Natalie Wolter EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page 1

Murrieta Spring II June/2014

Beginning to Amazing End
Natalie Wolter
EDUC 526: Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Professor: Matthew Hixson
APU Murrieta Regional Center
June 3, 2014
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Section One
Introduction
When I was young I would always play school with my granddad. I would
be the teacher and he would be the student. This is something I remember very
vividly and miss very much. Once I was in high school, I had no idea what I
wanted to be or do. I just knew I had to enroll in classes to stay on my parents
insurance and to not have to pay rent for living at my parents house still. I knew I
needed to go to college and do something but I had no idea what. Then I met my
now husband and he was a teacher. Then it just hit me, playing school with my
granddad when I was young and how much I loved it and that Ive always wanted
to be a teacher. I have always wanted to help children learn and watch them
grow. Then if I married a teacher we would have the best schedule and enjoy our
summers and holidays. I have always loved working with technology and learning
about all the amazing things it can do and how much it can help children learn, I
decided I would enroll in the Digital Teaching M.A. program.
When I began my program, I was a childcare assistant and working as a
para-educator in a kindergarten class. I loved working with the different levels of
students in the childcare program. It was for kindergarteners through fifth graders
and we had a few of each grade. In the afternoon I would help them with their
homework and I really enjoyed the opportunity I would get to teach them with
something they needed help with. Working in the kindergarten class helped me
see what the classroom environment was like and I really loved it. It was amazing
getting to see the kindergarteners start out the first day, crying and scared and
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sad to leave their parents to the last day of school and how much they loved
school and loved coming and how excited they were for everything we got to do
in between. It was the best experience I have had yet with students.
My goals are to finish my Multiple Subject/M.A. program and teach second
or third grade and integrate as much technology as possible to help children
have fun learning and want to come to school to learn. I love finding out all the
fun information about technology we can use in our schools. I would love to see
every child be able to have an iPad at school one day.
Personal Growth
I have learned that I am a very hands on learner. I have to do things
myself to learn them. I loved learning new things on the iPad and being able to
do it myself and figure it out when I didnt get something. I have also learned that
under pressure and deadlines I am able to finish any work. I am a bit of a
procrastinator but I felt I worked better under pressure. I did love working ahead
sometimes and knowing I was already done weeks before it was due, but when
faced with multiple projects I would put aside projects that werent due just yet
and work on the ones that were due first. I found this the best way because I
wouldnt stress about having so much to work one. I would focus on one thing at
a time instead of looking at all the things that had to be done.
I have made many friends through my program. I have a very close friend
that works in a different district and she has mentioned jobs coming up and she
is going to put in my name for me. I have also made many friends that have
helped me along the way as well. We have worked together and helped each
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Murrieta Spring II June/2014
other remember all the projects due and have helped each other complete the
assignments as well. It was a wonderful support system and having them has
helped me a great deal.
I have added a new entry to my spiritual timeline, and it will be God
bringing me to APU and getting me through my credential and masters program
with no question, and getting me through it with no stopping in between. I know it
is because of Him and it is part of His plan for me. The next thing on my timeline
will be getting a teaching job.
The completion of this degree will be a huge step in my life. My family or
me never believed I would keep going on past my bachelors. I always felt school
was not for me and I just wanted to get through and be done and get a job. I
always knew I didnt want to do something I hated my entire life and I knew I
needed at least a bachelors to be able to have a career instead of just a job. I
went straight from my bachelors to my credential and masters program and so
when I finish I will be so pleased that I went straight through without stopping or
taking time off. I see people take time off and try to go back after kids and I see
how hard it is. So I feel blessed that I was able to continue with no stopping.
Professional Growth
I have grown as an educator through my study at APU by learning more
and more about teaching. I have had so many amazing instructors that have
taught me wonderful ways to work with students and how to help all types of
students and make sure no one is left out in learning. My educational vision has
not changed at all. I have always said I wanted to work with third graders and
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Murrieta Spring II June/2014
after working with them during my student teaching, I still would love to work with
them. My goal is still the same. I have taken on becoming the go to person for
technology. Teachers will come to me to ask about new technology to use in the
classroom because they know I am currently being taught all the new things to
be done in classrooms to help learning. I have incorporated strategies from
EDUC 513, which are webquests I learned about. Webquests are awesome fun
ways for students to get to use the computer and do assignments at the same
time. My action research study will be determining if I can get a student the extra
help he needs in resource. He struggles immensely on writing and following
along in class. He takes medicine to help him calm down but he cant stay
focused when he takes them. He stares off a lot and is starting to really fall
behind in class. My question is, does this student qualify for resource?
Technical Growth
My technical prowess was figuring out technology. Hooking things up to
make them work. I knew things such as powerpoint and how to search and find
related content for school subjects. Now, with the help from EDUC 522, I have so
many useful Internet sites and iPad applications that have games and are for
learning and give students the extra help they need. It is also fun for them so
they will work to earn these fun learning games. From EDUC 522, I use
Vocabulary SpellingCity App, which is a spelling game for students. I also use
the cool movie app Pinnacle Studio that I learned about in EDUC 514 as well. I
love using webquests about the Solar System as well. It gets students very
excited and involved.
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Murrieta Spring II June/2014
Life Long Learning Plan
I plan on taking many trainings in the future to help me understand new
curriculum and what is expected in todays schooling. I also plan on always
learning about new technology and the best most effective way to teach students
through technology and whatever helps assist the students in making learning
fun and interesting and keeps them coming back for more. I realize I need to
always stay ontop of technology because it does change so fast. I also realize
that every school district or school will have the necessary tools to work with
technology as I like so I need to be prepared with tools of my own to plan
technology use with. I plan on taking all the possible trainings I can and I plan on
always teaching myself the new technologies out there and finding what works
best with students. I know it is always changing so staying on top of things is very
important. In five years, I see myself working to getting my third grade class that I
have always wanted. I realize I wont get it first thing but the more I work the
closer I will get to completing my goal. I also see myself using more and more
technology in classes and showing students how to use the newest technology
and making sure students are having fun learning. In ten years I finally see
myself completing my goal and having a third grade class. Still making learning
fun for all students and not letting any students fall through the cracks.
Section 2
History of Coursework and Course Evaluation


