This page provides an overview of the courses I completed to earn my Masters of Arts in Education (MAED) from Michigan State University. The courses are listed in chronological order as well as the course title, instructor and an overview of what I learned.
ED 800
This was my first course in the program. It was not geared towards my degree but a foundation for the MAED program. I learned about the educational system and how different cultures, societies and environments can play a part in a child's knowledge. This course also taught me there are different ways of learning and educators in the past who have not used the traditional way of teaching. Technology was also something embedded into the course and how it has grown to become a requirement for learning instead of just a tool for learning.
|
CEP 818
I am not creative at all, which is why I took this course. We created a "sparks" notebook that was developed through the entire semester. The way we perceive, pattern, abstract, embody, model and synthesize were all points of learning in this course. I wrote a poem as well as wrote a song using lyrics from another. I realized after this course, I am more creative than I think and it will help me in my own classroom in the future.
|
EAD 830
This was my favorite course in my entire program. We were not told from the beginning there was an achievement gap, we were told to open our minds, do the research and figure out if there was an achievement gap. I completed a case study on a child's socioeconomic status and the achievement gap. This course really opened my eyes to the issues in a child's education just based off of where they live and the funding received for each school.
|
CEP 841
Behavioral management is key in an inclusive classroom setting. This course taught me about how to manage expectations as well as a students behavioral issues. I learned about how to teach a student self-regulation and self-control. Teachers must teach self-control then model, demonstrate, think-aloud then reinforce those behaviors, just like teaching a learning strategy.
|
CEP 840
I did not know what an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was until entering my master's program. I was paired with two other students and we created our own IEP. We were given sample students to make our creation. Throughout the course we learned what each section of the IEP meant and who was to complete that specific section. It takes an entire team of school staff to complete one IEP. I also now know there are laws and regulations regarding students with disabilities and what schools need to be providing to children with disabilities.
|
CEP 843
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. This course showed the design of how evaluation teams conduct best practices assessment of ASD. I learned about legal requirements, myths and realities, eligibility, formal and information assessment. In the educational world there are a lot of misconceptions that surround eligibility issues for assessment and service for a student with ASD. I now know how to use the proper verbiage and have the proper resources in order to get any student with ASD assistance in the classroom.
|
CEP 820
Teaching students online is not an easy task. I created an online class through canvas. We had the ability to choose any platform to create our classroom. Not only did I create the class, I had to teach some of it with recordings as well as have a test and activity for the students to complete. I also had to create a lesson plan to go along with the online forum.
|
CEP 850
I was able to actually get into a classroom with this course. Our project was to observe a student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and come up with an assistive technology (AT) for the student. I did not directly work with the student as I am not a certified teacher, but I observed the special education teacher and took notes. Using the student, environment, tasks, tools (SETT) framework I was able to observe the student for 5 days and find an AT that worked specifically for that student.
|
CEP 810
I just started this course, I will come back and update at a later date.
|
ED 870
This was the final course for my degree. I created an online professional profile with some of the projects I completed for my master's degree as well as personal information and little other bits of information a future employer may want to know about me. to view my professional portfolio please go to www.ajennajsmith.com
|