Running head: ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 1

Azusa
Assessment of Growth in Educational Technology

Tanya Reinhofer

Azusa Pacific University

Pacific
University
ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 2

Assessment of Growth in Educational Technology

History of Coursework

Table 1

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History of Coursework

Term/ Professor/
Course Key Learnings
Yr Instructor
• Adobe Acrobat can be used to create
interactive pdf documents from Word
EDTC511 documents and webpages
Foundations in Fall1/ Dr. Kathleen • Adding thumbnails, bookmarks, and links can
Educational 2018 Bacer increase the usability of a pdf document
Technology • When shared, a pdf document becomes
interactive and users can add comments and

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suggestions
• A PLN is a Professional Learning Network
• LiveBinder is a useful tool to compile online
resources
EDTC527
• Digital presentation apps such as Powtoon are
Special Topics: Fall1/ Kristen
available online and can be used to make
Integration of 2018 Effinger
engaging classroom lessons
Web Resources
• HyperDocs are interactive online lessons and
can be created for almost any subject area for
nearly any age student

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EDTC518 • A Global Learning Project gives students the
Global Learning/ Fall2/ Barbara opportunity to learn about and engage with
Cross-Cultural 2018 McMillan students around the world about a range of
Classroom subjects in a variety of ways
• Twitter Chat is a real time conversation among
Twitter users
EDTC517
Fall2/ • Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides can be used to
Digital Joe Bruzzese
2018 create interactive documents
Communications
• Google Hangouts is useful for instant
messaging as well as face-to-face interaction
EDTC523
• A well-structured website should require
Educational
minimal mental exertion from the user
Applications of Spr1/
Kathryn Price • When creating an interactive website,
Information 2019
considerations include visual appeal, usability,
Design and
and functionality
Hypermedia
EDTC521 Spr1/ Torrence • Unique camera angles and cut rates maintain
ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 3

Digital Imagery 2019 Temple visual interest

for Learning • Music choice affects the overall feel of a movie
Environments or video
• Photoshop is useful for combining, editing, and
layering photos and text
• Unit planning should begin with the end in

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mind
EDTC524
• Big ideas, understandings, and essential
Instructional Spr2/
questions relate learning to the real world
Design and 2019 Dr. Thomas
Development Wilson • In order to show true understanding, students
must be able to transfer skills and learning to
novel situations
• Technology use in the classroom should go
well beyond simply interacting with a
EDTC520
computer
Managing Tech- Spr2/ Elisabeth
• Technology should be integrated into a well-
Supported 2019 Silver

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planned, pedagogically-sound lesson
Curricular Tools
• Effective technology integration must engage,
enhance, and extend learning
EDTC515
Sum1 Dr. Jim • In progress
Emerging Trends
/2019 Brown
in Technology
EDTC526
Practicum in
Sum1 Dr. Kathleen • In progress
Educational
/2019 Bacer
Applications in
Technology

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Personal Growth

One year ago at this time, I was looking forward to a summer cruise to the Caribbean

with my family. I was turning 50 and finally feeling like I was getting my life together. My job as

a special education teacher was secure, my own children were settled in their respective schools,

and I was looking forward to the next school year being relatively quiet without any major

stressors. There was no way I could have known that, over the upcoming year, I was going to

grow so much personally, academically, and spiritually.

ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 4

Self-confidence has never been one of my strengths. In fact, over-thinking was always

one of my favorite pastimes. I am guilty of constantly doubting my abilities and judgments. This

past year has shown me that I am capable of much more than I ever believed possible. I

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successfully juggled coursework, a caseload of students well above my limit, and my family

responsibilities without too much disruption. Honestly, I think I may have actually done a better

job with each of them because I was feeling good about myself.

My work habits have definitely improved over the last nine months. While earning my

bachelor’s degree, and even my teaching credentials, I had a terrible habit of procrastinating.

That just was not an option this time around. I had too much to do and too little time to do it. My

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To Do list now has a timeline with it, and I have learned to take advantage of small chunks of

time to ensure that assignments are completed on or before the due dates without neglecting any

of my other personal or professional responsibilities.

Spiritually, I have matured immensely throughout this program. Weekly reflections and

discussions with peers about Bible verses and scripture topics encouraged me to explore my faith

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thoughtfully on a level I never have before, and I learned how to incorporate my Christian beliefs

and morals into my daily teaching. Now, as a teacher in a public school, I am able to represent

Christ confidently in my interactions with my students.

This past year has been far from easy, but the process of earning my Master of Arts in

Educational Technology (EDTC) was the motivator I needed to become a better me. My

students, as well as my co-workers, will benefit from the personal, academic, and spiritual

maturity that has unexpectedly come along with learning how to incorporate technology into my

teaching (Bacer et al., 2018).

ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 5

Professional Growth

As a teacher, professional growth is always a priority. Whether it’s staying up to date with

the latest research on teaching reading or learning how to better meet the social and emotional

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needs of our students, reading articles and attending meetings in order to stay current is a way of

life. Completing the coursework for the EDTC program at Azusa Pacific University (APU), has

helped me to grow as an educator, be a respected peer in the area of technology, and bring new

innovative technology to my school.

