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Master of Arts in Education
SHOWCASE
Welcome to my showcase where I highlight the work I have done for the Master of Arts in Education program!
I chose to concentrate on the P-12 and Post secondary leadership path to enhance my ability to be an effective leader to others. Throughout my educational journey, I have learned that being an effective leader requires constant reflection and assessment of diverse perspectives. Three main concepts that my graduate coursework was based upon include Building Educational Philosophy, Leadership and Reflection. These three ideas are critical to my newfound understanding of leadership in education!
Building Educational Philosophy
Understanding my core values in teaching and learning was the first step to understanding the root of my beliefs. In this section, I review my thoughts in the role of education, explore theories that guide my learning, and assess how social and cultural contexts has had an effect on shaping my perspective.
Artifact 1 - PPT with Audio
Educational Research
In this artifact, I demonstrate my ability to analyze data by identifying the use of educational research in data collection and analysis. To begin, I learned to differentiate between objective information which can be quantified (Quantitative research), compared to research methods that are subjective and accounts for personal experience (Qualitative research). I also developed understanding of Ethnographic research where the participant is observed in their natural environment and Portraiture where the complexity of the human experience is revealed. I was able to develop higher level understanding through the work of Jay Macleod in The Hallway Hangers and The Brothers and the work of Sara-Lawrence Lightfoot.
Moreover, as I learned more about the Achievement ideology and how social class perpetuates inequality, I grew to understand the need for culturally sustaining practices. My final presentation for my Concepts of Educational Inquiry course not only taught me the importance of critical consciousness but it also encouraged me to critique socializing institutions that create systems of oppression. I realized that when institutional expectations begin to conflict with identity development and freedom of speech, we must rexamine issues of power and avoid conformity to white dominant spaces.
-Image source: Best Evidence Encyclopedia
Artifact 2 - PPT
My Theory of Learning
In this artifact, I demonstrate my ability to think critically through the use of Theory of Learning Beakers and my Museum Guide. In my museum, I explore the topics of behaviorism, cognitivism, social, learning, critical learning, out of school learning and adult learning. Over time, my theory of learning evolved into using minimal classical conditioning and operant conditioning. This is due to realizing that limiting an individual’s control over their behavior is not conducive to their growth. I also grew to understand the benefits of collaboration and think that culturally relevant practice stimulates deeper content knowledge. Furthermore, I found that theories like constructionism are highly effective in promoting student autonomy and gives students the space 'create’ when asked to display content knowledge and higher level understanding. This not only increases engagement but enhances student motivation overall.
Leadership
In my leadership and organizational development course, I examined various leadership styles and created theoretical guides to help me retain information on different theoretical frameworks. These guides enabled me to remember key concepts, key terms, alongside visual aids, making it easy to recall various leadership principles.
Artifact 3 -PDF
Leadership Analysis
In this artifact, I demonstrate my ability to problem solve by assessing a school director's effectiveness in combating color-blindness and racial inequality in a preschool where social justice topics are not often visited. In this case study, I analyzed how well Sophia, the school director, tackled cultural insensitivity after witnessing inappropriate displays of students faces cut out and attached to native bodies for a Thanksgiving display. First, Sophia practiced critical race theory by reminding staff of the colonization and genocide that occurred between Native Nations. Next, she demonstrated transformational leadership by analyzing her own privileges. Lastly, she engaged in critical pedagogy by making it a priority to promote equitable practices in the early childhood environment all while shedding light on willful blindness and cultural stereotypes.
Theoretical Guides
-All images used for these guides are from my own work
​Artifact 4 - PDF
Applied Critical Leadership
In this artifact, I demonstrate my ability to apply the core principles of Applied Critical Leadership to bring light the status quo and center conversations on racial justice and emancipatory leadership practices. This involves getting a good understanding of transformational leadership where the people are motivated and inspired by a shared vision. Additionally, Critical Pedagogy challenges oppressive teaching methods by helping students gain critical consciousness while Critical Race Theory dives deeply into social conceptions and theory. In this guide, I encourage the examination of the core functions of institutions to bring attention to power and achievement balances as well as domination and lack of access.
Artifact 6 - PDF
Strengths Based Leadership
In this artifact, I demonstrate my team building skills by highlighting a l style of leadership where strengths are celebrated over deficits. To maximize a team's potential, it is encouraged that we consider how we can make things happen together (execute), aspire to reach an audience (influence), strengthen our teams bond (relationship building) and analyze information to map out new ideas (strategic thinking). This guide suggests that leadership is learnable and that innate talent can be developed. Additionally, I mention how we must be careful to avoid assumptions of what 'strengths' are considerable valuable and consider the detrimental effects of social stratification and power.
Artifact 5 - PDF
The Leadership Challenge Model
In this artifact, I demonstrate my leadership ability by identifying the relationship between aspiring leaders and their followers and the need to have a shared vision. For example, when an instructor uses student feedback to create a plan of action to close learning gaps, students become more receptive to learning as they build rapport with their teacher. Furthermore, the Leadership Challenge Model encourages leader self-assessment and the importance of celebrating the values ad beliefs of the community. This guide recognizes how leadership is learnable and that self-improvement is key to making an impact and encouraging the heart.
Reading Reflections
The following documents dives into influential theories and highlights the role of experiential learning in cognitive growth. Here, I examine factors that impact learning outcomes and bring light to intelligence brought by culturally diverse backgrounds and experiences!
In this artifact, I demonstrate my ability to analyze cognitive development by assessing Piaget and Vgotsky's Theory to describe how children organize an understanding of the world by using behavioral schemes (repeated actions or thoughts) as a response to learned encounters. Through this reflection, I realized the importance of self-discovery and experimentation in a child's experience and how stimulating natural curiosity builds children's ability in making their own choices.​​ I also describe the need to consider the impact of trauma on our long term memory and the importance of re-assessing our own biases and how American standards play a role in shaping our viewpoint of 'intelligence.' Moreover, B.F. Skinner's theory of how exposure to a stimulus elicits a response which leads to reinforcement pinpoints the importance of being mindful of the language adults expose their children to for it elicits repetitive behaviors.
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-Image Source: Learning Success
Self-Assigned Readings:
1.) Hartshorne, J. K., Tenenbaum, J. B., & Pinker, S. (2018). A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition, 177, 263–277.
2.) Herbein, E., Golle, J., Tibus, M., Schiefer, J., Trautwein, U., & Zettler, I. (2018). Fostering elementary school children's public speaking skills: A randomized controlled trial. Learning
3.) American Psychological Association. (2003, February 1). Intelligence across cultures. Monitor on Psychology, 34(2).
​​​​Artifact 8 - PDF
In this artifact, I demonstrate my ability to apply psychosocial development to understand cross-cultural viewpoints as stated in Erikson's theory. I then share my perspective on early signs of secure attachments in comparison to insecure avoidant and resistant attachment styles. Furthermore, I analyze how a sense of self is formed during the early childhood years and the role parents play in their children's belief of self-worth.
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-Image source: VeryWell Mind
Self- Assigned Readings:
1). What makes kids care? Teaching gentleness in a violent world. https://www.apa.org/topics/ parenting/teaching-kids-ge ntleness
2.)Robson B. E. (1991). Children of Disrupted Families: Reducing the harmful effects. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 37, 436–440.
3.) Big feelings in little people – ways to support children in managing difficult emotions.
MindSpark. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.mindspark.org/ blog/2022/3/14/big-feeling s-in-little-people-ways-to-s upport-children-in-managing-difficult-emotions
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