My Journey: Teaching in a 21st Century Classroom

Josiah Wallace
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Dr. Joanne Gilbreath
APU Murrieta Regional Campus
LiveBinder URL: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1379428
December 18, 2014

Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

Page 1
December/2014

SECTION ONE:
Introduction: Setting the Context
Three years, ago, I made the decision to become a teacher. I knew that I was
interested in taking part in the education of young people, because I could see the value and
impact that education has had in my own life. I attended Azusa Pacific University as an
undergrad, so I was familiar with APUs credential and MA program. I had a BA in English,
so it was an easy decision for me to get a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English.
However, it took some time to really consider my options before I made the decision to get
my Masters of Education in Digital Teaching and Learning. I realized the growing
importance that technology has in education and the world in general, but for me, committing
to this program meant learning a lot of new information. Having just finished my teaching
credential, I was starting to understand that I would need to learn more about technology if I
wanted to be able to equip my students with the knowledge and skills they would need to be
successful.
When I began this Masters program, I had recently been hired on at a charter school
that used a computer-based curriculum for students. I could see that the amount of support
that I could offer my students was limited by the amount of knowledge I had about
educational technology. I could clearly see a need for developing my knowledge in this area,
and my educational goals became more focused. I wanted to gain a better understanding of
the emerging technologies that could be used in the learning process and learn effective ways
to integrate this technology into my lessons.
Personal Growth
During this program, I have witnessed my own personal growth as learner and as a
Christian. I have gained insights about my own skills as a 21st century learner. I have
Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

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observed that it takes a great amount of time and effort to effectively integrate technology in
the classroom. Building out curriculum is hard work, and it can sometimes feel
overwhelming. One of the areas in which I have developed further skills is time management.
Being more intentional in setting deadlines for tasks helps me to stay focused during the
planning process. The amount of tech resources for teachers is vast, and having deadlines
helps keep me from spending too much time in research mode. As a Christian, I have been
challenged during my time in the program. After my first year of teaching, I was hired to
teach English at a Christian high school. During my time working in this school environment,
I have had the opportunity to share my faith with my students, and this has been a blessing for
me. Through my classes during this program, Ive been had instructors who have supported
me and facilitated classroom discussions about how to provide support for struggling students.
Professional Growth
Through this program, I have been able to reflect on my current strengths and
weaknesses and focus on how to develop my skills as an educator. I have had the opportunity
to learn about the existing technologies and develop ways to effectively implement these
technologies into my lessons. Over the course of my time in this Masters program, my vision
of what a 21st century classroom should look like has evolved. With the development of new
technologies, the focus for me as an instructor has been less on teaching content and more
about facilitating students as they learn new processes and develop skills to learn the
independently or with peers.
After beginning the Masters program, I ended up getting a teaching job at a new
school. At my current school environment, we have a small student body and faculty, so we
have the opportunity to wear many different hats. While my primary role is teaching English,
I also help to team-teach history with a partner teacher and I am the advisor to our schools
Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

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December/2014

international learners. In these different roles, I have found ways to use the knowledge and
skills that I have gained through this Masters program.
Each of my courses has provided opportunities for me to further develop ways to effectively
integrate technologies into my lesson. In EDUC 522 We explored how to teach to different
learning styles by addressing each of Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligences. After taking
the course, I was more aware of the need of using varied learning modes into lessons to meet
the needs of all learners. In an English classroom, there is a tendency to focus heavily on
linguistic-based learning. However, through careful planning, learners who are stronger in
other intelligences can still have opportunities to learn to their strengths. I have also
incorporated lessons using flipped lessons.
Part of my capstone experience in this Masters program has been to take part in an
action research study. The area that I decided to focus on was coming up with a strategy for
getting regular exercise each week. I have found that with my busy schedule, I often would
go for long periods of time without taking part in physical activity. I knew that this was not
healthy, and this was also affecting my energy levels during the day when I was teaching. The
question for my study as I sought to come up with a working solution was will scheduling
time for exercise and keeping a written record of my physical activities help me to be more
consistent with my workouts?
After establishing my question, I was then able to come up with some specific steps to
follow as I carried out my action research. The first step was to establish my then current
exercise habits. Step two was to examine my current schedule and determine the best times
for me to exercise. After Id established these times, the next step was to begin exercising in
shorter increments. This was to help my body to adjust so that I wasnt over-exerting myself.
After the first week, I then began to increase the duration and intensity of my exercise. This
Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

