Sharleen Daly EDUC 526 Growth Assessment/Azusa Pacific Murrieta Campus/Summer July, 2014

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Dalys Odyssey in Growth
Sharleen Daly
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Matt Hixson
Azusa Pacific University- Murrieta
July 25, 2014












Sharleen Daly EDUC 526 Growth Assessment/Azusa Pacific Murrieta Campus/Summer July, 2014
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This journey started with a major life change. I found myself having to make some major decisions
regarding my path in life both personally and professionally. When I entered Azusa Pacific it was to get
my bachelors to enable me to go into teaching. I was a secretary for an elementary principal at the time.
In that setting I found myself assisting with technology, addressing computer issues for teachers and
learning software programs. The realization came that I really like technology. After getting my BA in
Organizational Leadership I entered the credentialing program to get my moderate/severe teaching
degree. I ended up getting an internship and had my own class very quickly.
Life was busy. I was a single mom with 4 kids and working a new job as a student. As my classes
where finishing up I had to make a choice, did I think I could go further and get my masters? If so in
what, I had two choices. I could get my masters in Special Education or Digital Teaching. Although I
was extremely overwhelmed in life I decided to continue on. Looking back at my experience as a
secretary sent me in the technology direction. I also felt that it would help round out my experiences in
learning.
My long term goal with the Digital Teaching and Learning Masters is to assist in creating programs for
students with special needs. I want to help them access learning in any avenue possible. I will continue
on to get my administration credential to enable me to move ahead and apply for a program specialist
position. I can then help to create curriculum for teachers with students with special needs utilizing
technology that is appropriate for that student population. s
I have learned that organization was not my strong suit. Through this journey I have had my life
events that caused detours in my focus. I have had to do lots of soul searching and have had to make
many difficult decisions during this time. My learning style has expanded but doing the online classes
caused me to struggle some. I enjoy being face to face and having more personal interaction. I have
found a renewed faith as I went through this time. Letting go and having faith has become an everyday
thing.
Sharleen Daly EDUC 526 Growth Assessment/Azusa Pacific Murrieta Campus/Summer July, 2014
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The completion of this degree means a lot to me. At the age of 35 my mom went back to school to get
her high school diploma. She had always said it is never too late to learn and better yourself. I will be the
first in my family to go to college and getting my master is monumental. I am now watching my children
follow in my foot sets and continue their education. I am very proud of what I have accomplished and it
has empowered my in all aspects of my life.
My professional growth has been tremendous. At the beginning of this journey I had 3 jobs,
instructional aide, winery tour host, banquet captain doing special events, and of course being a mother of
4. It went from 3 jobs to 2 very quickly; I landed the job of principal secretary and continued doing
winery tours. After 3 years I ended up teaching in a classroom of my own and getting my masters. I have
already been able to utilize my learning and apply it in the classroom setting. I have also been called to
train teachers in some programs that my district has adopted to use.
My action research involved a student at my school site. We analyzed his behaviors in order to
understand the function. He had many maladaptive behaviors and we need to help him communicate his
wants and needs appropriately. This process took a lot of time and collaboration with the general
education teacher, school psychologist, speech pathologist, and I. We collected data to understand what
was happening and theorized the function. Then we developed strategies to help the student to change his
behaviors to more appropriate ones. The success has been great and he has moved into a less restrictive
setting and is accessing the curriculum with a 70% increase regarding his behavioral targets.
As I continue to learn in my professional field I will also continue my schooling. I plan to get my
administration credential. This will enable me to apply for a principal job or program specialist. I have
realized through this journey how much I need people. Collaborating and growing with my peers and
mentors has been a major part of the adventure. I plan to continue assisting with technology issues at my
school site and have accepted the job of being the onsite tech person. I enjoy helping people, it feeds
something inside me, and this helps satisfy that need. I also plan to go to massage school. This is purely
for myself, I want to understand the body and have continued to learn how to live happy and healthy. In 5
Sharleen Daly EDUC 526 Growth Assessment/Azusa Pacific Murrieta Campus/Summer July, 2014
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to 10 years I see myself as an administrator either at the school level or at the district level. I have
entertained the thought of opening a preschool for students with special needs.

Sharleen
Daly


Course Course Title
and
Instructor
Name
Term
Completed
Key Skills Acquired Comments/
Suggestions
EDUC
511
Essential in
Educational
Technology
and Learning
Spring I
2014
I learned my starting
level of knowledge
with technology. I
explored ramification
of being a digital native
and how it is affecting
learning.
This was a great
intro class. I liked
that we practiced
with Livebinder
and learned about
digital natives and
digital citizenship.
EDUC
512
Instructional
Applications
Productivity
Software


Spring I
2014
Learned about
Google+, Twitter, and
researched and shared
different iPad apps to
use in the classroom for
math. Learned about
the concept of a
WebQuest and created
one to use for our grade
level and subject.
This class helped
me understand and
utilize my iPad for
teaching right
away. Loved it.
EDUC
514
Digital Video
in the
Classroom


Spring II,
2014
Learned the basics in
video project
composition. Learned
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.
This class was all
about digital video
and how to edit
film. I think its
very useful in
terms of creating
videos that I show
in my class.
Sharleen Daly EDUC 526 Growth Assessment/Azusa Pacific Murrieta Campus/Summer July, 2014
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EDUC
515
Evolving
Educational
Technologies


Summer,
2014
Learned about current
technologies and
strategies, such as
building a website,
blogging and Twitter,
and how they can be
successfully
implemented into the
classrooms in order to
enhance both teaching
and learning strategies.
Learned about the
concept of a flipped
classroom.
Great class that
covered
technology that I
had not used
before. It helped
me get comfortable
with many of the
common media
blogs.
EDUC
522
Learning in the
21
st
Century


Spring II,
2014
Designed a 3 week
Geometry unit plan that
embedded technology
and differentiated
instruction with a focus
on multiple
intelligences and
learning styles to meet
the needs of todays
learners.
This class was
very intense but a
great learning
experience and
practice with
standards, MIs,
and technology.
EDUC
526
Capstone
Experience/Di
gital Teaching
and Learning

Summer,
2014
Created 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 educational
technology, a growth
assessment,
comprehensive
portfolio, and an oral
defense.
This class was not
as meaningful as
the others, which is
understandable
because we are
recapping what we
have done and
learned in the
program.

Sharleen Daly EDUC 526 Growth Assessment/Azusa Pacific Murrieta Campus/Summer July, 2014
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Through these courses I have explored many diverse instructional tools. The iPad has been the tool I
have used the most in my classroom. I have been able to utilize apps to enhance learning for my students
and address their multiple intelligences. It has become not only a reinforcer for students but an
educational tool as well. I plan to continue and build lessons using the iPad to address specific student
needs.
My experience in learning at APU has been life changing. The kindness and openness of all the staff
has been amazing. The admissions department has been great at guiding me through all the financial
aspects while the office staff has been very friendly and always ready to help. I have found that
advisement has been a little inconsistent. I had felt lost in my journey at times and it took me some time
asking questions about how to get things completed. I found that it cost me extra money because of some
processes I was informed about. The programs flexibility has been great, finding classes available and in a
format that I could fit into my life. I want to thank all those involved in my journey and pray for
everyones success.