Master's of Educational Technology Showcase
Below you will find descriptions and samples of my MAET and personal work that, in the process of completing each assignment, helped shape me into the teacher, writer, and technology leader I am today.
Teacher Showcase
In my Teacher Showcase, I chose to include my Literacy Case Study, Grammar Lesson Demonstration, Moving Beyond Expression Mini-Lesson, and Writer's Notebook Instructional Video since they showcase the variety of ways I approach and execute lessons in the classroom. The samples below include graphic organizers, modeling, educational theory, several educational texts, Writer's Notebooks, technology, and much more.
Literacy Case StudyFor the case study in my literacy class (TE 846), I chose to focus on an ELL (English Language Learner) student who lacked motivation to write. In order to increase this motivation, I met with the student one-on-one several times, and using both graphic organizers and modeling, the student's writing improved. View the project below or click on the "Literacy Case Study" button to view the pdf-version of the project.
Moving Beyond Expression Mini-LessonKelly Gallagher's Write Like This is definitely one of those books I plan to keep on a shelf near my desk for easy access while lesson planning a writing unit. The first unit I teach to freshmen is the Personal Narrative Unit, so, while planning, I opened the book to Chapter Two, titled "Express and Reflect". In this chapter, Gallagher discusses the difference between "Expression" and "Reflection". He states, "The best writing comes when a student blends the two- when she expresses her thoughts about her parents' divorce and transitions into what this experience has taught her. Good reflective writing moves beyond recounting the past; it brings new insight to the writer". He then goes on to discuss how to move students beyond expressive writing. Since my students have always struggled with reflective writing, I am looking forward to implementing Gallagher's ideas into my classroom. View my Gallagher-inspired mini-lesson below or click the button to download the PDF version.
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Grammar Lesson DemonstrationDuring the Red Cedar Writing Project Summer Institute, I provided my cohort with a grammar demonstration, specifically focusing on compound sentences. My contentions were as follows: Grammar should be taught “intentionally” and “daily” (Jeff Anderson), grammar should be taught as a means of improving student writing (Jeff Anderson), grammar should be taught through the viewing and modeling of good examples (Kelly Gallagher), grammar should be taught through both “simulation” and “integration” (Kelly Gallagher), and assessments need to include open-ended questions, questions that “require reflection” on the part of the learner (Punya Mishra). Below you will find my presentation, lesson plan, materials, cohort feedback, and personal reflection.
Writer's Notebook Setup Instructional VideoPrior to reading Jeff Anderson's Mechanically Inclined, I always thought a Writer's Notebook was a simple notebook in which students use to write, and my department was definitely under the same impression. Through the Red Cedar Writing Project Summer Institute, however, I have learned that a Writer's Notebook is actually the "repository, the organizer, the placeholder, the idea catcher, the canvas to experiment and create on, the place to be wrong and to be wrong boldly", and I cannot wait to introduce this concept to both my coworkers and students. Click "play" below to view my instructional video on how to go about setting up a Writer's Notebook in my classroom.
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Writer Showcase
In my Writer Showcase, I chose to include my first, ever front-page story as a journalist and essay explaining why I believe writing is necessary. Unlike the Teacher Showcase that solely lends itself to the classroom setting, the Writer Showcase serves as both professional and personal inspiration for me. I look forward to adding to this section as I experiment with different genres of writing in the future.
First Front-Page Story in The Oakland PressIn 2012, I applied and was selected by the Michigan Press Association as one of six journalism teachers in Michigan to complete a four-week internship at a professional publication; I was placed at The Oakland Press. During that month, I wrote, photographed, and/or videotaped over 35 stories, many of which were featured on the front page. Prior to completing this internship, I was not keen on sharing my own writing to students since I lacked confidence in my ability to write. The story below was my first-ever front pager. Similar to how my students feel while writing about unfamiliar topics for others' eyes to see, I was absolutely terrified to interview, research, write, and submit this story. I often use this story to not only prove to students that they are not alone in their fear, but also how to best approach writing about unfamiliar topics.
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Why I Need to Write EssayFor every text we read during the four-week Red Cedar Writing Project Summer Institute, we were asked to respond using MAPS (a rhetorical acronym for Mode, Audience, Purpose, and Situation). After reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, I chose to write an essay titled "Why I Need to Write" (Mode) to myself (Audience) that will convince me to keep writing (Purpose) since I tend to place writing low on my priority list even though I place high value on it (Situation). View the final essay below or click the button to download the PDF version.
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Technology Leader Showcase
A Technology Leader Showcase is not something I envisioned creating when I originally applied to the MAET program since I never truly considered myself a leader, let alone a digital one. However, through the DreamIT Project, the Technology Conference in Galway, and creating both a digital story and flipped-classroom unit, all of which exist below, I have gained so much more knowledge and confidence in this area that I cannot wait to share everything I learned with colleagues both in and out of my school.
DreamIT ProjectWhile in Galway, I created a "DreamIT" (Dream Instructional Technology) proposal where I was asked to focus on an objective (correctly placing commas in compound and complex sentences and explaining the placement), how it needed to be taught in order to yield learning (using "The Magic Lens" and a SMART Board), and what my learners would already be able to contribute. I now encourage my coworkers to consider their technology "dreams" using this thought process. Click the button below to view the full project from my CEP 800 course.
Digital Writing with Personal NarrativesOne of the district-required MAISA (Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators) Units for ninth grade is the Personal Narrative Unit. The summative assessment is a typed, personal narrative, and although this is mandatory, this unit lends itself well to the implementation of video texts, too. According to Troy Hicks, the author of Crafting Digital Writing, "Video texts may be the form of digital writing many of us need to learn to convey information in the twenty-first century". With that said, in order to confidently introduce this idea to my PLT (Professional Learning Team) to consider adding video texts to this unit, during the four-week Red Cedar Writing Project Summer Institute, I created my own digital story (using iMovie) based on a personal narrative I wrote about my niece. I plan to use this as a model for my PLT, as well as my students. Click "play" to view my digital story.
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Presentation Session at Tech. Conference in GalwayIn the CEP 815 class in Galway, we were asked to plan, advertise, and host a public, technology conference. For the conference, my peers and I constructed and held a session on giving good presentations. Click play below to view our presentation.
Presentations that WOW from Holly Kopp on Vimeo. Flipped Classroom UnitIn Spring 2014, I took my first-ever online course (CEP 820), and coincidentally, it taught me how to construct and implement my own course unit online. For this class, I decided to create an Informational Essay Writing Unit for my freshmen, which is a Common Core State Standard requirement in my school district, using the flipped-classroom format. The creation of this unit enhanced my curiosity concerning flipped classrooms, so I attended a "Flipped Workshop" through Oakland Schools. Since then, I have created and taught several "flipped" lessons and encouraged coworkers to do the same. Click the button below and then the "Info. Essay" tab to view my "flipped" Informational Essay Writing Unit.
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