Runninghead:ANASSESSMENTOFMYGROWTH

AnAssessmentofMyGrowth
JessicaA.Alvaranza
AzusaPacificUniversity

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

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526 Practicum in Ed. Appl. of Tech.

Dr. K. Bacer
Reflecting on my growth in the EDTC
program, and showcasing highlights of
my learning using tech tools that are
now transparent.

515 Emerging Trends in Technology

Dr. J. Brown
MOOCs blend technology with
collaborative learning.
How to apply videos and presentations
to communicate with peers effectively.

523 Ed. App.: Info. Design/Hypermedia

K. Price
Principles of effective website design:
- limit visual noise
- keep wording concise (use bullets)
- provide easy and clear navigation

Spring 2
2016

572 Advanced Educational Psychology

Dr. J. Brown
Understanding how external factors
affect student learning, and using this
information to guide planning for my
classroom.

Spring 1
2016

520 Managing Tech-Supported Curr. Tools

E. Silver
Understanding the role of a tech leader,
learning the basics of my districts Tech
Plan, and proposing an implementation
plan for tech staff development.

Fall 2
2015

521 Digital Imagery/Learning Environment

D. Potter
How to:
- use photoshop (APE 14) to add pizazz
to presentations
- record and edit (APE 14) videos to
enhance student learning

518 Global Learning/Cross-Cult.

Classroom
Dr. K. Bacer
GLPs interweave the telecollaborative
structures, and allow students from
diverse classrooms to connect and
build relationships.

517 Digital Communications

J. Bruzzese
How to:
- build and manage a website
- blog and microblog

511 Foundations in Ed.Tech.

B. McMillan & Dr. K. Bacer
Technology is a tool that should
be infused in the curriculum.
Gaining transparency with tech
tools.

Fall 1
2015

Summer
2015

Spring 2
2015

524 Instructional Design & Develop.

K. Price
The best type of planning is done
with the outcome in mind (BWD).
Authentic learning requires the
teacher to go beyond the standards
(real-world application).

527 Special Topics in Ed. Tech.

B. Bettger
How to:
- Use tweets to create a PLN
- Apply Google Apps for
Education in a k-6 setting

571 Curriculum Foundations

V. Suffern
Technology makes learning
accessible.
Students are active participants in
their learning and the teacher
facilitates.

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

PersonalGrowth
ParticipatinginAzusaPacificUniversitysOnlineMasterofArtsinEducational
Technology(EDTC)programhashelpedmypersonaldevelopment.Ithasstrengthenedmy
spirituality,enhancedmycognitiveabilities,andhashadapositiveimpactonhowIseemyself
andinteractwithothers.
Thisprogramhasstrengthenedmyspiritualitythroughfaith.Inowhaveastronger
connectionwithGod.Thisconnectionwasreinforcedthroughthereflectionforumsonprayer.I
learnedtheimportanceofseekingGodsguidanceandrelyingonHim,justasachildwouldseek
aparentforcomfort.IthasalsostrengthenedmyspiritualitybyteachingmehowtoshareGods
messageoflove.TheassignedreadingsfromtheFaithinActionStudyBible(NewInternational
Version)havehelpedmeunderstandthesignificanceoflovingdeeds.IcanshareGodslove
throughmyactions.
Thisprogramhasenhancedmycognitiveabilitybymakingmemoredisciplined.Each
termIhavetakentwoclassesconsecutively,whileworkingfulltimeasanelementaryteacher.I
learnedtousemypersonaltimetojugglepreparingformystudents,whileatthesametime
completingmyownassignmentsasastudent.Stickingtoschedulesdesignatedbytheprofessors
hashelpedmestayontopofmyresponsibilities.Ihavealsoimprovedmycognitiveabilityby
becomingmoreeffectiveatcommunicatingthroughwriting.Communicatingthroughpostingin
forumsrequiresparticipantstobeclearandconcisewiththeirthoughts.Oneneedstokeepit
simpleandsticktothepointtocreateapowerfulpost(Bacer,2015).Thiskeepstheexchangeof
ideasflowingastheywouldinaconversation.

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

Thisprogramhashelpedenhancetheimageofmyselfthroughbuildingupmy
confidenceatadaptingtonewsituations.Throughmylearning,Ihavegainedmanyskills,but
whattrumpsallofthisisdevelopingthemindsetthatIcanachieveanything.EvenifImaynot
knoworhavetheskillsnecessary,IknowthatIcanfigureitoutandlearnhowtodoitwell.I
havebeenthrownmanyobstaclesthatIinitiallyfeltapprehensiveabout,butIremained
determinedandpersevered.ThisprogramhasalsohadapositiveimpactbyimprovinghowI
cooperatewithothers.Ihavelearnedtoreachouttomycadrematesforhelpandinreturnbe
willingtoofferthemassistance.Collaborationlikethisiscrucialforcompletinganylargetask
andIfeelassuredthatIcanworkcohesivelywithothers.
Inclosing,myparticipationintheprogramhasaidedmypersonalgrowth.EDTChas
intensifiedmyconnectionwithHimandloveforothers.EDTChasboostedmycognitive
capacityinregardstobeingdisciplinedandcommunicatingeffectivelythroughwriting.Finally,
EDTChasenhancedmyconfidenceatadaptingtonewsituationsandworkingcohesivelywith
others.

