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Middle School Teacher & PBIS Coordinator in Torrance Unified School District

1. How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

This degree has given me the confidence and skills to be able to use the latest technology in my classroom with my students. I am comfortable using Nearpod regularly, can adapt my digital lessons for my VI students with ease, and have been able to incorporate AI and virtual reality into my lessons. This helps keep my class fresh and interesting for all students. I can also help all students and adults on campus with technology issues with ease. This degree has helped me build a skill set that is valuable in and out of my classroom. I also have the skills and confidence to make regular presentations to the staff at my school and for the entire student population. So far this year, I have created digital lessons that the entire school used to learn about our behavioral expectations and have led our staff through several trainings using self made digital presentations that have been extremely well received. My administration and colleagues at school come to me now as a tech leader at our school because they know I have the skills and patience to conquer all of our technology issues.

2. Where are you currently working and what is your title/position?

I teach 6th grade social studies, 7th grade drama, and am the PBIS coordinator at Casimir Middle School in the Torrance Unified School District.

3. What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program? 

Do not be afraid to try any new technology that comes your way. Try it, have fun with it, and find easy ways to use it. If you are a teacher, your students and staff will continually benefit from your expertise. Our school districts are looking for people who are not afraid to try the latest technology and be able to help the students and this degree will give you the tools and confidence to that every day.

4. What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

I especially loved being able to collaborate with other teachers and school employees from different districts throughout the program. This gave me a much broader understanding of what technology is really like in schools right now and really helped improve my confidence and ability to give presentations to my colleagues now that I have graduated.

The College of Education wishes to congratulate Regina on being awarded the 2019 Graduate Dean's List. See College of Education- College Awards.

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How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

Getting a degree in Ed Tech has helped me tremendously in my current role. I learned a lot about how to interconnect technology and pedagogy, including how to manage and lead challenging implementations of technology tools. 

Where are you currently working and what is your title/position? 

I'm currently a web and social manager at Santa Monica College. My role includes project managing the website, training staff and faculty on web accessibility, consulting on digital marketing efforts, mentoring student workers, and more! Since I finished the program, I received a certificate from the Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program at CSUN. I was inspired by my ETEC fieldwork at a High Tech Training Center and wanted to learn more about how students with disabilities can benefit from assistive technology.

What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

Take the opportunity to learn more about how technology can improve both teaching and student support services. Use this approach to guide how you absorb the lectures and readings. And see how technology can be used in innovative ways beyond its intentions.

What was your favorite/most memorable part of being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ?

One of my most memorable experiences being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ was the group work with fellow cohort members, who came from different areas of education. I learned immensely from my peers, who all shared unique perspectives from their professional and personal lives. By hearing their stories, this enriched my learning experience to apply tools and approaches in new ways.

Erik D. shares his thoughts on the MA in Educational Technology and Media Leadership program at ɫ��ɫ.

How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

Obtaining the MA has been one of the most satisfying accomplishments of my life and achieving the degree has given me a boost of confidence, both personally and professionally, that I use every day as I navigate within the world of academic technology.

Where are you currently working and what is your title/position? 

I’m currently the Director of Academic Technology for California State University, Maritime Academy. I’m responsible for providing the vision and leadership for the campus as it relates to effectively leveraging technology for education. I’m constantly looking for innovative and practical technology solutions that’ll impact teaching and learning experiences for our students, faculty, and staff. I’m not perusing a degree or certificate at the moment but would like to continue my education in the future.

What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

I have two. One, if you’re thinking about doing it, just do it, and don’t wait for the right time. Time passes by no matter what, and the right time is when you start. Two, take advantage of the short-term study abroad program if possible. It was the most memorable experience that I had during my time as an undergraduate and graduate student.

What was your favorite/most memorable part of being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ?

My favorite part about being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ was knowing that there was always support for me. I never once felt like I was doing it alone. The graduate program that I was a part of felt like a family of fantastic faculty members, amazing administrators, and wonderful students. Maybe it’s just a Long Beach thing!

The College of Education wishes to congratulate Pedro on receiving the ɫ��ɫ 2020 Outstanding Staff Member Award.  See Staff member Pedro Castro "embodies the OneBeach spirit".

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 Dean Office Coordinator for the College of the Arts here at ɫ��ɫ

How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

It helped me have a more clear picture of technology being used for education. It has helped me be more creative with technology and the learning environment personally and professionally. With the COVID-19 constant changes in education, the skills learned in the Ed Tech program have been incredibly useful. I am still using all the resources and knowledge learned in the program in the virtual learning environment at school, at work and with my family.

Where are you currently working and what is your title/position?

I work for the College of the Arts here at ɫ��ɫ. I am the Dean’s Office coordinator. The main duties in my current position is to be the scholarships coordinator and curriculum/catalog coordinator for the College of the Arts. I supervise all college departments with any scholarships, academic advocacy, students and lecture evaluations and curriculum processes.

I am currently part of the Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages here at ɫ��ɫ. This Fall 2020 will be my second semester. I will earn the graduate certificate by the end of the Fall 2021 semester.

What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

Do not give up. Take things one step at a time. Use all the resources available. Take advantage of the knowledgeable faculty and other classmates. Build a community because your faculty or classmates might be your colleagues in the future. Learn to manage your personal, professional and educational time. Make sure to create a good balance between work, school and your health. It is important to exercise or do have a physical activity routine even when you think you don’t have time.

