My MSU Journey

This is an essay where I reflect on how my master’s program has influenced my thinking as a whole.

My MSU Journey

Throughout the reflections I made in this portfolio, I considered my past goals, my future ambitions, and my personal growth. In this essay, I will discuss how all of these elements came together to shape who I am today during my time in the MAED (Master of Arts in Education) program. I began my journey right after the COVID pandemic with the goal of integrating new technologies that I hoped to learn through the program into my teaching career. Despite having a clear professional objective, I faced numerous personal challenges and obstacles along the way. These included moving between states three times (from California to Arizona, back to California, and finally to Texas), experiencing a miscarriage, and balancing my work and home life while adjusting to new environments. This led me to complete my master’s degree over four years with an extension. Throughout this journey, there is no doubt that I gained extensive knowledge of educational technology at Michigan State University. However, I also learned invaluable life skills, such as perseverance and determination, which I hope to instill and teach my students. These experiences collectively helped me grow as a person, educator, and teacher. While all the courses I took contributed to my development, I want to highlight three specific courses that significantly impacted my professional career: CEP 820, CEP 805, and ED 870. (You can visit my annotated transcript page for more information.)

CEP 820: Teaching Students Online

The first course that had a significant impact on me was CEP 820: Teaching Students Online. I took this course in the Summer of 2021, right after the COVID pandemic, and it was my first course at Michigan State University. I am glad this was my initial course because it provided me with a clear understanding of what online learning should look like. This course focused on how to properly structure a classroom in online environments and emphasized the importance of course organization, enabling students to easily navigate and understand the material without hindering their learning. (You can look at the Google Classroom virtual online class here, which I created as a final project for this course).

The course also encouraged me to consider the individual needs of my students and incorporate essential features to help them succeed. This led me to create videos for each lesson, explaining what we would learn each day and providing tutorials on the technologies used in the online course. Throughout this process, I learned so many different technologies that I was not previously aware of, including Loom (a video messaging tool for recording and sharing video messages) and Google Read & Write (an assistive technology tool that supports individuals with learning difficulties to improve their reading and writing skills).

Initially, I wondered about the relevance of these tools now that we are back to teaching in person after the COVID pandemic. However, I have come to realize that these tools can also be used to extend and support the needs of my students both in and outside the classroom, allowing them access whenever and wherever they go. This upcoming year, I want to use Loom videos to record myself explaining difficult concepts that my students struggle with in the classroom so they can watch, pause, and replay the explanations as needed. I also want to use Google Read&Write for students who struggle with reading and writing in the classroom, ensuring that these challenges do not affect their comprehension of the text—an important skill to learn, especially at the grade level I teach.

To be honest, it will be a lot of work, but I remind myself that nothing worthwhile is easy and recall the quote I have in my portfolio: “All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.”

CEP 805: Learning Mathematics with Technology

The second course I want to highlight is CEP 805: Learning Mathematics with Technology. I took this course as an elective in the Spring of 2024 because I love math, and it significantly changed my mindset about learning and teaching math. My love for learning math is not the same as teaching math, and this course not only deepened my understanding of each unit standard in math—topics that, truthfully, we never really get a chance to discuss as a team at school—but also focused on various pedagogical approaches to teaching math using technology.

Reading a variety of articles that supported different teaching methods opened my eyes to the importance of creativity and fun in math education. One pedagogy that stood out to me was the concept of play as a way for learners to engage with math content. Traditionally, students often learn through textbooks or worksheets while sitting at their desks, which can lead to disengagement and a loss of interest in math. In contrast, incorporating play into mathematics involves integrating playful activities and games into math lessons to make learning more engaging and interactive for students. This approach fosters curiosity, imagination, and enjoyment in activities not typically associated with traditional math learning.

I have to say that this course was my favorite out of all the courses I have taken – not just because math is my favorite subject, but because I had fun while learning at the same time. The feeling that I had is what I want my students to feel while they are learning in my classroom. During the course, I had the opportunity to create a unit lesson plan centered on play. Although I didn't have the chance to test or incorporate this lesson into my classroom due to timing issues, I am excited to use what I learned with my new students in the upcoming year.

