Graduate Work Showcase
Here you can find a compilation of my graduate work from the Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program at Michigan State University. The coursework challenged me to think critically about learning theories, pedagogical strategies, experience design and the role that technology integration plays in education. Below you will find four categories, including: 1) Data Visualization, 2) Research, 3) Course & Lesson Development, and 4) Video Production. Each piece is accompanied by a brief description and a “Click Here” button to access it in its entirety.
Data Visualization
We live in a visual world; this work communicates and represents information in an engaging, creative and visual manner to succinctly convey research findings and technology-related approaches and recommendations.
Infographic: Rethinking the Role of Educators
I created this infographic to help visualize the transformation of the role of educators from the 18th century to present day. It showcases educators evolving from instructors to facilitators in a student-led environment, encompassing a wealth of characteristics that are crucial for student learning. This work exemplifies my ability to articulate complex information into pieces of digestible, visual data.
InfographiC: Makerspaces
Recognizing that makerspace is a buzzword in education whereas many in the field do not understand its characteristics, I created this infographic using Google Drawings which articulates: a) what a makerspace is, b) where they are typically formed, c) what types of equipment and tools they include, d) why they are so popular and e) what they can look like. This infographic showcases my ability to simplify commonly misunderstood information using visual aids.
Google My Maps: Redefining Adversity through Questioning
Exemplifying the power of redefining technology per the SAMR model (substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition), I created this custom Google My Maps which tracks a powerful personal experience of mine — donating a portion of my liver to my brother Cameron. The goal was to redefine how Google My Maps can be used, inspiring my students to invest in their learning and demonstrating what’s possible with a simple shift in perspective. This work demonstrates my ability to redefine the utilization of an application, while creating a compelling narrative.
Research
An argument is only as strong as its supporting facts; this work synthesizes quantitative and qualitative research to convey analyses of teaching and learning strategies.
Wicked Problem Project
This multimodal presentation was developed using Google Sites and is the culmination of a collaborative project that comprised of researching and formulating a solution to Rethinking the Role of Educators. Utilizing Warren Berger’s Why/What If/How problem solving process from his book, A More Beautiful Question, the presentation contains excerpts from infographics that we designed, peer-reviewed research, and data collected from a survey that we created and conducted, which ultimately assisted us in forming a solution. This work exemplifies my ability to critically analyze and formulate a viable solution to an ill-structured problem of practice in education.
Research Review Project: Problem-based Learning (PBL)
While I have had experience with problem-based learning (PBL) in my own classes, this research paper discusses a multitude of peer-reviewed research on the topic. It showcases evidence on how PBL supports students’ learning, most notably by furthering students’ comprehension of concepts, knowledge acquisition, cognitive functioning, capacity to transfer learning to authentic settings, and engagement in the learning process. This work demonstrates my ability to cultivate and synthesize peer-reviewed research, and articulate the benefits of a pedagogical decisions in education.
Course & Lesson Development
Effective teaching is rooted in strategic course and lesson development; this work focuses on activities that educators can utilize and customize to enhance student learning.
online course: Digital Citizenship & Safety
This online course module was developed using Google Sites and Google Classroom on the topic of Digital Citizenship and Safety. It showcases evidence of effective UX design (user experience), unit and lesson development, integration of multimedia learning theory, and content creation. This work demonstrates my ability to utilize multimodal content to design effective lessons that align to a wealth of educational standards and learning theories.
Lesson Design: Designing an Ideal Classroom Prototype
This lesson was developed for STEM-related courses (courses that combine science, technology, engineering and math subject matter). It tasks students with observing and assessing their past and current classroom designs, researching the future of collaborative learning spaces and then creating a prototype of their ideal classroom to meet the needs and desires of students. It emphasizes autonomy in the learning process and offers students the ability to be creative problem solvers. This work showcases my ability to design an innovative lesson that incorporates critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity.
Video Production
Multimedia content is a powerful way to communicate key messages; this work utilizes video to highlight modern learning approaches and tactical implementation.
Made to be a maker
This is a video I produced and narrated that celebrates the exploration of Maker Culture, the idea that we are all fundamentally born to be makers, some of us tinkering with small projects and others creating the next groundbreaking technology. It incorporates remixed media, using only images and videos from the public domain. This work demonstrates my ability to remix and repurpose existing work to produce and narrate a compelling video on maker education.
Creativity Synthesis project
This is a video I produced and narrated that showcases the characteristics of creativity, as coined by Dr. Punya Mishra and the Deep-Play research group as novel, effective and whole, along with thinking tools one can use to exercise creativity, adapted from Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein’s book, Sparks of Genius. This work demonstrates my ability to produce an inspirational and educational video on creativity and how to practice such.
*Header Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash