Growth Assessmentfinal

Pamela Marks 526 Growth Assessment Page: 1
Murrieta Campus Summer 2014 6/2014

A Teacher Must Always Continue To Learn
Pam Marks
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Educational Technology and Learning
Dr. Joanne Gilbreath
Murrieta Campus
http://pamelamarksthespot.weebly.com/
July 7, 2014
SECTION ONE:
Introduction
The year 1993 was filled with life-changing events for me. I packed up my life, moved away
from my family and started my first teaching job. I was fortunate to be placed in a kindergarten
position and shared a classroom with a veteran teacher. She guided me not only through my
first year of teaching but also became my mentor. From the very first days, she was adamant
that I continue my education and pursue a masters degree. I was trying to survive and she was
trying to plan my future. All the while, Gods plan for my life continued to unfold.
During this first year, I met a fellow teacher who would soon become my husband. We were
married and we decided to have him begin his journey to earn his Masters Degree in
Administration through Azusa Pacific University. Soon we started a family and I began working
part-time, so I could spend time with our growing boys. I eventually took a leave of absence to
fulfill a deep desire to be a stay at home mom for a few years. My education plans would be on
hold, but I always knew I would return to school one day.
In 2008, my husband had been a principal for several years and our boys were busy at school all
day. Again, Gods plan continued to reveal itself to me when a job share position became
available at the same site I left a few years before. Familiar faces, comfortable halls and


classrooms. I felt like I was home again. Since then, I have returned to the classroom full time
teaching kindergarten and adapting to the changes in the teaching profession. August 2012, life
would again bring great changes. I decided to begin my journey to earn my masters degree.
We researched various schools and felt as though Azusa Pacific would provide the academic
excellence, convenient location, and spiritual component I was hoping to find. I selected the
Educational Technology and Learning program to challenge me. This was an area of my
professional life in which I lacked experience and was most unsure of myself. My goals for
pursuing my masters degree were fundamental. I wanted to broaden my understanding of how
to best use the most recent technology in my classroom. In addition, I desired to overcome one
of my greatest limitations in working with technology, troubleshooting. I wanted to gain tools
that would enable me to solve problems I might encounter. Such problems were currently
preventing me from using technology with my students. So I began my educational adventure
at Azusa nervously but determined to learn new skills. All the while, Gods plan for my life
would bring more change. Two days before the school year began; I was involuntarily moved to
a third grade position. Completely overwhelmed and my head spinning, I progressed ahead
embracing the changes, taking on day at a time.
Personal Growth
I clearly recall a statement made by a master teacher during my student teaching experience
over 20 years ago. As a teacher when you stop learning, stop teaching. This still has a
powerful impact on me in this phase of my life. Even as I complete my Master degree in
Educational Technology and Learning, I must continue to learn.
I have learned a lot about myself as an adult student through this program. In most areas of my
life, I am a detailed planner. The assignments and projects in my coursework have proven to be
no exception. I am most definitely not a last minute, working under a deadline, pushing to the
last minute type of student or teacher for that matter. I know that when technology is involved,
I need time to think through the process and be able to see and do it before I understand. This


was one of the primary reasons I initially chose Azusa Pacific University, rather than a
completely online program. I require a hands on learning experience to learn effectively.
I have gained a renewed appreciation for my teaching position during the last two years. Week
after week, I would sit in my classes in the evening next to people just starting their career in
the teaching profession. More times than not, classmates have been hopefully unemployed.
Their optimism and excitement about one day having their own classroom has been an
inspiration. In turn, I would like to think I have been a small inspiration to those around me.
With Gods strength, I have made it through this program. I mean this most sincerely and
whole-heartedly. At times, I have been utterly overwhelmed with being a full time wife and
mom, a full time teacher and in graduate school. Yet with each challenge, I have been able to
preserve. My own two teenage boys have commented on how hard I work and have taken
notice of the pride I take in all that I am given to do. I believe they have adopted that work ethic
for themselves. Children learn by example, and it has been my desire that my boys see my
struggle and determination. I often reflect on Colossians 3:23 which tells us that Whatever you
do, work heartily for the Lord.) On several occasions during the last two years, my oldest son
and I have mutually encouraged each other; as I have worked on a project for this program and
he studied for his AP classes. It has brought a new level of appreciate for one another.
As I complete this program I have assuredly learned many new skills. I have noticed a
confidence that has grown as I have progressed through my classes. I am now able and willing
to bring new technology to my students and a desire to share with my colleagues. As our state
fully transitions to the common core standards, this will prove to be an asset. There are a
multitude of apps and programs available that can foster and support the rigors of the common
core. Collaboration is a necessity and incorporating meaningful uses of technology is a must.
More practically, I am also looking forward to progressing on the pay scale in my district. As I
look towards the years ahead, college tuition for my two sons will be more reasonably attained
with the addition to my salary.
Professional Growth


During the past two years as I have worked my way through my program, I have also had to
simultaneously learn and teach a new set of curriculum. Through first year I was learning the
fundamentals of the Education Technology program as I was trying to stay afloat in my
classroom. I was more or less in survival mode. This past year, I have noticed a significant
difference. I have been much more willing to try something new with my students. I set specific
goals for my teaching in math and writing that have been greatly beneficial for my students. I
have used online resources, (websites for research and topic based YouTube videos) and
increased time for my students to use the computer labs and iPads. Looking back at my
Educational Vision statement from EDUC 511, one of my goals was to strive to provide them
with experiences with technology that is inspiring, appropriate and challenging. I believe I have
given my students opportunities that are appropriate (skills practice and keyboarding skills) and
inspiring (explaining QR codes and demonstrating augmented reality). I will continue to search
for elements that will challenge my students and allow me to differentiate for all of the children
that are in my class.
This past year I was asked to be the leader for my third grade team. This afforded me
opportunities to facilitate meetings with my teammates and be part of the decision making
process for our school. I found it especially interesting as we prepared to test the test (SBAC
test) this past April. As reported by colleagues, most teachers voiced concerns regarding the
upcoming online testing. Surprisingly, even with their apprehension, I was the only teacher that
had their students logon to practice tests during school and give them opportunities to become
comfortable with the new test format. It also helped me to know what to expect and address
some of the technological challenges that my students would encounter. In addition, as the
leadership team, we were helping to make decisions about online test preparation, placement
location of wireless HUBS for our site to prepare for testing using iPads, as well as new online
ELD programs to pilot for next year. It has been a great time to be a part of this group with so
much change and technology coming our way. I hope to continue in this position for the
upcoming school year.


There are several instructional strategies I learned in this program that I have already
incorporated into my classroom lessons and activities. In EDUC 522, I learned ways to meet the
needs of my students by focusing on the multiple intelligences. After many years of teaching,
this I found this an interesting way to think about lesson planning and grouping of students.
This class also showed me methods to enhance my lessons with technology, which has allowed
me to refresh some of my lessons for my solar system unit. I have brought in the use of iPads
and science apps that gave my students time to explore data and view the most current space
discoveries. I also produced a video in EDUC 514 to introduce my class to our solar system unit.
It truly motivated them! I am amazed how some video clips and good music can inspire. I
created another video in this class to pre-teach vocabulary for our annual field trip to the Santa
Rosa Plateau Reserve. This year I will offer this video to my teammates to share with their
classes as we prepare. My hope is to take the video editing skills I learned and continue to
create content relevant video clips for my students. Another useful teaching tool I have
implemented as I learned it was to create interactive presentations. For an assignment in EDUC
524, I constructed an interactive PowerPoint. I selected the math standard for rounding to the
nearest 10 to focus on as this is sometimes a tricky skill. When it was completed I had many of
my students who needed to review this skill work their way through the presentation
independently. I will be using this tool again in the future. The creation of the presentations
maybe time consuming, but the benefits are great and worth the time. I also took this
interactive PowerPoint and used parts of it to design a flipped classroom lesson for EDUC 525.
Combining the skills I acquired in these two classes have allowed me to create meaningful
activities for remediation and lessons for absent students.
One of the things in all of my classes that I found essential was time management and setting
goals for myself. As a result, I placed quite an emphasis on this with my students this year. I had
my student track and manage their Accelerated Reading points. We also talked throughout the
year about setting personal goals and had a display during the year to celebrate meeting our
goals. The goal I set for myself was to sign up and run a race in 2014. A few weeks ago, at the
end of the school year, I was one in my classroom that had not met their goal. I told my


students that sometimes it takes longer to reach our goals and I would continue to work
towards that goal. So when it came time to determine my topic for my Action Research Project
for EDUC 526, the choice was simple.
My Action Research Project topic will help me continue to strive towards the personal goal I set
in my classroom. Through this project I will investigate ways to help me develop consistency in
my exercise routine. My plan will include three key factors: alternating workout (running and
walking), getting a buddy, and designing and following a weekly workout schedule. I will
research and record data for 3 weeks.
Research Question: Are my three factors for success, alternating the activity, enlisting a buddy,
and following a schedule been a positive influence on building a consistent exercise routine?
Technical Growth
This is the area that I have seen the most growth as a result of this program. Both in attitude
and skills, I have changed what I know and believe to be true. Two years ago I avoided dealing
with technology. If something wouldnt work properly, I gave up and often skipped the activity.
I lacked the ability and patience to troubleshoot. I felt like I would always have to ask for help. It
was a joke of sorts between my husband and me. I would ask him how he always seemed to
know how to fix my technology woes, and he would simply say, I just push buttons. Perhaps
that is where my apprehension stemmed fromI was afraid to just push buttons. I was worried
that if I did, I would break something. When I decided to pursue a Masters Degree in
Educational Technology and Learning, I knew at times I would be uncomfortable and a little
embarrassed about my limited skills. I saw this as an opportunity for change. This change would
broaden my skill base and provide me with a new confidence to problem solve. I find it hard to
pinpoint one class in particular that brought this change, but perhaps a little bit of each of the
twelve courses in my program. As I learned new skills, my confidence grew. In the beginning,
EDUC 512 introduced me to many of the basic skills I was lacking. This helped me understand
how to use an iPad and other computers. EDUC 515 built on these skills and took the mystery
out of blogs. Before this class I did not know the difference between a blog and a website. I had


followed several teacher blogs in recent years and now Ive learned how they were created. As I
was introduced to Weebly, I saw how easy it would be to one day to create both. I progressed
through some of the video and imaging classes EDUC 517 and EDUC 514 and I learned how to
edit photos and produce videos. These projects showed me what was possible and gave me the
tools I would need to create resources for my classroom. Before these classes, I believed what I
would create was beyond me skill set and ability and now was attainable. In EDUC 519 and
EDUC 524 I was shown more ideas I could use to improve my instruction. I generated
interactive projects in these classes that have added the element of interactivity for my
students when using technology. It has given me a new method of communicating with
students and their families. I also have a new instrument for assessing the needs of my
students. In my most recent classes, EDUC 522, EDUC 525 and EDUC 527 I began to piece my
skills and confidence together. In the projects assigned for these courses I was able to directly
apply what I learned and focus back on my own classroom of students. I enjoyed creating a
technology rich/multiple intelligence solar system unit, and class website and a class blog for
my third graders. I was encouraged to create with the intent to use in my classroom in the
majority of my classes at Azusa Pacific. This, for me, has made the skills I have learned
applicable and the tasks worthwhile.
This program has had a great influence on my teaching and I have introduced a variety of
technology into my lessons and classroom. The greatest addition would be the class website
and blog in Weebly I created during EDUC classes 515, 525, 527. These are truly the culmination
of all that I have learned in this program. I will go into more detail of the significance of this
project in Section Two of this paper. At my school site each class has the opportunity to use a
set of iPads a few times a week. I have integrated the fundamental skills I learned in EDUC 512
and the many of the apps presented in EDUC 522 to make the time my students use the iPads
more meaningful and productive. Other programs that I have found especially helpful with
lesson design and planning are PowerPoint and Prezi in EDUC 524 and 525, Screen Capture with
Camtasia and iMovie in EDUC 514. Finally, a simple and entertaining activity for students I have
added is summarizing key facts by creating a Wordle word display as I did in EDUC 513. These


are only a few of my most favorite forms of technology that I have already incorporated into my
teaching thus far.
Technical growth is where I would award myself most improved. Whether it is new skills,
understandings, hardware, apps or software, I am now in a different place and have stretched
my knowledge. This program has also had a direct application to my family life. What I have
learned has allowed me to stay up to date on technology my own teenagers are exposed to and
work with at school. Before, I was more unaware and perhaps ignorant. What I have gained has
made me a better parent, more creative teacher and a stronger teammate. I have come from a
place of being timid and insecure about technology to a point where I am willing to attempt
new things with my students and share with my colleagues. Even if I have to just push
buttons to get the result I desire.
Life Long Learning Plan
The field of technology is ever-changing. Programs are updated and hardware is redesigned
constantly. Therefore, I will continue to learn if I am to be effective and knowledgeable with my
newly acquired skills. If I were to stop with what I know, I will most assuredly be back to where I
was before I started this program, timid and unsure of my abilities in no time at all. In order to
proceed forward, I have set a few goals for myself. I like to think of them as My Goals for
Growth. First goal is in my classroom. I will strive to bring a new form of technology to my
students each month. This will begin with my classroom website and blog. The first month of
school I will introduce my new group of students to the website and teach them how to best
utilize what I have made available for them. Homework assignments, additional skills practice
pages and content standard videos will only be a start. As they begin to use the website on a
regular basis, I will be motivated to keep it up to date and add new content. I plan to introduce
many of the other forms of technology I have used during this program to enhance their
learning experience. A few of the first few I hope to use are Symbaloo, Quizlet, Padlet, Google
forms, Haiku Deck, and Kahootit. Each will be planned strategically to enrich students learning
experiences.


Beyond my classroom as my next Goal for Growth, I will continue to follow some of the
technology teacher blogs that I have discovered. New ones will be added that have been
recommended by professors in this program. One blog in particular that I find easily applicable
and simple to understand is http://www.technologyrocksseriously.com/. The author is
consistently sharing free apps for children and other fantastic information that I feel as though I
able to confidently apply to my teaching. My third Goal for Growth will be to attend the CUE
conference next March. I went several years ago and was completely overwhelmed by what I
encountered. After completing this program, a feel a little better prepared to learn and absorb
what CUE has to offer. I anticipate feelings of incredulousness but to lesser degree than last
time. If I am able to bring five things away from the CUE conference and find a way to put them
in action in my classroom and or site, I will consider it a success.
As for the future, time will reveal what God has for me next. Professionally, I am looking
forward to setting new teaching goals for myself for the coming school year. Incorporating
technology will definitely have its place and I believe Language Arts will also be my focus. I have
been asked to be a master teacher by my principal for the upcoming school year as well. With
this program completed, I will have more time available to best support student teachers and
look forward to having that opportunity. Personally, I have been working on this masters
degree for the last two years. My family has been a solid support and continual source of
encouragement. Now it is time to redirect my focus on getting my two sons ready for their own
college experiences. Three years ago, I would have never believed that I would be completing a
Masters Degree in Educational Technology and Learning. So the future beyond this next school
year is a challenge for me to imagine, but I will remain open and eagerly anticipate what God
will teach me next.


SECTION TWO:
History of Coursework and Course Evaluation
Name:

Term:
Pamela Marks

Summer 2014

Weebly
Portfolio
URL:
http://pamelamarksthespot.weebly.com/
Course
Course Title
Instructor
Term
Completed
Key Skills Acquired Comments/Suggestions
EDUC
511
Foundations in
Digital Teaching
and Learning

INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer
Courduff
Fall
2012

PowerPoint

The instructor was a great deal of
support as I began this new journey. I
had very little experience with
technology and I was assured that I had
made the correct selection of programs.
EDUC
512
Instructional
Applications
Productivity
Software

INSTRUCTOR:
Jim Sullivan
Fall
2012

iPad and computer
fundamentals,
learning how to
create a web quest

This class was helpful as I purchased an
iPad. It gave me the basic skills I would
need to use it during this program.
EDUC
513
Digital Aged
Literacies

INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer
Courduff
Fall
2012
Creating lessons for
classrooms with
varying levels of
technology, using
Wordle, and
Livebinder
The main assignment in this class
challenged me to find ways to use
technology with a purpose. I found it
extremely useful to have to create
lessons to maximize learning with the
amount of technology available.


introduction.
EDUC
517
Digital Imaging

INSTRUCTOR:
Matt Hixson
Spring 2013

Photo editing using
Photoshop and
Photoshop
Elements
This class gave me the skills to edit my
own photos at home and classroom. We
had recently purchased Photoshop
Elements, Premier and Illustrator for my
son, and this gave me the opportunity to
learn how to use the basics. The
instructor provided differentiated
resources for each level of ability in the
class, which was greatly appreciated!
EDUC
522
Learning in the
21st Century

INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer
Courduff
Spring 2014
Creating lessons to
meet the needs of
all the multiple
intelligences and
learning styles.
Incorporating
meaningful
technology with
numerous apps and
software.

This class challenged the way I currently
teach. I began to look at each of my
students closer to determine the best
way that they learn and how to provide
engaging lessons for them.
EDUC
514
Digital Video in
the Classroom

INSTRUCTOR:
Tory Temple
Summer
2013
Recording and
editing video and
audio with iMovie,
Camtastia and
Audacity
This class gave me the hands-on
experience of producing video. I was
able to create several videos I can
immediately use with my class.
EDUC Evolving Spring 2013
Uploading This class took away the mystery of


515 Educational
Technologies

INSTRUCTOR:
Lance Martin
documents, audio
and video to
Weebly, Animoto,
Prezi,
websites and blogs. This class sparked a
desire and provided the essential skills
to create a site for my own students.
EDUC
524
Curriculum
Design and
Delivery

INSTRUCTOR:
Joanne
Gilbreath
Fall
2013
Creating interactive
presentations with
PowerPoint
including audio,
hyperlinks for an
online lesson

This class helped me to better
understand the underlying structure and
complexity of interactive presentations.
This helped me to begin creating flipped
lessons for my students.
EDUC
525
Web Design for
the Classroom

INSTRUCTOR:
Linda
Muhlhauser
Spring 2014
Creating a website
including using:
HTML code,
numerous apps and
software. Creating
a flipped classroom
lesson.

This class was where I put all had
learned in the past two years to use. The
assignments were quite challenging, but
I believe I learned the most in this class
throughout my masters program.
EDUC
519
Document
Design for the
Classroom

INSTRUCTOR:
Matt Hixson
Fall
2013

Google drive,
creating a video in
iMovie from slides
in Power Point. We
also learned how to
organize a portfolio
for the upcoming
capstone class.
This class played a pivotal role in my
program. It was in this class that I began
to have a clear understanding what the
capstone class would involve. I wish I
had taken this class earlier in my
program to provide me with a better
direction and focus throughout.


EDUC
527
Emerging
Topics in
Technology

INSTRUCTOR:
Tory Temple
Spring 2014
Creating a
classroom website
and blog using
Weebly. Specifically
making an archive
of homework
assignments.
This class allowed me to take what I
have learned in this program and make it
useful to me and my classroom. I
appreciate the freedom of direction and
the guidance that was provided.
EDUC
527
Emerging
Topics in
Technology

INSTRUCTOR:
Tory Temple
Summer
2014
Creative a video
archive of Science
topics for my
classroom using
Torch browser and
Weebly.
This class gave me a purpose to create
an invaluable resource for my classroom.
It stretched my skills to try something
that intimated me at first, but will prove
to be a skill I use time and time again
with the curriculum I teach.
EDUC
526
Capstone
Experience/
Digital Teaching
and Learning

INSTRUCTOR:
Joanne
Gilbreath
Summer
2014
Action research
Plan, revisiting each
of my classes and
assignments
throughout the
program.
This class has afforded me the
opportunity to reflect on how far I have
come. It has allowed me to focus on my
newly acquired skills and determine how
I will best use them in the immediate
future.