Another takeaway from this course, as I mentioned in my goal reflection essay and in my course reflection, was that educational technologies are not just tools or apps found online; they are also any objects around us that can be used to explore and learn, including simple items like pencils and paper. It is my job as a teacher to use my knowledge of content and teaching to maximize the use of available technologies to enrich learning for all students, regardless of where I am. With the knowledge and insights gained from this course, I hope to bring curiosity, imagination, and enjoyment to my students in the classroom—not only in math, but in everything we do.

ED870: Capstone Seminar

Lastly, the third course that influenced my learning experience at MSU was ED870: Capstone Seminar, my final class. This course provided me with an opportunity to reflect on all I have learned throughout my studies and to organize my thoughts and creations to effectively communicate with others. Most importantly, I appreciate how the professors helped me realize the changes I have undergone and the shift in my learning by encouraging me to revisit my previous work from completed courses. To be honest, while reviewing assignments from earlier courses, I was surprised to rediscover some of the work I had completely forgotten. Reading through the notes and feedback from previous instructors helped me see how far I’ve come since I started, and I really appreciated how they pushed me to become a better version of myself as a learner.

Another part that I really value about ED870 is the development of this final portfolio, which has been reviewed by both peers and the instructor. It highlights my identity as an individual, teacher, and educator. The consistent and purposeful use of Flip and Slack for class communication has fostered a sense of connection and community. Every time a new module is assigned, I eagerly anticipate observing my classmates' design changes and the evolution of their creations. This course beautifully tied everything together, highlighting my educational experience at MSU. Through this course, I am reminded again of the importance of reflection as an opportunity for growth. I am excited to incorporate weekly reflections in my classroom to help my students flourish, just as I did.

Let's Take a Break!

One thing I have learned throughout my life’s journey is that obstacles are inevitable. You may not always achieve your goals exactly as planned, and that's okay. Just as I have faced struggles, it's important to recognize that my students will encounter challenges too. Due to my personal struggles, I had to take a break from MSU to take care of myself, and this experience has shown me the importance of promoting self-care in my teaching practice for both myself and my students.

There are many ways for students to integrate self-care into the classroom. Incorporating emotional learning techniques helps them manage their internal feelings and navigate social situations. One method is to provide time for storytelling. Engaging students in storytelling activities allows them to express their emotions, experiences, and perspectives, fostering empathy, perspective-taking, and understanding of others’ emotions and experiences. Another approach is to offer opportunities for collaborative discussions. Small group or whole class discussions where students can share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences help them understand diverse viewpoints. Additionally, making personal connections helps students relate new information to their own lives or real-world situations, enabling them to connect the content to their own experiences, promoting understanding and relevance.

All of these activities can be easily incorporated into the classroom. One of my favorite activities is showing students videos or engaging in singing and dancing to get active during the day. This not only helps them feel awake and ready to learn but also sends the message that it is okay to take a break, recharge, and then tackle tasks again. However, to be honest, I haven't always made time to include these activities in my classroom, and perhaps that is just an excuse. With so many academic duties and responsibilities, I had neglected this important lesson for my students. This journey reminded me that taking care of my students' feelings and emotions is also part of my duty and responsibility as a teacher, and I plan to incorporate it into the classroom every day.

Reflecting on the courses I have taken over the past four years has made me realize how significantly my mindset and beliefs have changed. When the COVID pandemic hit, I was personally scared of where it would take me in my teaching career. However, this unexpected shift to online learning helped me grow as a person, teacher, and educator. It introduced me to the incredible power of technology, which I had not fully appreciated before, and it changed the way I think about education. This experience led me to continue pursuing an education at MSU, focusing on technology.

One thing I have learned during this program is that I should always stay open-minded and take risks to try something new. Although it sounds easy, it can be challenging because it involves diving into the unknown without knowing how things will turn out. It's okay if the outcome isn't perfect. No matter how it turns out, it's important to embrace the result, reflect on it, and strive to improve. I am proud of the growth and the work I have accomplished in this program. This journey has given me the confidence to be who I am, and I am grateful for the opportunities MSU has given me. I hope to use the knowledge I have gained to enhance my teaching and inspire my students to embrace change and innovation in their own lives.

More Educational Essays