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December/2014

continued for several weeks. The final step was to maintain my exercise routine once I had
reached my desired goal for exercise each week. Through a careful, planned routine, I could
track my progress and keep myself accountable to exercise on a regular basis.
Technical Growth
Over the course of my time in this Masters program, I have experienced significant
growth in my understanding of existing educational technologies. Before the course, my
knowledge of online resources was very limited. Through my experiences in this Masters
program, I have gained confidence in my knowledge of how to effectively use technology in
my lessons.
In EDUC 513, we explored multiple online learning management systems and created
lessons using these different platforms. After my experience in this class, I was able to
successfully introduce lessons that were entirely online using learning platforms like Gooru
and Sophia. These online learning platforms allow me to create lessons using online
resources that students could successfully do outside of the classroom. Learning these tools
has helped me as I work to create lessons for a flipped classroom model, where students learn
the content from home.
I also had the opportunity to learn about video editing in EDUC 514. This included
video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere elements and iMovie. At my school, students
often have projects that require them to plan, film, and edit videos. From the knowledge I
gained from this course, I was able to direct them during the planning phase using
storyboards, and offer them advice in the editing process.
In several of my courses in this program, including EDUC 511, EDUC 513, and EDUC 522, I
have had the opportunity to discuss Internet safety, netiquette, and cyber bullying. In todays
classroom environment, these are important topics that need to be addressed with students as
Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

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they take part in the online community both at school and at home. As an educator that
requires my learners to engage in online communities, it is my responsibility to create a safe
learning environment for my students.
Lifelong Learning Plan
I know that taking part in this Masters program has helped prepare me personally and
professionally as I work to become an effective teacher. It has given me a foundational
understanding of technology and allowed me to apply my knowledge to classroom settings. It
has also helped equip me with the skills I need to stay current with emerging learning
technologies and resources. During my time in the program, I also became aware of the need
for connecting with other like-minded teachers who seek to effectively use technology in their
lessons. Through social networking and PLNs such as Twitter and Google Plus, I can take
part in online communities where I can learn from other teachers and share my own lessons
and ideas as a 21st century educator. Through involvement in these communities, I can stay
current with the new educational trends and emerging technologies.
As I continue to develop my skills as a 21st century educator, some specific areas that I
would like to continue developing include my knowledge of learning management systems,
video and photo editing, and collaborative learning tools for learners. As I continue teaching,
I hope to see my future students taking part in engaging, relevant activities that allow them to
develop their skills as they use the most current educational technologies. Over the next few
years, I plan to continue developing skills as an educator, and building out units on an online
platform. With the skills Ive acquired and the knowledge I have gained through the Digital
Teaching and Learning program, I feel that further opportunities have opened up for me as an
educator. While some teachers are hesitant to incorporate technology into their lessons, I

Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

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know that I would be comfortable teaching in many different learning environments,

including courses that are taught fully online.
SECTION TWO:
History of Coursework and Course Evaluation:
Name:

Josiah Wallace

LiveBind
er
URL:

Term:
Cours
e

Course
Title &
Instructor
Name

Term
Complet
ed

Key Skills Acquired

EDUC
511

Foundations
in Digital
Teaching
and Learning

Summer
2014

INSTRUCTOR
:
Dr. Joanne
Gilbreath

EDUC
512

Instructional
Applications
Productivity
Software

Summer
2012

INSTRUCTOR
:
Jim Sullivan

Digital Age
Literacies
EDUC
513

EDUC
514

INSTRUCTOR
:
Linda
Muhlhauser

Fall 2014

Fall 2012
Digital Video
in the
Classroom
INSTRUCTOR
:
Tim Holder

Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play
?id=1379428

Comments/Suggestions

Used word cloud

generators
(Wordle)
Created
Presentation on
PowerPoint
Online Portfolio
(LiveBinder)