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Murrieta Spring II June/2014
Name: Term:
Natalie Wolter Spring II 2014

LiveBinder URL:

Course
Course Title &
Instructor Name
Term
Completed
Key Skills Acquired

Comments/Suggestions

EDUC 511
Foundations in Digital
Teaching and Learning
INSTRUCTOR: Joanne
Gilbreath
Fall II 2013
This course focuses
on introducing and
developing
proficiency with the
essential skills
necessary for the
Master of Arts in
Educational
Technology and
Learning. Working in
face-to-face,
synchronous, and
asynchronous
environments,
students utilize a
variety of applications
and skills necessary
for competency in the
program. The
research process is
introduced and begun
in this class along
with each student's
baseline assessment
of his/her own
technology skills and
experiences.
Students explore
philosophy of
education foundations
in order to articulate
their own educational
philosophy and vision
statements.
Helpful with LiveBinder
Nice being able to plan out
the rest of the masters program.
EDUC 512
Instructional Applications
Productivity Software
INSTRUCTOR: Tim Holder
Spring I 2014
Students take the
functional knowledge
of productivity
software and learn
how to implement its
use in instruction and
Very helpful Professor.
Loved learning about the
different ways to use technology.
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Murrieta Spring II June/2014
projects including a
final thematic project
into their own
classroom. The
projects are designed
to match the
California State
Content Standards
and ISTE NETS
standards of their
own grade, and are
appropriate for the
technology
environment in which
the project will be
implemented.
EDUC 514
Digital Video in the
Classroom
INSTRUCTOR: Tim Holder
Fall II 2013
Students are
exposed to basics in
video project
composition.
Activities include
learning how to build
visually effective
shots, how to use
music to enhance the
feel of the
presentation, and
how to create a movie
project that is
designed to keep a
student's attention in
the context of
teaching standards-
based material.
Fun way to learn about videos.
Professor was very passionate
and knew a lot about it.
EDUC 515
Evolving Educational
Technologies
INSTRUCTOR: Lance Martin
Spring II 2014
This course looks at
the evolution of
educational
technologies in their
present and historical
contexts. Students
explore how and why
some technologies
endure while others
do not. Attention is
given to current
technologies and how

