Instructor: Edie Erickson

If 810 helped form my mindset, 811 helped form my skills in the maker space. A huge aspect of MAET is the idea that all of us are makers. Without a doubt, this course proves that very well. From introducing us to the concepts of UDL to having us reflect of remix culture, 811 pushed us to change how we look at the idea of making and how we should purposefully make for our students. With "making" being such a core aspect of educational technology and how we use it in the classroom, 811 prepared us by making us "make" in both the physical and theoretical. In other words this course is extremely transformational for folks such as I, who doubt themselves as makers. 

Instructor: Debbie McHorney-Enokain

Education is a field that is constantly trying to improve itself, and 812 had us reflect on those issues and attempt to tackle one through the Wicked Problem project. This course stared with having us consider an issue in the education system and the reason for its pervasiveness, then went o introduced the ide of a "wicked problem" or a problem that is impossible or near impossible to solve due to its constantly changing nature or end point. Additionally, 812 had us reflect on the very nature of a question, its purpose, and how to make it "more beautiful". This course ended up being a fascinating philosophical exercise in how individual teachers might step up to try to solve the more complex issues that plague our vocation. 

Instructor: Dr. Katie Baleja

As all teachers are keenly aware, assessment, both formative and summative, are crucial parts of our occupation. 813 is a course that had me truly reflecting on my views on tests, assessments, and their places in our education system. For me, this course's most important aspects were the reflections on our best assessments, worst assessments, and the time we spent "in the sandbox", in which we played with the idea and creation of assessments while incorporating random aspects given to use by a topic generator. This course was instrumental in making me think on my feet with creating assessments and proved to be a turning point in my mindset towards assessment. 

Instructor: Dr. Anne Heintz

I personally believe that 817 was one of the most unique course I took throught my MAET journey, as, to me, it had a very clear roadmap to the end goal: Designing a solution to a problem specific to our teaching, a Problem of Practice. This course took me through each of the five steps of design (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test) through a number of activities, including a "Why-How Ladder", and reflection report focused aroudn the problem that I had identified. This course taught me that design is more than just solving a problem, it is about considering the people you are attempting to help and the best course of action by which to do so. 

Instructor: Liz Boltz

This course, taught through our Overseas program in Galway, Ireland, was actually the content of three course all rolled into one, taught in a highly accelerate, very interactive setting. This course focused on three specific things: Data, Research, and Practice. Through this course I learned about the existence and importance of "street data", the history of educational/psychological research, and the best ways to utilize these ideas into our teaching. This course culminated in two distinct projects: A Unit Renovation Creation (in which I took a unit that I already teach and completely redid it considering information retrieved from data) and a Theory of Learning (in which I combined ideas and beliefs from multiple educational philosophers into my own beliefs about the best way to get students to learn). 

Instructor: Dr. Anne Heintz

As any teacher who lived and taught through the Covid-19 Pandemic could teach you, online teaching is not only difficult, but also extremely different from in person instruction. In 820, Dr. Heintz helped us understand the history behind online education, how it has changed, and how the way people view it has changed. In addition, we spent time reviewing important resources for effective online education and how these resources differ from online education to hybrid education, to in person education. For me, the most enjoyable aspect of this course were the sync sessions, in which my fellow students and I would meet with Dr. Heintz on zoom to discuss aspects of our readings and research in a live setting, rather than just over blogs and pre recorded videos.  

Instructors: Megan Harris and Dr. Matthew Koehler

After almost two years of making, researching, and blogging, it is easy for someone to forget all they have learned and experienced in the MAET program. The Capstone Course provided me with a chance to review and reflect on my many creations, lessons, successes and failures throughout my time in grad school. Through a number of essays, reflection activities, and flair creations, I created a personal website that not only highlights my time in MAET but also creates an online presence that shows potential employers and students just what I am capable of. The course was segmented so that, despite how involved the process was, I never felt like I was being overwhelmed. Rather, looking back I see that my website as a journal that I have been building through my MAET journey, all bound together through the Capstone Class.