This page explores my coursework through the Master of Arts in Education with a focus on P-12 Post-secondary Schools and Leadership at Michigan State University. I provided a brief synopsis of my key learning outcomes for each course. I have also provided a key below for course titles:
ED- Education
CEP- Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education
EAD- Educational Administration
TE-Teacher Education
ED- Education
CEP- Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education
EAD- Educational Administration
TE-Teacher Education
Fall 2011
CEP 803A Assessment of Students with Mild Disabilities
Dr. Gary Troia
CEP 803 provided me with solid background knowledge of utilizing assessment with students with mild disabilities. I was presented with information on how to identify, assess, and then analyze that data for students with learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, emotional impairments, and otherwise health impairments. I gained skill and practice in using these assessments with students. I also gained knowledge of the multiple modes of formal and informal assessments that can be utilized with these students for multiple data points.
Dr. Gary Troia
CEP 803 provided me with solid background knowledge of utilizing assessment with students with mild disabilities. I was presented with information on how to identify, assess, and then analyze that data for students with learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, emotional impairments, and otherwise health impairments. I gained skill and practice in using these assessments with students. I also gained knowledge of the multiple modes of formal and informal assessments that can be utilized with these students for multiple data points.
CEP 802A Reflection Inquiry in Teaching Special Education: Mild Impairments
Dr. Troy Mariage
CEP 802 provided a plethora of different mathematics teaching strategies to help students with specific learning disabilities. I was able to explore research-based best practices specifically designed for math. I was asked to develop and teach multiple math lessons and reflect and analyze those lessons with my classmates. This course enabled me to develop skills to help students who struggle with math facts, math fluency, and math problem solving.
Dr. Troy Mariage
CEP 802 provided a plethora of different mathematics teaching strategies to help students with specific learning disabilities. I was able to explore research-based best practices specifically designed for math. I was asked to develop and teach multiple math lessons and reflect and analyze those lessons with my classmates. This course enabled me to develop skills to help students who struggle with math facts, math fluency, and math problem solving.
Spring 2012
CEP 801 A Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education
Dr. Troy Mariage and Erin Minnema
CEP 801 was an amazing course on the power of collaboration and consultation in special education. As a special educator, I must be able to have clear, open, and meaningful communication with my special education team, general education teachers, students, parents, and administration. This course provided explicit conversation tools to make the most out of these collaborations. I also gained new knowledge and insight on how to facilitate the many meetings a special educator must hold.
Dr. Troy Mariage and Erin Minnema
CEP 801 was an amazing course on the power of collaboration and consultation in special education. As a special educator, I must be able to have clear, open, and meaningful communication with my special education team, general education teachers, students, parents, and administration. This course provided explicit conversation tools to make the most out of these collaborations. I also gained new knowledge and insight on how to facilitate the many meetings a special educator must hold.
CEP 804 Literacy Instruction for Students with Mild Disabilities
Dr. Troy Mariage
CEP 804 provided a wide variety of different literacy skills and resources to use in the special education classroom. I gained the knowledge of using different literacy resources such as sight word inventories, informal reading inventories, phoneme and letter sounds assessments, and many more. We focused on basic decoding skills as well as comprehension skills. I completed an entire thematic inquiry unit with my students during my internship year. I still utilize many resources from this class today!
Dr. Troy Mariage
CEP 804 provided a wide variety of different literacy skills and resources to use in the special education classroom. I gained the knowledge of using different literacy resources such as sight word inventories, informal reading inventories, phoneme and letter sounds assessments, and many more. We focused on basic decoding skills as well as comprehension skills. I completed an entire thematic inquiry unit with my students during my internship year. I still utilize many resources from this class today!
Fall 2017
ED 800: Concepts of Educational Inquiry
Dr. Steven Weiland and Nathan Clason
ED 800 provided a foundation for future educational inquiry and learning. It provided a framework for exploring educational inquiry as it relates to the philosophy and history of education, classroom and teacher based research, ethnographic observation and autobiography, biography and history, and theories of the mind and curriculum. This course allowed me to delve deep into the essential questions of education such as it’s purpose, tradition, and social construction through time. This class was a self-paced format and taught the importance of becoming a hypermedia reader, which means selecting which internet resources one should pay the most attention to. This course helped me gain insight on the history of educational policies and practices and strengthened my critical lens for inquiring about current practices.