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Murrieta Spring II June/2014
they can be
successfully
implemented into the
classrooms in order
to enhance both
teaching and learning
strategies.
EDUC 522
Learning in the 21st
Century
INSTRUCTOR: Lisa
Rodriguez
Spring I 2013
Working with digital
natives requires an
understanding of how
they acquire and
process information.
This course assists
educators in bridging
the gap between
static curriculum and
multi-model
instruction. A key
component of this
course is designing
unit plans that embed
technology and
differentiated
instruction with a
focus on multiple
intelligences and
learning styles to
meet the needs of
todays learners.
Great idea having it before
526. Very helpful and great
Professor as well. Knew a lot.
EDUC 526

Capstone Experience/
Digital Teaching and
Learning
INSTRUCTOR: Matthey
Hixson
Spring II 2014
The primary focus of
this capstone
experience is a
research-designed
interactive portfolio
that showcases skills
and concepts the
student has acquired
in the Educational
Technology and
Learning program.
This program-
culminating course
incorporates each
student's research,
use of applied
software and

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Evaluation of the impact of the Digital Teaching and Learning Program
Webquests, I plan on using many, many webquests in my teaching. I
learned about in EDUC 514 and EDUC 512 as well. It is a great tool to keep
students engaged and having fun and it is an assignment that they have to
complete just like any other assignment that helps their grade but it is fun for
them and it teaches them so many things at once that are not in textbooks or
pictures from textbooks. It is an amazing tool that should be integrated for all
subjects because they are like little games of completion for them and they enjoy
it. It also keeps them on the computer and gets them use to using them and
helps them learn about them as well.
Program Evaluation
My overall experience has been amazing at APU. The Murrieta location I
have heard from others that come from other locations, are the nicest, friendliest
people I have come in contact with. They know who I am and always greet me
with smiles and welcomes. I love that this was my home location and I got to take
all of my courses here because they were always so wonderful and helpful. They
educational
technology, a growth
assessment,
comprehensive
portfolio, and an oral
defense. This course
must be taken at the
end of the program,
and passed in order
to meet the final
requirements for the
master's degree.
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always asked about my schooling and how I was doing. The professors as well
have been amazing, very patient and helpful. They have always been willing to
work with peoples schedules and seem like they are there to honestly help us
out rather than bring us down or tell us we just arent getting it. I have seen them
do amazing things with other classmates and myself. It has honestly been a
wonderful experience and I would recommend all of my friends to check out APU
for furthering their education goals.
The strengths of the credential program are the teachers. The teachers,
especially Mary Riley and Kathy Johnson, are so knowledgeable and helpful.
They were very hands on and did not teach us by powerpoints every night but
actually doing stuff with us. Mary even held class one night in her own classroom
so we could actually see what she does and what works for her as a teacher.
They always told us personal experiences that I still remember to this day and
probably will never forget. They have helped us in preparing for jobs and
interviews and have given us all they can to help. A weakness I noticed was the
communication with a new technology, Taskstream. Everyone, even Professors,
were all confused and couldnt really help students because them themselves
needed assistance on what APU wanted or was looking for. I do understand it
was new and upcoming so hopefully everything gets worked out and it can go a
lot smoother for both teachers and students.
This program has been absolutely amazing and I have loved every minute
of it.