Evaluation of the impact of the Educational Technology and Learning Program
The class website I created during Spring 2 in EDUC 525 is a culminating display of what I have
learned throughout this program. As I progressed through my coursework, I was hoping to
attain the skills and confidence needed to establish a website for my students to use. I find it
surprising and a bit embarrassing that none of the teachers at my school site have a class
website. I will be thrilled to be this first. I spent a great deal of time researching, planning and
organizing the layout and content. I wanted the site to be filled with useful information and
resources for both students and parents. I felt completely prepared by my programs
assignments and projects to build what I imagined using Weebly. I am very proud of the results
and look forward to revealing it to my students, their families, and colleagues come August.
Many of my professors emphasized that a website should have elements that are static and
others that require frequent updates. Homework is a section that will need weekly updates. I
learned how to quickly upload my weekly homework calendar to the website. Students will
then be able to download homework assignments that I have started to archive on the site if
they are absent or lose a handout from class. I feel this strategy will help to build independence
and responsibility in my students. I have gathered several of the video and audio projects I have
created specifically with third grade standards in mind. There are also YouTube videos selected
for each of the multiplication families for practice and remediation at home as needed. As I
learned strategies to design activities for the various learning styles blended with technology, I
sought to compile a list of educational websites for third graders. The program Symbaloo
provided a great avenue for these resources. I am currently working on creating another facet
to this website. As a part of my EDUC 527 project, I am establishing a collection of science
videos using the browser Torch. This will enable me to have videos ready to use for in class
lessons and for extension activities relating to specific science topics. I will house these on my
website and make them available to students as we begin the corresponding unit.
As I continue to expand my knowledge and use of technology in my classroom, I anticipate
adding more elements to my class website. For now, this is an amazing starting point.


I believe http://pammarksthespot.weebly.com/ is evidence of my hard work through the
Educational Technology and Learning program and a tribute to teachings of my professors at
Azusa Pacific University. I am delighted at the overall result and feel completely capable and
well equipped to maintain, troubleshoot and make additions as I learn of new and exciting
technology I can bring to my students.
Program Evaluation
The overall experience at Azusa Pacific University has been positive. The process of beginning the
program was welcoming and staff members were ready to help and support. Registering for classes
online was simple and easy to use. Attending my face to face class meetings at the Murrieta campus
has be convenient, safe and comfortable. All professors were knowledgeable, flexible and made a
sincere effort to make projects and assignments meaningful. The workload in all classes was
manageable for students working full time during the day. Expectations for quality of work and grade
were clearly communicated by the instructor in all classes except one. All professors differentiated class
content and assignments for the varying levels of skills and experiences.
There are a few aspects of this masters program and Azusa Pacific University that could be
strengthened to improve the student experience. For a Christian university, the spiritual element was
limited to only a few occasions in 3 of the 12 classes. My husband earned his masters degree from APU
in 1997. He mentioned that during his program, each class would open with prayer. This had a
significant impact on the focus, direction and interactions in classes. A few of my professors offered to
pray for students and referred to scripture, while in other classes, any sense of spirituality was absent. I
would have enjoyed having a stronger sense of Christian values and shared exchanges.
One feature of this masters program I found challenging has been an inconsistency in the submission
and collection of assignments. One class we used Sakai, another Taskstream, yet others utilized Weebly,
Canvas, Gmail and hardcopy to the instructor. This provided me with a breathe of knowledge but lacked
a depth of understanding. I would have preferred to have one or two collection formats throughout the
program rather than having to relearn a new format each term.
Lastly, one piece of my experience at Azusa Pacific University that has been a great source of frustration
for me was the difficulties I encountered when trying to use this wireless access at the Murrieta


campuses. I attended both sites in Murrieta, on Los Almos Road and the one on Murrieta Hot Springs
Road. In both facilities I was unable to logon with my laptop on a consistent basis in all of my classes.
After speaking with two individuals in the tech department, I finally gave up using my laptop and used
my iPad to participate with in class activities.
I have enjoyed attending Azusa Pacific University the last two years. Each day I recognize new
technology skills that I have blended into my life at home and at work. I complete this masters program
with more confidence in my knowledge, a greater desire to lean and expand my skills, and an
excitement to find new ways to enhance my lessons with technology for my students.

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Pamela Marks 526 Growth Assessment Page: 1

Murrieta Campus Summer 2014 6/2014

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