ProfessionalGrowth
IhaveevolvedasaneducatorthroughtheEDTCprogram.EDTChasempoweredme

withtheunderstandingthattechnologyisatooltomakelearningaccessible.EDTCisalsoatool
forengagingstudentsinmeaningfulandauthenticlearningexperiences.Finally,Ihaveevolved
asaneducator,becauseIfeelconfidentatbeingabletotakeonatechnologyleadershiprole
withinmyschoolsite.
Thisprogramhashelpedmemakeprogressasaneducatorbyenlighteningmetothefact
thattechnologyisatoolformakinglearningaccessible.Inthefirsttermoftheprogram,I

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

learnedthatweallhavedifferentmethodsforobtaininginformation(Bacer,2015).Technology
isaresourceortoolthatworkswithdifferentlearningmodalitiestomakelearningaccessibleto
all(Bacer,2015).Further,technologycanbeusedtoaccommodatelearningneedsbygiving
studentsthemeanstoaccessorcommunicateinformationinwaysthattheynormallywouldnot
beableto(Suffern,2015).
Ihavealsobeenempoweredbyknowingthattechnologyisatooltomakelearning
meaningful.FromWiggins&McTighesTheUnderstandingbyDesignGuidetoCreating
HighQualityUnits(2011),Ilearnedthattruelearningdoesnotcease,butcontinuesintheform
ofauthenticapplication.Thisideawasreinforcedinlessonunitswecreatedinwhichstudents
wereexpectedtodemonstratetheirnewlyattainedskillswithinarealworldcontext.
Technologymadethetransferofskillspossible.
Iforeseemyselfbeingabletotakeonatechnologyleadershiproleatmyschoolsite.In
thecourseManagingTechnologySupportedCurricularTools,Ihadtofamiliarizemyselfwith
thegoalsstatedinmydistrictsTechnologyPlan.Ithenusedthesegoalstocreateaproposalfor
professionaldevelopmentformyteachingstaff.Alargefocusoftheplanwastoprovide
professionaldevelopmentthatwascontinuousandallowedparticipantstimetoapplyandreflect
ontheirlearnings,sincethesearequalitiesthatprofessionaldevelopmentoftenlacks(Alvaranza,
2016).

Toconclude,takingpartinthisprogramhashelpedmegrowasaneducator.Firstoff,I

havelearnedhowtousetechnologyasatooltomakelearninguniversal,sothatitmeetsthe
learningstylesofavarietyoflearners.Second,Ihavetheunderstandingthattechnologyisa
meansforprovidingstudentswithrealworldapplicationsoftheirnewlyattainedskills.Lastly,

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

thisprogramhashelpedenhancemyviewofmyprofessionalself,becauseIfeelconfidentto
takeonatechnologyleadershiproleatmysite.
TechnicalGrowth
MyknowledgeoftechnologyhasadvancedthroughtheEDTCprogram.Thetechnology
expertiseIhaveacquiredincludescommandofassemblingvideopresentations,usingGoogle
AppsforEducation,andwebsitebuildingtoshareinformation.
Thisprogramhasfurtheredmyknowledgeoftechnologybyteachingmehowto
assemblevideopresentationsthatenhancetheviewingexperienceforlearners.FortheSignature
AssignmentinthecourseDigitalImagery/LearningEnvironments,Icreatedavideoabout
segmentingwordsthatnotonlydemonstratedmysubjectmatterknowledge,butmycommandof
videoeditingusingAdobePremiereElements14(2015).ThetechnicalskillsIshowcased
included:creatingsmoothscenetransitions,embeddingmusicandnarrationwhereappropriate,
fadingtheaudioupanddown,andinsertinggraphicsandtextthatmovewiththescenechanges.
Thisprogramhasboostedmyknowledgeoftechnologybyteachingmehowtoapply
GoogleAppsforEducation(GAFE)inak12setting.InSpecialTopicsinEdTech,the
technicalskillsIgainedincludelearninghowtouse:Formstomakeselfgradedassessments,
DrawingsinconjunctionwithSlidestoproducedigitalmathmanipulatives,Classroomsto
moderateforumsforexchangingshortbutpowerfulideas,andPowToon,athirdpartyappthat
integrateswiththesuite,toproduceanimatedslideshowsandvideosthatengagelearners.
Lastly,inManagingTechSupportedCurricularTools,IlearnedhowtouseSheetstomanipulate
testingdataandillustratetheresultswithineasytoreadcharts.

