On Saturday, September 28, this year’s Master of Education students will present their educational project portfolios as part of our “Public Conversations” series. The free event takes place 10:30-11:30am in AUSB’s Community Hall.
Guests may join the conversation topics of their choice:
- Bonnie Kwon: Ecological Literacy
- Allison Frederick: Cultural Heritage
- Caterina Cornejo: Service Learning in the Classroom
- Noah Tucker: Technology
Please join us this Saturday – the public is welcome.
Bonnie Kwon: Ecological Literacy – Abstract
This inquiry project was designed to delve deeper into the topic of service learning in elementary education and show how the implementation of such projects can be beneficial to the growth and development of the whole child, while also positively contributing to society. Service learning is an innovative and popularizing pedagogy, which aims to connect academic learning objectives with meaningful community service. It emphasizes many attributes of a progressive education such as focus on cultivating critical thinking skills and personal reflection, while also promoting civic duty and social responsibility. It fosters the development of global citizens through exemplifying how to make a difference in this world through real world problem solving, facilitating the deep and sustained learning in relevant situations. Through the integration of service learning projects in two different elementary classrooms at two different schools, a theory of practice was developed about the tangible positive effects these projects may have on children. Research on the subject matter in conjunction with analysis of the data collected culminated in the indication that service learning can alter the focus of children to want to help others for the benefit of society as a whole and also aid in the development of their own identity and pursuit of happiness.
Allison Frederick: Cultural Heritage – Abstract
The purpose of this inquiry project is to teach elementary students about the people and places I have traveled to outside of the United States. By sharing my personal experiences and passion for world travel, students will be exposed to a plethora of artifacts that act as pathways into the lives of people from different cultures. It is through these artifacts students will learn about customs and traditions that are different from their own, in addition to, relevant academic content for sixth grade such as ecological literacy, art, science, history, geography and literature that are based upon the current California frameworks and Common Core Standards. Lastly, this inquiry introduces the concept of becoming a globally aware citizen as students learn about aspects of their cultural roots as well as economic, political and social justice issues from other countries in an effort to further their understanding about differences and developing a sense of becoming a tolerant human being.
Caterina Cornejo: Service Learning in the Classroom – Abstract
When I was younger, I had several key experiences of helping others inside and outside the classroom that were transformational. Not only that, but I understood that I have the power to help the community and saw that through helping others, I could enhance my learning. This led me to choose the topic of Service Learning (SL) in the classroom. The focus question I developed and chose to answer through my work was: What are effective ways for incorporating Service Learning into the classroom and the school community that can teach children the importance of caring while also meeting academic goals? My investigation begins through the collection of artifacts, which are interviews with educators in the community with prior experience in SL, a SL unit plan I designed for my placement in a 6th grade classroom at Franklin Elementary School, formal observation notes of the implementation, student work collected during the unit, and my personal reflections. Common threads found in these artifacts led me to select six resources of past findings in SL to analyze in a Literature Review. The culmination of researching, collaborating, and exploring SL through these means formed my Theory of Practice. My theory of practice encompasses the following components in SL: a newfound definition, necessity to enhance life skills, building up civically responsible citizens, a sense of otherness and habits of care, supporting best learning practices, the teacher as a guide and role model, practical steps in the implementation, and meeting the demands of daily classroom/school life.
Noah Tucker: Technology – Abstract
The thesis looks at the history of educational technology, important studies and literature relating to educational technology use in the classroom, E-tablet applications used for educational purposes in classrooms and schools, educational PC games that are similar to The Oregon Trail in design and function, and social-media websites as a platform for assigning students work during the course of a school year.