Dr. Steven Weiland and Nathan Clason
ED 800 provided a foundation for future educational inquiry and learning. It provided a framework for exploring educational inquiry as it relates to the philosophy and history of education, classroom and teacher based research, ethnographic observation and autobiography, biography and history, and theories of the mind and curriculum. This course allowed me to delve deep into the essential questions of education such as it’s purpose, tradition, and social construction through time. This class was a self-paced format and taught the importance of becoming a hypermedia reader, which means selecting which internet resources one should pay the most attention to. This course helped me gain insight on the history of educational policies and practices and strengthened my critical lens for inquiring about current practices.
TE 846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
Dr. Lance Wheatley
TE 846 provided an opportunity to develop and strengthen skills as a literacy teacher. It provided research-based current literacy practices to take and utilize in current classroom practice. It provided a framework for the developmental processes, instructional practices, and assessment principles that contribute to the effective learning of reading and writing. This course enabled me to focus on one student and complete a literacy learner project where I developed and tailored lessons specific to their needs. This course enabled me to strengthen my skills in differentiating literacy skills in my classroom.
Dr. Lance Wheatley
TE 846 provided an opportunity to develop and strengthen skills as a literacy teacher. It provided research-based current literacy practices to take and utilize in current classroom practice. It provided a framework for the developmental processes, instructional practices, and assessment principles that contribute to the effective learning of reading and writing. This course enabled me to focus on one student and complete a literacy learner project where I developed and tailored lessons specific to their needs. This course enabled me to strengthen my skills in differentiating literacy skills in my classroom.
Spring 2018
EAD 861 Adult Learning
Dr. Riyad Shahjahan
EAD 861 provided in-depth information on adult learners. It enabled me to discover who adult learners are and how to analyze the similarities and differences between andragogy and pedagogy. I discussed the nature of adult learners, adult development, and adult motivation to learn. I was able to explore experiential and transformative learning as it applies to adults. I was able to apply my learning to different adult learners through various media such as film and novel study. I was also able to design and facilitate a learning experience for adults! This course was a great segway into my future goals of becoming an adult educator!
Dr. Riyad Shahjahan
EAD 861 provided in-depth information on adult learners. It enabled me to discover who adult learners are and how to analyze the similarities and differences between andragogy and pedagogy. I discussed the nature of adult learners, adult development, and adult motivation to learn. I was able to explore experiential and transformative learning as it applies to adults. I was able to apply my learning to different adult learners through various media such as film and novel study. I was also able to design and facilitate a learning experience for adults! This course was a great segway into my future goals of becoming an adult educator!
EAD 866 Teaching in Post-secondary Education
Dr. John Dirkx
EAD 866 provided a plethora of information on how to teach adult learners! As this is one of my future goals, I was incredibly motivated during this course. This course enabled us to reflect upon the various differences that adults bring into the classroom and use research-based best practices to provide relevant and meaningful education to these learners. I was able to develop a course syllabus for a class I would like to teach and create a lesson plan for adult learners. This course synthesized information on adult learners and provided us with practical strategies to use when teaching adults!
Dr. John Dirkx
EAD 866 provided a plethora of information on how to teach adult learners! As this is one of my future goals, I was incredibly motivated during this course. This course enabled us to reflect upon the various differences that adults bring into the classroom and use research-based best practices to provide relevant and meaningful education to these learners. I was able to develop a course syllabus for a class I would like to teach and create a lesson plan for adult learners. This course synthesized information on adult learners and provided us with practical strategies to use when teaching adults!
Summer 2018
CEP 883 The Psychology of Classroom Discipline
Dr. My Lien
CEP 883 provided an psychological view on the nature of behaviors in the classroom. This course provided numerous research-based practices to utilize in the current classroom. We worked in groups to analyze specific case studies citing educational theory to support our decisions. We explored the functions of different behaviors and developed skills in addressing these in the classroom. Our final project, a classroom management plan, synthesized the information in a meaningful way. I was able to hone in and develop my skills when dealing with different behaviors in the classroom.