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

Thisprogramhasaddedtomyknowledgeoftechnologybyteachingmehowtobuilda
websitethatisengagingandeasytomaneuverthrough.InEducationalApplication:Information
Design/Hypermedia,IgainedanindepthknowhowofwebsitedesignusingWeebly(2007).
TheskillsIacquiredincluded:designingalayoutthatmaximizesspace,butminimizesvisual
busyness,creatingadirectandconcisenavigationalmenu,placingbuttonsandhyperlinksto
improvenavigation,embeddingdocumentsandvideos,andinsertingandmaintainingaforum
forinformationexchange.
Insummary,myparticipationinthisprogramhashelpedmedevelopanassortmentof
technicalskills.First,IhavemasteredvideoproductionandeditingusingAdobeAcrobat
PremiereElements14(2015).Second,Ihaveanindepthunderstandingofhowtointegrate
GAFEtoensurepracticalclassroomapplication.Finally,IcanconfidentlyuseWeebly(2007)to
designawebsitethatsuccessfullysharesinformation.
LifelongLearning

AchallengepresentedbyEDTCisthattechnologyisconstantlyevolving.Therefore,to
staycurrent,Ineedtokeepabreastoftrends.Tokeepinformed,Iwillattendprofessional
developmentsanduseGoogleDriveandTwitterasaPersonalLearningNetwork(PLN),all
whileensuringIputmylearningintopractice.Ultimately,withmyEDTCdegree,Ihopeto
becomealeadteacher/coach.
Iamfortunateinthatmydistrictrealizestheimportanceofinfusingtechnologyintothe
curriculum.Inadditiontoinvestingin1:1Chromebooksforgrades312,teachersarebeing
providedwithEDTCprofessionaldevelopmentthroughweeklyTechCafsandseasonal

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

trainings.Iwillattendthesetrainingsandaskmyadministratortokeepmeinmindfor
specializedtrainings,sothatIcanapplymytechleadershipskills.

StaffisalsobeingtrainedonhowtouseGoogleDrivetocollaboratewithingradelevels
acrossschoolsitesinthedistrict.SinceIhaveasolidbackgroundinEDTCandusingtheDrive,
Iwillbesuretotakeonanactiveroleintheexchangingofinformation.Ialsoplantouse
Twitterconsistentlytogainnewideasandsharemyown.Icurrentlyfollowawiderangeof
educatorsexcitedaboutEDTC,andIamsteadilygainingmyownfollowers.
Finally,Iamteacheratheart.ThoughIenjoyworkingwithelementaryagedstudents,I
wouldliketomoveontobeingafacilitatorformycolleagues.Iampassionateaboutdesigning
curriculum.WithmyEDTCbackground,Ihopetoplanttheseedoftechnologybeingatoolfor
enhancingstudentlearning,especiallywithprimaryteacherswhotendtobeapprehensiveabout
thelittleonesusingtechnology.
Conclusion
TheEDTCprogramhasbeenanenrichinglearningexperience,butneveraneasypath.I
havecontinuouslybeenforcedoutofmycomfortzone.Thelearningmayhaveseemedlikea
bootcampattimes,butIcanhappilysaythatasaresultIhavelearnedtoadaptandpersevere.
Further,thelearninghasalwaysbeenapplicableandpertinenttomyownclassroom,whichhas
increasedthedepthofmyEDTCunderstanding.Lastly,Ihavecomeawayfromthisprogram
withknowledgeofhowtoinfusetechnologyintothecurriculumandempowerstudentsintheir
learning.

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

References
AdobePremiereElements(version14)[Computersoftware].(2015).Retrievedfrom
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-elements.html
Alvaranza,J.(2016,April).ImplementationPlan[GoogleDocs].Retrievedfrom
https://docs.google.com/a/apu.edu/document/d/1VdtNB3T1l10TmRXVOeK6vDwkcjUV
TksNtFNbj6Db57s/edit?usp=sharing
Bacer,K.(2015).FoundationsinEducationalTechnology.OnlineMasterofArtsin
EducationalTechnology,AzusaPacificUniversity.Azusa,CA.Retrievedfrom
https://sakai.apu.edu/portal
Bettger,B.(2015).SpecialTopicsinEdTech.OnlineMasterofArtsin
EducationalTechnology,AzusaPacificUniversity.Azusa,CA.Retrievedfrom
https://sakai.apu.edu/portal
GoogleAppsforEducation[Onlinesoftware].(n.d.).Retrievedfrom
https://www.google.com/edu/products/productivity-tools/
Price,L.(2015).Nightsky[photograph].Retrievedfrom
https://www.pexels.com/photo/stars-sky-night-galaxy-26429/
Silver,E.(2016).ManagingTechSupportedCurricularTools.OnlineMasterofArtsin
EducationalTechnology,AzusaPacificUniversity.Azusa,CA.Retrievedfrom
https://sakai.apu.edu/portal
Suffern,V.(2015).CurriculumFoundations.OnlineMasterofArtsin
EducationalTechnology,AzusaPacificUniversity.Azusa,CA.Retrievedfrom
https://sakai.apu.edu/portal

AN ASSESSMENT OF MY GROWTH

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Weebly[Onlinesoftware].(2007).Retrievedfromhttps://www.weebly.com/
Wiggins,G.,&McTighe,J.(2011).Theunderstandingbydesignguidetocreatinghighquality
units.Alexandria,VA:ASCD.