As a special education teacher, I work with students that are struggling to learn by

traditional methods, and this program has given me new, innovative ideas and options for better

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meeting their needs. When identified disabilities make reading and writing difficult for my

students, I now have digital alternatives for giving them access to curriculum. Using a variety of

new programs and tools to work on IEP goals has increased student interest and motivation.

Most importantly, my students will continue to benefit from the ideas and information that I have

gained for the rest of their lives.

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Since I do not have a traditional class of my own students, I frequently recruited co-

workers to participate in various aspects of my coursework. While discussing global learning

projects and technology integration in their classrooms, I earned new respect for my knowledge

of how computers could be used with their students. Teachers have been clamoring for more

technology at our school for years, yet many of them were unaware of the many programs and

tools that are available. Now, I have teachers coming to me seeking new ways to use computers

in their classrooms.

My biggest accomplishment as a result of this program is the variety of technology that I

am now able to confidently introduce to the teachers and students at my school. From
ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 6

screencasting to green screen to HyperDocs, I never would have had the courage to experiment

with these programs, let alone demonstrate their usefulness, without the support and

encouragement of the professors at APU (Bacer et al., 2018). I now have the experience and

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confidence to encourage peers and students to use the technology available to them to go beyond

simply playing online games and typing essays.

Over the last 13 years of teaching, I have attended my fair share of professional

development opportunities, but nothing has compared to the knowledge and skills that I have

gained from the EDTC program. Not only have I become a better teacher, my new skills have

earned me respect from my peers, and I am bringing new ways to use technology to my school.

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Technical Growth

Computers have never scared me. Jumping in and clicking around to see what happens

has never bothered me a bit. However, when it came to trying new programs with my students,

even though I knew that using technology could be a great way to support my students’ learning,

I was typically unwilling. Since beginning the EDTC program, I have used technology to

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successfully introduce new concepts to my students, offer digital alternatives for demonstrating

learning, and re-ignite their excitement about learning.

Although I was never fearful of technology, taking the time to figure out how to use new

programs was never a priority. The EDTC program forced me to plan and experiment with

unfamiliar programs in the classroom (Bacer et al., 2018). For example, when students were

struggling with adding and subtracting fractions, creating a compilation of YouTube videos, not

only gave me an innovative way to teach the concepts, but also allowed me to focus on the

students’ various learning styles (Temple, 2019).

ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 7

Writing is a time-consuming, monotonous process for many students, yet when given

options for presenting information digitally, they are able to create amazing artifacts of their

learning. This year, my fifth graders had the options of using a green screen program or creating

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a Google Slides presentation to present their state research projects. This allowed them to

demonstrate their learning without the struggle of a handwritten report.

For special education students that have given up on their education, my willingness to

use technology in my classroom has created new enthusiasm. Simple apps like Read & Write for

Google allow them to participate successfully in assignments with their peers that may have been

too difficult before. Assignments like book reports and narrative writing were a struggle for them

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to even attempt, but with online programs like Glogster and Storybook, they are eager and

willing.

Throughout the EDTC program, I have developed a technical expertise that is allowing

me to better meet the needs of my students and giving them opportunities that they may not have

had otherwise. In addition, I now have a solid foundation on which to build to further my

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learning and the use of new, innovative technology as it becomes available.

Life Long Learning Plan

Joining Facebook groups related to technology and special education, learning to use

Twitter and participate in TwitterChats, and following several Blogs has given me an easily

accessible way to stay current with new programs and ideas (Bruzzese, 2018). Going forward, I

hope to continue integrating more technology into my classroom, learn more about teaching

reading to students with dyslexia, and perhaps find new opportunities for bringing the two

together. In order to accomplish these things, I plan to:

ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 8

• Continue to grow and participate in my Personal Learning Network (PLN), with respect to

both educational technology and special education.

• Attend next year’s Computer-Using Educators (CUE) conference in order to stay abreast of

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ways the latest technology is being used in the classroom.

• Participate in an online or local in-person Orton-Gillingham dyslexia training so that I can

learn more about the most recent trends and better support my struggling readers.

• Better support my student’s behavior needs by enrolling in an online or in-person seminar

such as Pro-Act or Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training.

Conclusion

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In the past year, the EDTC program has reminded me that I am never too old to

to grow personally, professionally, and technically. Not only am I a better teacher, I am an

excellent example of a life-long learner for my students and a valuable technology resource for

my co-workers. My students are more engaged than ever in their learning and are reaping the

rewards of technology use in their classrooms. I am hoping to continue this forward momentum

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as I begin the next school year by taking full advantage of the many new resources and

opportunities that are now in my repertoire.

ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH 9

References

Bacer, K., Brown, J., Bruzzese, J., Effinger, K., McMillan, B., Price, K., Silver, E., Temple, T.,

Wilson, T. (2018 - 2019). Master of Arts in Educational Technology. School of

Azusa
Education, Azusa Pacific University. Azusa, CA. Retrieved from http://canvas.apu.edu.

Bruzzese, J. (2018). EDTC517: Digital Communications. Master of Arts in Educational

Technology. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University. Azusa, CA. Retrieved from

https://sakai.apu.edu

Temple, T. (2019). EDTC521: Digital Imagery for Learning Environments. Master of Arts in

Educational Technology. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University. Azusa,

Pacific
CA. Retrieved from https://sakai.apu.edu

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