What was your favorite/most memorable part of being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ?

The study abroad summer semester in Costa Rica with my Ed Tech cohort. Also, the group projects of each class. It was great to work with a group of professionals in the field where you end up learning from each other while working on a group project.

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How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

It was an incredible journey of self-discovery. Earning my Masters from ɫ��ɫ enabled me to have the skills necessary to be a committed teacher and school administrator. I could not have done it without the support of the faculty and program directors at ɫ��ɫ’s CED, for giving me the confidence and conviction to go out and make an impact in our school system.

Where are you currently working and what is your title/position? 

I currently work at Bishop Mora Salesian High School in Los Angeles, and serve the school community as the Director of Guidance and Instructional Technology. In my role, I oversee the guidance and counseling department, where we focus on academic advising, career planning, college guidance, and social/emotional support. I am also responsible for the school's technology department, serving as the lead technology specialist in educational and technology professional development. Our school is one of five private schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese that has a one-to-one iPad program through a fully funded grant through the Department of Catholic School and Sprint.

What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

Listen to your professors and seek them out for advice. They’re interested in your professional and personal growth. Make sure you take time to yourself and spend time with your loved ones. They will be the ones to embrace you with open arms and give that motivation to keep going.

What was your favorite/most memorable part of being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ?

One of my favorite memories was spending time with members of my cohort and professors on and off-campus. Our mixers and occasional group dinners were always the best, because of relationships that were formed.   

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How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

The Master’s degree in Educational Technology and Media Leadership definitely provided me a solid framework of knowledge that I continue to share with my team and colleagues across campus. The graduate degree opened up doors to help me advance in my career and also provided me teaching opportunities to give back to the department and University.

Where are you currently working and what is your title/position? 

I am currently the Interim Director of Instructional Technology and Support Services for the Academic Technology Services Department at CSU, Long Beach. My team provides support for the learning management system, instructional design of online/hybrid courses, and multimedia production services. I also teach part-time as a lecturer for the ASEC Department in the College of Education at ɫ��ɫ.

What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

Technology as a focus for your graduate studies will not only enhance your perspective in education, but it will prepare you to embrace innovation and the challenges that come with it. Do not limit your learning to the classroom. Learn from your peers and keep an open mind.

What was your favorite/most memorable part of being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ?

I was able to obtain both my undergraduate and graduate degrees at ɫ��ɫ. I felt that the welcoming vibe of the campus, fellow students, faculty and support staff made me enjoy calling “The Beach” my 2^nd home. 

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How has obtaining this degree and/or credential positively affected your employment experiences and life overall?

Obtaining my MA in Educational Technology allowed me to dive into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education well before the term was known.  As a result of the program, I started providing computer programming experiences for my students, eventually expanding to the experiences of the entire school.  I began using online platforms for teaching, allowing my students to collaborate after school hours.  All of these led to my colleagues voting me to represent our district in Orange County’s 2015 Teacher of the Year program.  The next year, I was made a Title I specialist at my school, tasked with working with each grade level to implement STEM experiences for students.

Where are you currently working and what is your title/position? 

I currently work for Cypress School District as a STEM Teacher on Special Assignment.  I design and implement my district’s rollout of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).  Four years ago, I worked on a team composed of administrators and an architect.  We were tasked with designing the STEM learning spaces that have since been built at each of the six schools.  I write my district’s NGSS curriculum, provide professional development to all teachers with that curriculum, and perform in-class coaching.  I am also responsible for working with community partners and neighboring school districts to enhance Cypress’ STEM program.  I also oversee other district STEM programs like CyberPatriots, Trout in the Classroom, and STARBASE.  The most current project I am working on is a professional development virtual reality platform utilizing the e-learning principles that I obtained while in the ETEC program.  This platform, done through a grant with the Samueli Foundation, would allow teachers to view material related to a STEM area they are currently teaching at a time and place convenient for them. 

What advice do you have for a prospective student to your program?

My advice for current and future Educational Technology students is to work hard while in the program.  It is too easy to get busy with life, resulting in cutting corners to get readings and assignments done for the program.  However, carving out adequate time to really do all the reading and reflections can set someone up for success later.  Second, take the courses that you know will be a challenge.  There is a lot of folklore with which classes to avoid because of their difficulty; however, those are the classes you must take because they will also enable you to do something amazing.  Lastly, embrace the collaboration with peers.  I was fortunate enough to find a terrific group of people who worked really well together, and each one of us provided some asset to the team because we all came from different areas of education.  The program would not have been the same if I did not maintain those partnerships and friendships. 

What was your favorite/most memorable part of being a graduate student at ɫ��ɫ?

My favorite part of the ETEC program was the constant back and forth dialogue that I had with Dr. Stephen Adams, who was the chair on my master’s project.  He would continuously push me to be more clear with my ideas and make stronger connections to my research and project design.  My confidence would be high as I would send him each successive draft of my project write-up, but each time I found out there was more work to do.  Looking back at that time, I really enjoyed having to persevere through what I initially perceived as an impossible and never-ending struggle.  As a result, I am a stronger writer, which I use in my current position every day.