Pearl Alimo's Master of Art in Education (MAED) Annotated Transcript
Below are all the courses that I took to complete my Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
CEP: Counselling, Education and Psychology. EAD: Education Administration.
Summer 2013
CEP 815 : Technology & Leadership - Joshua Rosenberg & Luke Rapa
This was one of my very first courses and I was excited! I was also curious about technology and zealous to know what connection technology and leadership have together. In this course we explored the various trends in technology, leadership characteristics and what roles leaders play in using technology to bring a positive impact in society. I learned about the potential of technology, its benefits and challenges through the course, readings and discussions and assignments.We were tasked at the end of the course to create a sustainable technology project to solve a learning problem in our various communities. I learned project management skills such as identifying a problem, brainstorming on solution, strategizing how and when to implement it as well as to evaluate a project. I also learned to use new technologies such as tweeting strong messages and used Prezi for the first time.
EAD 864 : Adult Career Development - Dr. Steve Weiland
In Adult Career Development , we explored the various forms and nature of work that humans engage in as a means of earning a living. Through readings, movies and writing long essays we examined various factors such as age, gender and history that affect one's career life. By presenting a long essay comparing the nature of work to the seasons of nature drawing inspiration from Palmer Parker's work 'Let Your Life Speak' , I had the opportunity to examine my own career path and learned how to make my own work life more meaningful and gratifying.
Fall 2013
CEP 813: Electronic Portfolios - Dr. Patrick Dickerson & Mei Shen
This course focused on presenting electronic portfolios of one's work in the field of education. I had the opportunity to learn the importance of creating a strong web presence to a world audience . We were tasked to create our own electronic portfolios. In this assignment, I presented my teaching philosophy , showcased my work and compiled the work of the children and youth I work with. I learned to use web creation tools like Weebly for the very first time.
CEP 818: Creativity in Teaching & Learning - Dr. Punya Mishra & Jon Good
Creativity in Teaching and Learning challenge students to think, breath and live the art of creating places, products and services that are novel, excellent and whole. We embarked on a creative journey by exploring the theories of creativity-'Thinking Differently, Perceiving, Patterning, Abstracting, Embodied Thinking, Modeling and Playing'. We engaged in an exciting assignment called 'How Do I Love Thee' where we posted only pictures of parts of an object and challenged our course mates to identify which object it was. One had to think creatively outside the box to guess it right. The main course project was the 'Creative I' project which included an elevator pitch and a white paper. In this course I learned the skill as an educator to light the fire of literacy, creativity and ingenuity in every student by thinking differently, observing critically, perceiving objectively, recognizing and forming patterns carefully, abstracting and analogizing analytically, thinking with my body seriously, modeling empathetically and playing with ideas.
Spring 2014
CEP 820: Teaching Students Online - Dr. Anne Heintz with Spencer Greenhalgh & Sandra Sawaya
In this course, we explored the Universal Design For Learning which included online teaching and learning standards that must be met when one is thinking of designing an online course.We also read and discussed the various online teaching and learning management systems examining their functions, strengths and weaknesses as well as how the various online teaching methods can be used to create a conducive online learning environment for students to master course materials and also challenge them to acquire skills for life. At the end of the course, I was inspired to create an online leadership course dubbed 'Community Change Initiatives Course' for youth in various communities.
ED 800: Concepts in Educational Inquiry : Dr. Steve Weiland & Nate Carlson
In ED 800, we tackled the various concepts in Education. From defining what education is all about to considering recent research and ideas in education we examined the various research approaches to education. We read and discussed the importance of education, the nature of learning and the methods of teaching. Significantly, we dug into the various forms of educational inquiry including classroom - based or teacher research, ethnographic participant observation and personal narratives, history and biographies. I particularly learned the importance of teacher research and the various skills in classroom - based research methods such as child observations, tape recording, documentation and using a journal.
Summer 2014
CEP 840:Policies, Practices & Perspectives in Special Education : Dr. Carol Sue Englert
Policies, Practices and Perspectives in Special Education examines critical strategies to be used in teaching exceptional children and youth in special education. In this course I was tasked to identify assistive technologies that can be used to teach children and youth with learning disabilities such as reading, writing, spelling and studying difficulties as well as children and youth with difficult behaviors in the classroom. We also read and discussed key issues in special education such as effective classroom management, the idea of inclusion, accommodation and Individualized Education Plans for exceptional children and youth in school settings. I learnt important skills such as developing and implementing the Individualized Education Plans, identifying and using Assistive Technologies in the classroom, including all children in the classroom and making accommodations for children with special needs.
