In ten years I see myself excelling in my career and hope to be
promoted to either a Program Specialist or Assistant Principal at a school. My goal when I get
closer to retirement is to become a Director or Assistant Superintendent in my district. I think I
would be a wonderful candidate since I have attended K-12 in my district and this is the only job
I have had since I graduated high school.

10 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


History of Coursework and Course Evaluation

EDUC 511 - Essentials in Educational Technology and Learning
This course focuses on introducing and developing proficiency with the essential skills necessary for the
Master of Arts in Educational Technology and Learning. Working in face-to-face, synchronous, and
asynchronous environments, students utilize a variety of applications and skills necessary for
competency in the program. The research process is introduced and begun in this class along with each
students baseline assessment of his/her own technology skills and experiences. Students explore
philosophy of education foundations in order to articulate their own educational philosophy and vision
statements. This course must be taken in the first term of the program.
EDUC 512 - Instructional Applications of Productivity Software
Students take the functional knowledge of productivity software and learn how to implement its use in
instruction and projects including a final thematic project into their own classroom. The projects are
designed to match the California State Content Standards and ISTE NETS standards of their own grade,
and are appropriate for the technology environment in which the project will be implemented.

EDUC 514 - Digital Video in the Classroom
Students are exposed to basics in video project composition. Activities include learning how to build
visually effective shots, how to use music to enhance the feel of the presentation, and how to create a
movie project that is designed to keep a student's attention in the context of teaching standards-based
material.

EDUC 515 - Evolving Educational Technologies
This course looks at the evolution of educational technologies in their present and historical contexts.
Students explore how and why some technologies endure while others do not. Attention is given to
current technologies and how they can be successfully implemented into the classrooms in order to
enhance both teaching and learning strategies.
EDUC 522 - Learning in the 21st Century
Working with digital natives requires an understanding of how they acquire and process information.
This course assists educators in bridging the gap between static curriculum and multi-model instruction.
A key component of this course is designing unit plans that embed technology and differentiated
instruction with a focus on multiple intelligences and learning styles to meet the needs of todays
learners.
EDUC 526 - Capstone Experience in Educational Technology and Learning
The primary focus of this capstone experience is a research-designed interactive portfolio that
showcases skills and concepts the student has acquired in the Educational Technology and Learning
program. This program-culminating course incorporates each student's research, use of applied software
and educational technology, a growth assessment, comprehensive portfolio, and an oral defense. This
course must be taken at the end of the program, and passed in order to meet the final requirements for
the master's degree.



11 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


Program Evaluation Table

EDUC 511-Foundations in Digital Teaching and Learning
Instructor: Joanne Gilbreath
Term Completed: Spring I 2014
Key Skills Acquired: Introduction to the Digital Teaching and Learning Program.
Comments/Suggestions: Great introductory class into this program. Joanne always made herself
available for any questions and was quick to respond to emails.

EDUC 512-Instructional Applications Productivity Software
Instructor: Jim Sullivan
Term Completed: Fall II 2012
Key Skills Acquired: Apps, Intro to Ipad
Comments/Suggestions: This class would have been helpful if I wasnt familiar with my iPad,
but the first 4-5 classes went over basics on the iPad and covered some apps, so unfortunately I
didnt learn as much as I would have liked to. I did enjoy that the class was able to share our
favorite apps out to each other in presentations and that Jim compiled a list at the end of the
course of all the apps names and costs (if any). It has been nice to have a sheet to refer to when I
am looking for specific apps.

EDUC 514-Digital Video in the Classroom
Instructor: Tim Holder
Term Completed: Fall 11 2012
Key Skills Acquired: Video Editing, iMovie
Comments/Suggestions: This class was wonderful and Tim is a wealth of knowledge. He was
always patient with our class and walked us through the entire editing/iMovie process. I didnt
know how to film, edit, add music, add text, ANYTHING about how to do any of this and after
having his class, I have acquired the knowledge necessary to make all my videos necessary in
this program. This class was awesome!