Began building
list of tech
resources
Built classroom
website
(Weebly)
Online
Scavenger Hunt
(Webquest)

Explored various
LMS platforms
(Gooru, Sophia)
Flipped lessons
(Movenote,
Haiku Deck,
Screencast-omatic)

Learned basic
camera shots,
angles
Video editing
(Adobe
Premiere)
Shared videos
(YouTube)

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

Established goals and

framework for Digital
Teaching and Learning
Program
Learned about digital
citizenship and cyber
safety
Created online portfolio
for skills gained during
each course
Gained foundational
knowledge of EdTech
Established the
importance of teaching
how to find information
Created Personal
Education Vision
Statement
Explored digital
footprint and
importance of your
online presence
Adapted lessons to
classrooms with
varying tech access
Continued building list
of tech tools/ resources
Explored ways to
incorporate video
editing into lessons.
Learned how to create
and post how to videos
for lessons

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EDUC
515

Evolving
Educational
Technologies
INSTRUCTOR
:
Bill Selak

Fall 2012

Learning in
the 21st
Century
EDUC
522

INSTRUCTOR
:
Lisa
Rodriguez

Summer
2014

EDUC
526

Capstone
Experience/
Digital
Teaching
and Learning

Fall 2014

INSTRUCTOR
:
Dr. Joanne
Gilbreath

Created video
lessons
Established PLN
(Twitter)
Built classroom
site (Google
Sites)
Researched
Speech-to-text
software
development
and its use in
the classroom
Gave online
presentation
(Google
Hangout)
Planned unit
using MIs and
tech resources
Learned about
cyber-bullying
and netiquette

Completed
Growth
Assessment
Created a
Curricula Vitae
Completed
Action Research
Project
Developed unit
addressing
various learning
techniques and
incorporating
various tech
tools

Took part in
professional develop
seminar via Twitter
Established
connections with online
community of teachers
who use technology in
their classrooms
Explored how to get
students involved in
the learning process
using technology

Created unit that

incorporated various
learning styles using
Gardners multiple
intelligences
Explored various apps
and online tools that
incorporated multiple
learning styles
Assessed personal
growth over the course
of my involvement in
Digital Teaching and
Learning program
Building out my online
portfolio on LiveBinder
was a great way to
save my work and
create a resource
reference

Evaluation of the Impact of Digital Teaching and Learning

An example of a new instructional tool that I plan to implement that I learned
when taking part in this program is the use of screen recording tools for flipped lessons.
There are several ways that I can record my voice and computer screen, including
Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

Page 8
December/2014

QuickTime and Screencast-o-matic. These were not programs that I had explored prior to
my involvement in this Masters program. After using these screen recording tools in
several courses, including EDUC 513 and EDUC 522, I have gotten more comfortable
with the idea of using these tools for some of my flipped lessons. In English, there are
times when these will help me to provide my students with additional support to
understand a concept or complete an assignment. As I continue to build out my flipped
lessons, I plan to put this new skill to use.
Program Evaluation
I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a graduate student at Azusa Pacific
University. It has been a blessing to encounter such an amazing staff and faculty who
always display a servants heart for those they encounter. It has been apparent that the
people working at this university truly follow APUs school motto of God First.
During my time in the credentialing program, my instructors have demonstrated their
knowledge of the content as they support each learner in their course. I have enjoyed
taking courses from instructors who not only are interested in teaching content, but also
investing in their students. It has been a pleasure being able to complete my Masters at
this university.