Fall 2014
EAD 863: Training & Professional Development - William Arnold
This course focused on identifying professional development needs and then designing, implementing and evaluating trainings with the aim of helping the individual professional to be productive. The idea is to also help organizations to grow by providing better services and products. We were engaged in different readings, discussions and shared ideas about training and professional development issues in various professions. Our final project was to design a 60 minute training program using the Stand-up or lecture delivery method. I had the opportunity to think and analyze the training and professional development program in my field and provided suggestions to improve our training program. I learned the skill of identifying organizational development needs and designing suitable training and professional development programs.
Spring 2015
CEP 817 : Learning Technology Through Design - Dana Henriksen & Carmen Richardson
In this course, we learned to design products, places and services from the eyes of users. Using the Standford Design Guidelines such as empathize, ideate, define, prototype and test we are challenged to think, act and live as designers in our field of work. One interesting introductory assignment in this course was '55 Fiction' where we are tasked to write a story in only 55 words. This assignment seemed very easy and simple but it was very tricky and lots of hard work including choosing the right words to capture one's story in only 55 words. The final project of this course challenged us to identify a problem in our practice and then design a sustainable solution in our various fields of work. I learned design skills such as stepping into and out of the life of users in order to empathize with the user so I could design something that is not only aesthetic but meaningful useful and beneficial to the user.
CEP 807: Capstone Portfolio - Dr. Mathew Koehler with Spencer Greenhalgh, Brittany Dilman, Sarah Keenan, Joshua Rosenberg
This course is a reflection of my Master's Degree program at Michigan State University. It required the compilation of my work, experiences and challenged me to dream into my future. It was the grand finale that gave me the opportunity to prove to the world mastery of key skills learned in my Masters program and how pursuing a masters degree changed my life and most importantly what I have to offer to the world with my new learned skills and advanced knowledge in education.Using website creation tools like Weebly, I created a portfolio and a resource for readers about that it takes to complete a graduate program, advanced research methods in education and e-learning educational projects and programs that I designed for children, youth, parents and professionals working with young children and youth in out of school learning environments.
CEP: Counselling, Education and Psychology. EAD: Education Administration.
Summer 2013
CEP 815 : Technology & Leadership - Joshua Rosenberg & Luke Rapa
This was one of my very first courses and I was excited! I was also curious about technology and zealous to know what connection technology and leadership have together. In this course we explored the various trends in technology, leadership characteristics and what roles leaders play in using technology to bring a positive impact in society. I learned about the potential of technology, its benefits and challenges through the course, readings and discussions and assignments.We were tasked at the end of the course to create a sustainable technology project to solve a learning problem in our various communities. I learned project management skills such as identifying a problem, brainstorming on solution, strategizing how and when to implement it as well as to evaluate a project. I also learned to use new technologies such as tweeting strong messages and used Prezi for the first time.
EAD 864 : Adult Career Development - Dr. Steve Weiland
In Adult Career Development , we explored the various forms and nature of work that humans engage in as a means of earning a living. Through readings, movies and writing long essays we examined various factors such as age, gender and history that affect one's career life. By presenting a long essay comparing the nature of work to the seasons of nature drawing inspiration from Palmer Parker's work 'Let Your Life Speak' , I had the opportunity to examine my own career path and learned how to make my own work life more meaningful and gratifying.
Fall 2013
CEP 813: Electronic Portfolios - Dr. Patrick Dickerson & Mei Shen
This course focused on presenting electronic portfolios of one's work in the field of education. I had the opportunity to learn the importance of creating a strong web presence to a world audience . We were tasked to create our own electronic portfolios. In this assignment, I presented my teaching philosophy , showcased my work and compiled the work of the children and youth I work with. I learned to use web creation tools like Weebly for the very first time.
