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Master of Arts in Education
Michigan State University
CEP-802
Fall 2015
Instructors:
Dr. Evelyn Oka;
Taylor Hicks
EAD-801
Fall 2015
Instructor:
Dr. William Arnold
Developing Positive Attitudes toward Learning
Perhaps it was fitting that this was one of my first courses as a returning adult student after a ten years hiatus. In exploring the various perspectives that factors into motivation such as behavioral, individual differences, and cognitive, I not only learned the current theories and frameworks on student learning motivation, I also learned about myself and the forces that shaped my motivation as a younger student as well as an older returning student. The unexpected benefit of not having any teaching experience forced me to correlate motivational theories to my own professional context, which was challenging and allowed me a deeper learning experience.
Leadership & Organization Development
In this course we explored what it means to lead within the context of an organization, one such as a higher education institution. I applied the concepts learned to my own organization and gained much insights into the organization as well as my own leadership styles and tendencies, and how my own influences can contribute to my agency’s development and change. It allowed me to have an honest and unrestricted approach to understanding the various processes that makes up an organization, and how those processes can hinder and/or boost an organization’s progress.
Teaching in Postsecondary Education
Another challenging course for me as it forced me to improvise some to make up for my lack of teaching background. It pushed me out of my comfort zone as I had to approach instructors from a local college for interviews, but it was worth the effort. I developed a syllabus and assessment tools using references from course materials, and even though I had no students or classes to use them on, knowing that I could do it was a good feeling. Aside from practical implementation, we also explored current theories about the roles that teaching environment and effective teaching strategies had on the learner as well as the educator.
Writing Assessment & Instruction
Even though this course is the most loosely connected class to my studies, it was helpful to recognize my own understanding of myself as a writer. The goal of the class is to start with ourselves and our habits and practices, then examine the various practices of writing instruction and assessment for students. Diverse student backgrounds, learning styles and circumstances are taken into account when designing effective instructions and assessments. The course opened up discussions about pedagogical practices, which I lacked, and thus I learned a lot about other’s practices and could reflect and develop my own.
EAD-866
Spring 2016
Instructor:
Dr. Ginny Jones
TE-848
Spring 2016
Instructor:
Mark McCarthy
EAD-863
Summer 2016
Instructor:
Dr. Christa Porter
ED-800
Summer 2016
Instructors:
Dr. Steven Weiland;
Nathan Clason
Training & Professional Development
In this course we looked at and designed training and professional development programs for postsecondary education contexts. I enjoyed this class and its applicability to my context since I am already a trainer. I was able to examine my role within my department to tie in with course materials and the theories we explored effectively. This allowed me to see the connections in real time and I felt more sure about my learning progress. The course also required that I connect with other training professionals and get their point of views, and tie them back to my own beliefs, then examine the views in contrast with the course materials. It served to broaden my own perspectives to see the theories in practice.
Concepts of Educational Inquiry
Applying inquiry to education practices provide an examination of one’s own philosophy against a backdrop of history of education. At the end of the course I was able to initiate a familiarity with several methods of educational inquiry, starting with philosophical and historical accounts of education, to autobiographic ethnographical observations and biography, as well as curriculum theories. This course also explored the role and impact of technology in this information age, as well as the impact of communications technology and its impact on education and educational inquiry.
Adult Learning
This course examined concepts of life-long learning and how learning changes in the adult years. As we grow older, different motivation and barriers to learning and participation present themselves. The course allowed me to examine cognitive, emotional, developmental, and socio-cultural processes involved in adult learning as well as my personal learning process as a returning adult student. Understanding these differences among adults, their motivation and the diversity of their circumstances gave me extra tools to be a better educator.
EAD-861
Fall 2016
Instructor:
Dr. William Arnold
Concept of Learning Society
Learning society came to have different meanings within different nations, and this class explored not only the prevalent views within the United State’s, but also as it is used by other countries. Throughout the course, I examined the contributions of the learning society within historical, economic and cultural contexts, and looked at prominent views regarding the learning society as its meaning evolved over time. Learning occurs in various contexts, from at home to school, at work, online, and away from home and immersed in different cultures. The role of technology is important in our context of the learning society as it permeates all part of our lives.
EAD-860
Fall 2016
Instructors:
Dr. Steven Weiland;
Graham McKeague
EAD-850
Spring 2017
Instructors:
Dr. Riyad Shahjahan;
Annabelle Estera
Issues and Strategies in Multicultural Education
Understanding the differences and diversity and their ensuing issues of privilege, power and oppression that is at once unique to the United States and relevant to the rest of the world requires a critical examination of existing systems and practices, as well as an honest self-reflection of my own biases and beliefs. This course examines the intricacies of knowledge production, identity, meaning and power and how they relate to each other to impact educational settings. I am challenged as a student and a future educator to critically reflect on existing practices and functions, and develop/contribute to strategies to improve them.
ED-870
Spring 2017
Instructors:
Dr. Matthew Koehler;
Aric Gaunt;
Spencer Greenhalgh
Capstone Seminar
The final course in my program, this course has pushed me to utilize and integrate all the skills I have garnered throughout the program. Studying about the roles of technology gave me a theoretical framework of understanding its impacts, but this course provided a practical application of those frameworks first hand. It provides a platform where I can critically reflect on my entire program and present my reflection processes, then receive feedback from peers and instructors and provide feedback of my own.