Running

 Head:  GROWTH  ASSESSMENT  

   
 

Master of Arts in Educational

Technology

Growth Assessment

Robin Konegni

Azusa Pacific University

 
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   2  
 

Personal Growth

I believe my personal growth was the most significant growth I made at

Azusa Pacific University (APU). My spiritual growth came at a time when I

truly needed it. My family has grown during this program and my marriage has

become stronger. The spiritual discussions led by Bacer, Bettger, Bruzzese,

Brown, Silva, Silver, and Suffern (2010) during the online Master of Arts (MA)

in Educational Technology (EDTC) pioneered my spiritual growth.

I was raised in a home without religion. My mother had been raised in a

Catholic Convent in Burma and left religion behind when she left Burma and

came to America. We were raised with the idea if we wanted religion we would

find it for ourselves. I have always wished for a relationship with God in my

life. My husband had a significant Christian upbringing and I too considered

myself a Christian, even though we did not attend church services every week.

We were married in a Christian church where my children later attended pre-‐

school, their grandma continues to teach chapel there weekly.

My own relationship grew with God through APU. I always felt that if

we did not attend church weekly, we were not believers. Now I know that is
not true. I know now that my talk with God, and my prayers with him are part
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   3  
 

of our relationship. I learned how to have reflection time, and to think about

what my greater purpose is both as a parent and a teacher. I learned how to

truly study the bible, and find answers to things that I do not understand.

I now plan to develop a greater relationship with God by attending

church with friends that also have a relationship with him. I want my children

to have a close relationship with him so that they know him in their hearts, and

in their lives. My marriage has gotten stronger because my husband and I have

had long discussions about God, things before I felt stupid for asking him I now

am beginning to understand, which is helping me to grow.

My personal growth has been a journey that will forever change my life.

Having God in my life will help me to grow for years to come.

Professional Growth

My professional growth is a work in progress. I have developed a

greater awareness for the “Digital Natives” (Prensky, 2001, p.1) that I teach.

I have learned where technology fits into my curriculum: “the tool, in and of

itself, no matter how powerful, cannot make the learning happen”. (Harris,

1998, p.5). I have learned how to be a better technology teacher for my

GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   4  
 

peers. I have developed a technology connection with a second grade class in

New York to give a purpose to my student’s technology development.

I have been a Teacher Technology Leader teacher for a school site. I

have had two interviews to become a Technology Teacher Specialist at the

district level. The APU MA program taught by Bacer, et al. (2010) has given

me a greater understanding on how to motivate my fellow teachers to

incorporate technology into their everyday curriculum. I have had the pleasure

of assisting teachers at my school site as they transitioned from a desktop to a

laptop. We have also added wireless Internet to assist with the use of the

laptops. Using skills that I have learned at APU, and videos that share the

message, I have witnessed teachers develop a desire to use and improve the

technology skills they have. The most rewarding exchange was seeing

teachers that I helped turning to help others with their new skills.

During this time of fiscal uncertainty with California school districts, I

have opted to use my new technology skills in my classroom. I have created a

technology relationship with another second grade class in New York. We have

not had much of an opportunity to collaborate together because we have not

had computer access as we improved our computer lab. The lab will be available
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   5  
 

at the end of March, so I am looking forward to the activities we will share in

the future.

I will teach technology courses for teachers in the future. Education is a

pendulum. I am blessed with many years of seniority so I will continue to teach

in the classroom, and use my skills to broaden the horizons of my students and

fellow teachers.

Technology Growth

The MA in EDTC program taught by Bacer, et al. (2010) at APU has

helped me to develop great technology skills that I can use in the classroom.

My skills include the use of Web 2.0 tools, Adobe Acrobat Professional (Adobe

Systems Incorporated, 2007), social networking, file transfer protocol (FTP),

and web page creation. I have also learned how to develop an online global

learning project (GLP).

Developing my GLP took all of my newly learned skills. I needed to

create a website using site building tools like iWeb and Wix. These files had to

be transferred to my district server using FTP. I would have liked to use a blog

or a wiki for my project, but being without a computer lab, teaching second
graders the challenge seemed too great.
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   6  
 

The web 2.0 tools that I have learned to love are wikis, blogs, and

document collaboration tools. Document collaboration is something I am trying

to promote at my district level. The teachers and technology leaders in my

district are due to create our next technology plan as ours is expiring in 2012.

If we were to use a document collaboration tool, we would be able to

collaborate without trying to match schedules, and meeting times. Web page

development is much easier with the use of website creation applications. File

transfer protocol makes transferring large files much faster, and productive.

Adobe Acrobat Professional (Adobe Systems Incorporated, 2007) is my

favorite application from the entire program at APU. I am looking forward to

making web capture disks for my students to use at home. Using these disks at

home they will be able to practice skills they have learned in our classroom.

The MA in EDTC taught by Bacer, et al. (2010) has led to a much greater

understanding of technology, and it’s importance in the world. I now

understand the great need for technology in education, and I am looking

forward to putting my new skills to good use.

 
 GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   7  
 

History of Coursework

Spring    I  2010  
EDTC  511  Dr.  Kathleen  Bacer   EDTC  571  Valerie  Suffern  
Foundations  in  Educational  Technology   Curriculum  Foundations  
I learned the importance of technology I  learned  the  history  of  education  and  
integration in the classroom. I learned the  implications  for  technology  in  the  
how to use Adobe Acrobat to create future  of  education.  
projects.