Dr. My Lien
CEP 883 provided an psychological view on the nature of behaviors in the classroom. This course provided numerous research-based practices to utilize in the current classroom. We worked in groups to analyze specific case studies citing educational theory to support our decisions. We explored the functions of different behaviors and developed skills in addressing these in the classroom. Our final project, a classroom management plan, synthesized the information in a meaningful way. I was able to hone in and develop my skills when dealing with different behaviors in the classroom.
EAD 824 Leading Teacher Learning
Dr. Melissa Usiak
EAD 824 explored the realm of adult professional learning and professional learning organizations. It helped me to understand the importance of true collaboration in education and how leaders model the type of the learning they want their staff to engage in. I was able to learn about various protocols and professional learning designs to help facilitate and guide adult learners. I gained an in-depth perspective on the process and planning behind professional learning communities in education and developed skills in creating purposeful learning in those environments. I was able to develop a year-long proposal, plan, and budget for professional learning in my district.
Dr. Melissa Usiak
EAD 824 explored the realm of adult professional learning and professional learning organizations. It helped me to understand the importance of true collaboration in education and how leaders model the type of the learning they want their staff to engage in. I was able to learn about various protocols and professional learning designs to help facilitate and guide adult learners. I gained an in-depth perspective on the process and planning behind professional learning communities in education and developed skills in creating purposeful learning in those environments. I was able to develop a year-long proposal, plan, and budget for professional learning in my district.
Fall 2018
EAD 822 Diverse Students and Families
Dr. Jada Phelps-Moultrie
EAD 822 provided an opportunity to look at the various diverse needs families in our schools have today. I was allowed the opportunity to explore the various issues our marginalized families must deal with and overcome in our current educational system. I was challenged to take an in-depth look at current policies and practices in my district and start developing a culturally responsive plan to challenge those various practices that affect our marginalized families. I developed skills in analyzing various resources available to the marginalized families in my community and acquired the skill of developing an eco-map to show these resources. I also gained extensive knowledge in developing a culturally responsive leadership framework that will enable me to effectively engage the diverse families in my community.
Dr. Jada Phelps-Moultrie
EAD 822 provided an opportunity to look at the various diverse needs families in our schools have today. I was allowed the opportunity to explore the various issues our marginalized families must deal with and overcome in our current educational system. I was challenged to take an in-depth look at current policies and practices in my district and start developing a culturally responsive plan to challenge those various practices that affect our marginalized families. I developed skills in analyzing various resources available to the marginalized families in my community and acquired the skill of developing an eco-map to show these resources. I also gained extensive knowledge in developing a culturally responsive leadership framework that will enable me to effectively engage the diverse families in my community.
EAD 870 Capstone Portfolio Course
Dr. Matthew Koehler, Aric Gaunt, Sarah Keenan-Lechel, Sukanya Moudgalya
EAD 870 was a cumulative and summative assessment of my graduate coursework throughout my Master of Arts in Education at Michigan State University. Throughout this course, I was asked to reflect on my learning, synthesize and combine all of the skills and strategies I have learned, and create an online presence and portfolio that displays and highlights all of my achievements over the past two years. I developed skills in reflection and analysis of peer work as well as in-depth reflection on my own work. I learned the power of continuous revision and gained skills in fine-tuning my own work. This course enabled me to explore and showcase the various skills and knowledge I have gained throughout my masters career.
Dr. Matthew Koehler, Aric Gaunt, Sarah Keenan-Lechel, Sukanya Moudgalya
EAD 870 was a cumulative and summative assessment of my graduate coursework throughout my Master of Arts in Education at Michigan State University. Throughout this course, I was asked to reflect on my learning, synthesize and combine all of the skills and strategies I have learned, and create an online presence and portfolio that displays and highlights all of my achievements over the past two years. I developed skills in reflection and analysis of peer work as well as in-depth reflection on my own work. I learned the power of continuous revision and gained skills in fine-tuning my own work. This course enabled me to explore and showcase the various skills and knowledge I have gained throughout my masters career.