Andrea Territo's Online Portfolio
The Long Way Home...
A teacher is the ONLY thing I've ever wanted to be. And yet I had a counselor in high school tell me right before I graduated that the teaching market was going to be saturated. Crushed, I enrolled at Monroe County Community College. Here I spent 3 years wandering aimlessly, wondering "What was I going to be if I wasn't a teacher?" I had no idea...
The semester before I left MCCC, I took the required computer course. One day, the professor of that course mentioned that I had a 'knack' for computers. Finally, I had a calling... or so I thought. I transferred to Eastern Michigan University and entered the Computer Science program. What a mistake that was... I quickly learned that I didn't have a knack for THAT type of computers! Pascal who?
Once again I was lost, only this time I was at one of Michigan's biggest 'education' universities, but did I bother to check back into teaching at this time - NO! I found a home in Health Administration, where I excelled and felt like this might just be it. I graduated after 3 more years and took a job as an analyst in Ann Arbor, MI. It was here that I learned the "cubicle" was NOT for me. I needed to be in contact with more people, preferably children, so I attended an informational meeting at Wayne State University where the acronym M.A.T. (Master's of Arts in Teaching) became my best friend. This program made my finally becoming a certified teacher, a reality. (Note: I did not say it made my dream of being a teacher a reality - argh!)
Ironically, the teaching market was BEYOND saturated when I graduated. To make matters worse, had I gone for teaching straight out of high school I would've probably had a position right away and enough seniority by now that I wouldn't still be getting the 'ole pink slip. Yet, I was forced to become a zealous believer of "Everything Happens for a Reason." I learned very quickly that substitute teaching wasn't a job for the meek. And I was also, unfortunately, unaware that I would be exactly that... a substitute teacher for longer than I ever imagined.
As a substitute teacher, I not only gained experience but more knowledge than ANY college course had taught me. It was also during this time that I discovered the Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. I was finally going to be able to combine my love of education with the 'type of computers' I liked and understood; the best of both worlds, in my opinion.
It wasn't too long before I got the opportunity to teach 3rd and 4th grade in a charter school. Here, I realized more than ever the need to help integrate technology into the classroom. Around this time, I started MSU's online Educational Technology certificate courses (CEP 810, 811, and 812) not really knowing what to expect. I had taken a couple online courses in the past and enjoyed the 'freedom' they granted me. I figured worse case scenario I'd come out with a certificate and some knowledge that might help me get that technology to my classroom. Little did I know, I would be able to add some of the coolest and most applicable items to my teaching repertoire.
My instructors for these courses included Susan Way (810) and Carolyn McCarthy (811 and 812). I attribute my choice to continue in the program not only to their instruction, but their enthusiasm for the content within these 3 classes. They remain the most memorable and hands-on classes, and the most fun. In retrospect, I think that more of the classes in the Educational Technology program should follow that style of work because there were many things to 'show off' when we were done.
I am most proud of my Digital Introduction to my classroom and StAIR project. I remember being super-excited to create a digital introduction that I imagined playing on a projector or smart board during an open-house or meet the teacher night at the school. It was at this time my confidence and abilities were growing to where I felt I could soon create websites and blogs to communicate with my parents, all along displaying lessons that would allow them to be more involved with their child's education. I knew if I started with a Digital Introduction to myself and stressed the importance of our staying connected through technology, I could convince at least some of my student's parents of its significance. After all we know that so many people simply don't try things because they are afraid or don't know how. I had planned to offer myself as a resource for their technological needs, if need be. I made it a point to also offer the same to my colleagues and peers should they need the help.
Prior to creating a StAIR, I had no idea there was such a thing. I was immediately intrigued as to how I was going to create something that interactive from scratch... something that cool not requiring access to the internet. I originally tried to focus the content of the StAIR on the Dolch Word Lists. However, with the help of my instructors and classmates it became clear that I needed to try something different. Looking back, changing my StAIR to include the stages of the water cycle made my project that much more interesting. I got to add animated clipart and sound effects to enhance the 'Water Cycle' learning experience.
To this day, I am still so proud of the time and effort I put into that project. It is truly a resource I can use to reinforce the water cycle concepts after a lesson in the classroom. I distinctly remember spending a lot of time in a self-contained special education classroom where the students thought getting on the computer was the best thing in the world. I was able to load the project onto the computers for them to work through without even knowing they were "learning while playing." What a rewarding time in my life that was...