Spring    II  2010  

EDTC    517  Joe  Bruzzese   EDTC    527  Professor  Bettger  
Telecommunications   Integration  of  Web  Resources  

I  learned  how  to  create  a  website,  and   I  learned  how  to  use  online  resources  
transfer  the  data  using  file  transfer   like  Google  Tools  for  Education  to  
protocol.   collaborate  on  projects  with  fellow  
educators.  

  Summer  II  2010  

EDTC  518  Dr.  Kathleen  Bacer   EDTC  524  Professor  Silva  

Global  Learning  /Cross  Cultural  Classroom                          Instructional  Design  and  Development  
I  learned  the  educational  benefits  of  a   I  learned  how  to  use  Lesson  Plan  
global  learning  project,  and  how  to   Deconstruction  to  create  a  global  
develop  a  project  based  on  learning   learning  project  that  was  detailed,  and  
standards.   productive.  

Fall  I  2010  

EDTC  523  Professor  Silva   EDTC  573  Valerie  Suffern  

Educational  Application  of  Hypermedia.                                  History  and  Philosophy  of  Education  
  I  learned  how  to  use  web  2.0  tools  to   I  learned  how  to  identify  and  evaluate  
  create  a  mock-­‐up  of  my  global  learning   educational  practices  based  on  
a   project.   educational  history  and  philosophies.  
 GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   8  
 

Fall  II  2010  

EDTC  520  Professor  Silver  

EDTC  515  James  Brown   Applications  of  Technology    
Emerging  Trends  in  Technology   Supported  Curricular  Tools  
I  learned  how  to  create  my  own  course   I  analyzed  the  technology  plans  for  
using  Moodle.    I  created  two  power   both  my  school  site  and  my  school  
point  presentation  to  use  during  staff   district.    I  learned  how  to  identify  areas  
technology  training.   of  strength  and  weakness  based  in  the  
area  of  technology  integration.  

Spring  I  2011  
EDTC  526  Dr.  Kathleen  Bacer  
Practicum  in  Educational  Applications  of   EDTC  572  James  Brown  
Technology   Advanced  Educational  Psyshcology  
I  learned  the  current  research  findings  
I  used  technology  applications,  and   in  education,  and  how  to  apply  them  to  
skills  that  I  learned  in  the  program  to   student  discipline,  motivation,  and  
create  a  digital  portfolio  of  my  work,   performance.  
and  progress.  
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   9  
 

Lifelong Learning Plan

The completion of the MA program taught by Bacer, et.al (2010) is just a

beginning of the journey for me. I chose to start the program because I

appreciate technology’s ability to bring the world into my classroom. Once I

complete the program I am going to continue to participate in the development

of technology skills at my school site. I am going to work on expanding my

global learning project, and hope to have it a district wide option by Character

Counts week in October 2011. I also plan to continue participating in global

learning projects through the International Education and Resource Network

(iEARN). I am going to continue to expand my horizons and work towards a

teaching profession in the online arena as it develops in my area.

I plan to train the teachers at my school site on the use of our new

computer lab. We currently have numerous applications for skill review, but I

would like to instruct on the uses of web 2.0 tools in the classroom. I would like

to help teachers enter into the world of classroom website development to

increase communication between the home, and school.

GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   10  
 

I plan to take my classroom global in the fall of 2011. We will be

participating in global learning projects that I have found using iEARN. I want

to give my students a perspective on their place in the world. I believe that

global learning projects give them a platform to develop their technology skills

while learning about the world around them.

Conclusion

I have truly grown through my experience in the MA in EDTC program at

APU taught by Bacer et.al (2010). I have learned how to balance my home,

learning, and career while creating special bonds with my cadre mates.

Participating in this program I have learned the significant importance of

technology in the classroom. I have made it my mission to be a proponent for

technology integration. I want to see students a generation from now able to

participate using the most advanced technology available.

I have made great friendships with the members of my cadre. We have

learned together and grown together. We have bonded over our work

together, and our spiritual discussions that have led to sharing the most

personal of information. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so

much.” (Keller, 2011)
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   11  
 

I feel this program has prepared me for a future in training others in

technology integration. I am looking forward to the next chapter, and anxious

to see what is to come in the future.

 
GROWTH  ASSESSMENT   12  
 
References

Adobe Systems Incorporated. (2007). Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional (Version 9.0)

[Computer Software]. San Jose, California.

Bacer, K., Bettger, B., J., Bruzzese, J. Silva, L., Silver, E., Suffern, V. (2010). Online Master of
Arts in Educational Technology. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University. Azusa,
California. Retrieved from http://online.apu.edu.

Harris, J. (1998). Virtual Architecture: Designing and Directing Curriculum-Based

Telecomputing. Eugene, Oregon: International Society for Technology in Education

Hellen  Keller  Quotes.    (2011).    Famous  Quotes  and  Quotations  at  BrainyQuote.    Retrieved  
from  
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/helenkelle382259.html#ixzz1HI25
UfKi  

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), October 2001,
Lincoln, NE: MCB University Press