CEP 818: Creativity in Teaching & Learning - Dr. Punya Mishra & Jon Good
Creativity in Teaching and Learning challenge students to think, breath and live the art of creating places, products and services that are novel, excellent and whole. We embarked on a creative journey by exploring the theories of creativity-'Thinking Differently, Perceiving, Patterning, Abstracting, Embodied Thinking, Modeling and Playing'. We engaged in an exciting assignment called 'How Do I Love Thee' where we posted only pictures of parts of an object and challenged our course mates to identify which object it was. One had to think creatively outside the box to guess it right. The main course project was the 'Creative I' project which included an elevator pitch and a white paper. In this course I learned the skill as an educator to light the fire of literacy, creativity and ingenuity in every student by thinking differently, observing critically, perceiving objectively, recognizing and forming patterns carefully, abstracting and analogizing analytically, thinking with my body seriously, modeling empathetically and playing with ideas.
Spring 2014
CEP 820: Teaching Students Online - Dr. Anne Heintz with Spencer Greenhalgh & Sandra Sawaya
In this course, we explored the Universal Design For Learning which included online teaching and learning standards that must be met when one is thinking of designing an online course.We also read and discussed the various online teaching and learning management systems examining their functions, strengths and weaknesses as well as how the various online teaching methods can be used to create a conducive online learning environment for students to master course materials and also challenge them to acquire skills for life. At the end of the course, I was inspired to create an online leadership course dubbed 'Community Change Initiatives Course' for youth in various communities.
ED 800: Concepts in Educational Inquiry : Dr. Steve Weiland & Nate Carlson
In ED 800, we tackled the various concepts in Education. From defining what education is all about to considering recent research and ideas in education we examined the various research approaches to education. We read and discussed the importance of education, the nature of learning and the methods of teaching. Significantly, we dug into the various forms of educational inquiry including classroom - based or teacher research, ethnographic participant observation and personal narratives, history and biographies. I particularly learned the importance of teacher research and the various skills in classroom - based research methods such as child observations, tape recording, documentation and using a journal.
Summer 2014
CEP 840:Policies, Practices & Perspectives in Special Education : Dr. Carol Sue Englert
Policies, Practices and Perspectives in Special Education examines critical strategies to be used in teaching exceptional children and youth in special education. In this course I was tasked to identify assistive technologies that can be used to teach children and youth with learning disabilities such as reading, writing, spelling and studying difficulties as well as children and youth with difficult behaviors in the classroom. We also read and discussed key issues in special education such as effective classroom management, the idea of inclusion, accommodation and Individualized Education Plans for exceptional children and youth in school settings. I learnt important skills such as developing and implementing the Individualized Education Plans, identifying and using Assistive Technologies in the classroom, including all children in the classroom and making accommodations for children with special needs.
Fall 2014
EAD 863: Training & Professional Development - William Arnold
This course focused on identifying professional development needs and then designing, implementing and evaluating trainings with the aim of helping the individual professional to be productive. The idea is to also help organizations to grow by providing better services and products. We were engaged in different readings, discussions and shared ideas about training and professional development issues in various professions. Our final project was to design a 60 minute training program using the Stand-up or lecture delivery method. I had the opportunity to think and analyze the training and professional development program in my field and provided suggestions to improve our training program. I learned the skill of identifying organizational development needs and designing suitable training and professional development programs.
Spring 2015
CEP 817 : Learning Technology Through Design - Dana Henriksen & Carmen Richardson
In this course, we learned to design products, places and services from the eyes of users. Using the Standford Design Guidelines such as empathize, ideate, define, prototype and test we are challenged to think, act and live as designers in our field of work. One interesting introductory assignment in this course was '55 Fiction' where we are tasked to write a story in only 55 words. This assignment seemed very easy and simple but it was very tricky and lots of hard work including choosing the right words to capture one's story in only 55 words. The final project of this course challenged us to identify a problem in our practice and then design a sustainable solution in our various fields of work. I learned design skills such as stepping into and out of the life of users in order to empathize with the user so I could design something that is not only aesthetic but meaningful useful and beneficial to the user.
CEP 807: Capstone Portfolio - Dr. Mathew Koehler with Spencer Greenhalgh, Brittany Dilman, Sarah Keenan, Joshua Rosenberg
This course is a reflection of my Master's Degree program at Michigan State University. It required the compilation of my work, experiences and challenged me to dream into my future. It was the grand finale that gave me the opportunity to prove to the world mastery of key skills learned in my Masters program and how pursuing a masters degree changed my life and most importantly what I have to offer to the world with my new learned skills and advanced knowledge in education.Using website creation tools like Weebly, I created a portfolio and a resource for readers about that it takes to complete a graduate program, advanced research methods in education and e-learning educational projects and programs that I designed for children, youth, parents and professionals working with young children and youth in out of school learning environments.