This program has offered me the ability to become knowledgeable and confident with technology as it relates to education. These are two things that are not only going to be important to me for the rest of my life, but important to society as we move forward both educationally and technologically. I am proud to say I have been given the tools that will also make me instrumental in successfully moving forward both technologically and educationally in the future. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
by: Andrea Territo
The semester before I left MCCC, I took the required computer course. One day, the professor of that course mentioned that I had a 'knack' for computers. Finally, I had a calling... or so I thought. I transferred to Eastern Michigan University and entered the Computer Science program. What a mistake that was... I quickly learned that I didn't have a knack for THAT type of computers! Pascal who?
Once again I was lost, only this time I was at one of Michigan's biggest 'education' universities, but did I bother to check back into teaching at this time - NO! I found a home in Health Administration, where I excelled and felt like this might just be it. I graduated after 3 more years and took a job as an analyst in Ann Arbor, MI. It was here that I learned the "cubicle" was NOT for me. I needed to be in contact with more people, preferably children, so I attended an informational meeting at Wayne State University where the acronym M.A.T. (Master's of Arts in Teaching) became my best friend. This program made my finally becoming a certified teacher, a reality. (Note: I did not say it made my dream of being a teacher a reality - argh!)
Ironically, the teaching market was BEYOND saturated when I graduated. To make matters worse, had I gone for teaching straight out of high school I would've probably had a position right away and enough seniority by now that I wouldn't still be getting the 'ole pink slip. Yet, I was forced to become a zealous believer of "Everything Happens for a Reason." I learned very quickly that substitute teaching wasn't a job for the meek. And I was also, unfortunately, unaware that I would be exactly that... a substitute teacher for longer than I ever imagined.
As a substitute teacher, I not only gained experience but more knowledge than ANY college course had taught me. It was also during this time that I discovered the Educational Technology program at Michigan State University. I was finally going to be able to combine my love of education with the 'type of computers' I liked and understood; the best of both worlds, in my opinion.
It wasn't too long before I got the opportunity to teach 3rd and 4th grade in a charter school. Here, I realized more than ever the need to help integrate technology into the classroom. Around this time, I started MSU's online Educational Technology certificate courses (CEP 810, 811, and 812) not really knowing what to expect. I had taken a couple online courses in the past and enjoyed the 'freedom' they granted me. I figured worse case scenario I'd come out with a certificate and some knowledge that might help me get that technology to my classroom. Little did I know, I would be able to add some of the coolest and most applicable items to my teaching repertoire.
My instructors for these courses included Susan Way (810) and Carolyn McCarthy (811 and 812). I attribute my choice to continue in the program not only to their instruction, but their enthusiasm for the content within these 3 classes. They remain the most memorable and hands-on classes, and the most fun. In retrospect, I think that more of the classes in the Educational Technology program should follow that style of work because there were many things to 'show off' when we were done.
I am most proud of my Digital Introduction to my classroom and StAIR project. I remember being super-excited to create a digital introduction that I imagined playing on a projector or smart board during an open-house or meet the teacher night at the school. It was at this time my confidence and abilities were growing to where I felt I could soon create websites and blogs to communicate with my parents, all along displaying lessons that would allow them to be more involved with their child's education. I knew if I started with a Digital Introduction to myself and stressed the importance of our staying connected through technology, I could convince at least some of my student's parents of its significance. After all we know that so many people simply don't try things because they are afraid or don't know how. I had planned to offer myself as a resource for their technological needs, if need be. I made it a point to also offer the same to my colleagues and peers should they need the help.
Prior to creating a StAIR, I had no idea there was such a thing. I was immediately intrigued as to how I was going to create something that interactive from scratch... something that cool not requiring access to the internet. I originally tried to focus the content of the StAIR on the Dolch Word Lists. However, with the help of my instructors and classmates it became clear that I needed to try something different. Looking back, changing my StAIR to include the stages of the water cycle made my project that much more interesting. I got to add animated clipart and sound effects to enhance the 'Water Cycle' learning experience.
To this day, I am still so proud of the time and effort I put into that project. It is truly a resource I can use to reinforce the water cycle concepts after a lesson in the classroom. I distinctly remember spending a lot of time in a self-contained special education classroom where the students thought getting on the computer was the best thing in the world. I was able to load the project onto the computers for them to work through without even knowing they were "learning while playing." What a rewarding time in my life that was...
This program has offered me the ability to become knowledgeable and confident with technology as it relates to education. These are two things that are not only going to be important to me for the rest of my life, but important to society as we move forward both educationally and technologically. I am proud to say I have been given the tools that will also make me instrumental in successfully moving forward both technologically and educationally in the future. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
by: Andrea Territo
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kansas Poetry (Patrick), Atilla1000, K?vanç Ni?, Pardesi*, nattu, Alex E. Proimos, Vince Alongi, .candy, archangel_raphael
