My MAED Portfolio
Annotated Transcript
This page is an annotated transcript of my graduate education in the Master of Arts in Education. (MAED) Program through Michigan State University (MSU). During this time, I took two types of courses: Educational Administration and Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education.
ED 800 - Concepts of Education Inquiry
Summer 2024 - Kristy Cooper Stein
This was one of the first courses I took in the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program. The course introduced different ways scholars study teaching and learning, including philosophical, psychological, historical, and ethnographic approaches to educational inquiry. The class was organized into six units where students worked through readings and lecture materials and then completed a writing assignment or presentation that brought the ideas together. Through the assignments, I had the opportunity to practice processing foundational educational concepts while also engaging with multimedia resources and digital tools used in educational research.
CEP 813 - Electronic Assessment for Teaching and Learning
Summer 2024 - Alison Keller
Assessment can sometimes feel like one of the most overwhelming parts of teaching, and this course helped break that down. We explored foundational theories of assessment and looked at how assessment has evolved over time, especially with the use of digital tools. The course focused on different ways educators can gather and analyze information, such as portfolios, rubrics, surveys, and self-evaluations to make informed decisions about teaching and learning. One concept that stood out to me was “ungrading,” along with creative approaches like using game-based elements for assessment. The course was organized into modules where students completed reading reflections and critical reviews in a Google Doc notebook. Throughout the semester we also worked on pieces of a final project that brought together the assessment strategies we had been studying.
EAD 861 - Adult Learning
Fall 2024 - Sara Bano
This course focused on what makes learning in adulthood different from learning earlier in life. We looked at the many factors that shape adult learning, including motivation, life responsibilities, emotional development, and social or cultural influences. A big part of the course was understanding the barriers adult learners may face and how those barriers can affect participation and success. We explored these ideas through readings, written assignments, and group work centered around case studies. Students also completed an individual case analysis where we connected the situation to research and reflected on what it revealed about adult learning in real-life contexts.
CEP 820 - Teaching and Learning online
Fall 2024 - Anne Heintz
This course focused on the strategies, theories, and frameworks that support effective online teaching. We explored how online learning environments can be intentionally designed to promote engagement, interaction, and meaningful learning. The course helped me better understand how different models of online instruction influence the way students participate and learn in digital spaces. Through the assignments, I had the opportunity to think critically about how to design online learning experiences that are both structured and interactive. Since much of my own teaching now includes digital components, the course gave me useful ideas and strategies that I can apply to make online learning more engaging and effective for my students.
EAD 863 - Training and Professional Development
Spring 2025 - Sara Bano
This course focused on how training and professional development programs are designed and implemented in postsecondary education. We explored different theories of organizational learning and how institutions can create meaningful professional development opportunities for educators. Throughout the course, we examined how training programs are planned, delivered, and evaluated to ensure they meet both institutional goals and participant needs. One of the major assignments involved designing my own professional development plan. This allowed me to think about how training can support educator growth while also strengthening engagement and effectiveness in the workplace.
CEP 817 - Learning Technology through Design
Spring 2025 - Anne Heintz
This course introduced design thinking as a framework for creating learning solutions. We worked through the five phases of the Stanford Design Thinking model: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Throughout the course, I learned how important it is to first understand the learner’s experience before trying to design a solution. Assignments encouraged us to brainstorm ideas, create prototypes, and refine them based on feedback. This process helped me think more creatively about instructional design and problem solving. I have been able to apply these design thinking concepts when developing more student-centered learning activities and course materials.
EAD 878 - Education in the Digital Age
Fall 2025 - Riyad Shahjahan
This course explored how technology has transformed education at all levels. We examined the historical and philosophical questions surrounding digital learning, as well as the opportunities and challenges that come with integrating technology into classrooms. A big focus of the course was thinking critically about the tools educators use and how issues like access, equity, and digital literacy affect students’ learning experiences. We also looked at topics such as artificial intelligence, online platforms, data, and digital media, and how these technologies shape both teaching and learning.
CEP 818 - Creativity in Teaching and Learning
Fall 2025 - Anne Heintz
Before taking this course, I never really considered myself a creative person. Through the readings and assignments, I began to realize that creativity is much broader than artistic ability and that many of the ways we think and problem solve are actually creative processes. Students were asked to create an original artifact that demonstrated the thinking tool we were studying. The course helped me see how creativity can be intentionally supported in educational settings. It also showed me that creativity involves things like pattern recognition, empathy, intuition, and curiosity. It is not just drawing or painting!
EAD 866 - Teaching in Postsecondary Education
Spring 2026 - Justin Gutzwa
This course focuses on the philosophies and beliefs that shape effective teaching in higher education. We are exploring different instructional strategies that support learning in formal postsecondary environments. The course also examines how instructors assess both their own teaching and student learning. Through readings, discussions, and assignments, I am reflecting on how teaching approaches influence student engagement and success. As someone who currently teaches at the college level, the course has been especially valuable for thinking more intentionally about my teaching practices and how they impact my students.
ED 870 - Capstone Seminar
Spring 2026 - Matthew Koehler
This course serves as the final experience in the Master of Arts in Education program. The focus is on reflecting on everything we have learned throughout the program and bringing those experiences together in a meaningful way. Each week we complete modules that guide us through building an online portfolio that showcases our work. Reflection, feedback, and revision are central to the course, and many of the artifacts we submit continue to evolve throughout the semester. We also participate in exhibition-style Zoom meetings with peers and the instructor to share our portfolios and receive final feedback before submitting the completed site.