Candidate Dispositions Rubric

Campus: Murrieta Regional Center

Unit Level Dispositions

Azusa Pacific University School of Education has articulated the following as our unit disposition in keeping with our unit
conceptual Framework of Ethical, Responsive and Informed Practitioners. Our candidates reflect National Council on the
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) definition of dispositions. The instrument below reflects the agreed upon
indicators of the dispositions of Ethical, Responsive and Informed Practitioners who operate on the foundational basis of
fairness and the belief that all people can learn.
Instrument
Directions:

Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

Page 9
December/2014

Please complete the Candidate Dispositions Rubric, aligned to ethical, responsive, and informed educator dispositions,
as evidenced in your graduate work.
Candidate Dispositions
NCATE defines dispositions as professional
attitudes, values and beliefs demonstrated
through both verbal and non-verbal behaviors
as educators interact with students, families,
colleagues and communities. These positive
behaviors support student learning and
development. The two professional
dispositions that NCATE expects institutions
to assess are fairness and the belief that all
students can learn. (NCATE 2008)

N/A

Not

Sometim

Usually

Always

Cannot

Displayed

es

Displayed

Displayed

Assess

Displayed

Not

Acceptab

Target

Acceptab

Approach

le

le

es
Acceptabl
e

Ethical educators who are able to understand and articulate the integration of a Christian worldview in their
professional communities of practice display:
Personal integrity

Collaborative, cooperative and respectful behaviors

Fairness in educational settings by meeting the

educational needs of all students in a caring, non-

discriminatory and equitable manner

Sensitivity to cultural and individual differences

Personal and professional maturity

Personal integrity

Comments regarding your strengths/areas for improvement (Ethical):

I have the opportunity to work at a private Christian school where I can share openly about my faith. In
some ways this further challenges me because students will often have questions about God and the
Bible and I don't always have the answer! I also work in an environment where that I work
collaboratively with a partner facilitator as we integrate our subjects together for our classes. An area
that I find I am still working on is meeting the needs of all students in an equitable manner. I have
several EL students and students with a disability, and I find that sometimes when building out my
lessons I don't always provide them with the additional supports, such as videos with closed captioning.
This is an area that I continue to work as I identify specific ways to make lessons accessible to all
learners.
Responsive educators who practice reflective critical thinking in their engagements with diverse communities
of learners display:
Responsiveness to the expectations and standards of

the professional community

Responsiveness to conditions that promote learning,
health and personal safety in the P-12 school and

community
Effective communication within the educational
community
Commitment to fair academic practices that ensure all
students can learn

x
x

Responsiveness to the impact of discrimination based

on race, class, gender, disability/exceptionality, sexual
orientation and language on students and their

learning

Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

Page 10
December/2014

Effective time management

Appearance and dressing appropriate for ones

professional setting
Comments regarding your strengths/areas for improvement (Responsive):

When working with coworkers, there are times when communication isn't perfect. This is an area that I
am working to improve by being intentional in scheduling times when we can meet and plan together.
One other area that I am working on is effective time management. When writing curriculum, it is
imperative that deadlines are set and met so that both teachers are on the same page during lessons.
Through intentional planning and effective classroom management, I believe I have created
environments where students are engaged in learning and feel safe.
Informed and collaborative scholarly educators who are dedicated to professional growth and lifelong learning
display:
Commitment to adapting and applying the best

research-based ideas to improve clinical practice

Understanding of current and emerging trends in their

field of practice
Knowledge of standards and expectations of their
discipline through relevant activities and projects in

the program
Ability to apply and communicate current research

effectively in coursework
Ability to synthesize and apply course content,
projects, clinical practice and professional work

Comments regarding candidate strengths/areas for improvement (Informed):

Through my involvement in APU's MA program, I have been able to stay current with educational
technology and implement new technologies into my lessons. I do find that this does require extra time
and effort, and as a new teacher, I find that sometimes technologies aren't always integrated as
effectively as I would like them to be. I know that with further opportunities to teach with new
technologies, I will learn how to better facilitate technology seamlessly into lessons. I am encouraged in
knowing that I have the tools to stay current with emerging technologies through PLNs and EdTech
resources.
Summative Score for Candidate Dispositions:
Additional Comments:

Josiah Wallace
Murrieta Regional Center

EDUC 526 Growth Assessment

Fall II 2014

Page 11
December/2014