EDUC 515-Evolving Educational Technologies
Instructor: Torrence Temple/Lance Martin
Term Completed: Spring II 2014
Key Skills Acquired: Developing a Blog
Comments/Suggestions: I dont think it was in the students best interest to have two professors
share this class. It caused a lot of confusion because one professor wanted something in
particular while the other wanted something else. The course was apparently being written as we
went and expectations were unclear along with communication about faith integration and
taskstream assignment.

EDUC 522-Learning in the 21
st
Century
Instructor: Lisa Rodriguez
Term Completed: Spring I 2014
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EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


Key Skills Acquired: Multiple Intelligences
Comments/Suggestions: Lisa was amazing! I learned so much from her and have modified my
teaching because of her. I have learned to grow as a professional because of this class and engage
all types of learners in my class creating many different activities and techniques when teaching
my kids. This class was so much work, but well worth every bit of it!

EDUC 526-Capstone Experience/Digital Teaching and Learning
Instructor: Matt Hixson
Term Completed: Spring II 2014
Key Skills Acquired: A reflection of my time in the Digital Teaching and Learning Program.
Comments/Suggestions: Great class to have as a capstone. Very low stress since we have done
most of the work. It was an enjoyable class and we had a great professor to guide us along the
way.

I enjoyed my time at APU while pursuing my Masters Degree in Digital Technology and
Learning. My goal was to literally learn about technology and I feel that I did. I feel that I am
walking away with a quality education that I can apply to my daily life and my professional
career. I feel that I had really come across quality professors who were all a wealth of knowledge
within the technology field. They were all patient, kind and willing to help with any questions or
concerns that were brought up in the class.

I hate to be redundant but a new instructional strategy that I have tried since I have been
in this program is by using my Smartboard in my classroom for my kinesthetic and visual
learners. I learned about the many multiple intelligences and teaching strategies of students in
depth when taking the EDUC 522 class. It was a great course that was very rich with information
on how to reach out to all students with different teaching strategies and incorporating all their
multiple intelligences in my curriculum. I have had my Smartboard in my class for years and
have always been intimidated by it. By being enrolled in this program, especially being inspired
by EDUC 522, I have learned to not be so intimidated by technology and taught myself how to
13 Natalee Boggs
EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


use the Smartboard by watching Youtube tutorials. I also have depended on colleagues in my
technology department to help me with questions that I may have about the Smartboard. I now
use it every day and it is such an amazing and powerful tool to have in the classroom. Not to
mention how much my students love it as well!
Program Evaluation

My overall experience at APU has been wonderful. Grace Ortega has always been
wonderful when I have reached out to her to ask questions about my financial aid. Chris Zeliniga
is amazing as well and worked with me on numerous occasions to assist me with finding
scholarships throughout the program. She is amazing and I have received $13,500 in
grants/scholarships because of her!!! Audrey Strivings was always polite, responded to emails
quickly and is a saint for helping me with all my constant questions. Lastly, the office ladies at
the Murrieta Regional Center are amazing and always greeted you with a smile and offered
candy from the candy jar. There warm welcome was always very much appreciated.
Overall, I had a wonderful experience in the credential program. I have met lifelong
friends, received some great tips about classroom management and have professors that I can
email at any time and they are quick to respond to any questions that I have.
A recommendation I would have for this program is that many students already have
iPads and enjoy using them. When I took EDUC 512, it was a bit of a painful course to be
walked through how to use an iPad. I know some people are not familiar with an iPad, but it was
difficult to sit through that class after work to have to hear discussion on how to use the volume,
how to access the camera, how to access settings and change tones, sounds, lighting of the iPad,
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EDUC 526 Growth Assessment
Murrieta Regional Center
04/2014


etc. Maybe the course should be revamped to show some great apps that are available or some
more advanced uses of the iPad than just pure basic use of the iPad. I honestly didnt take away
anything from the course and it was a bit disappointing.